served his apprenticeship by cutting sage-brush and driving
stakes. His life had been spent in Mexico and Central America,
and he spoke of the home he had not seen in ten years with the
aggressive loyalty of the confirmed wanderer, and he was known to
prefer and to import canned corn and canned tomatoes in
preference to eating the wonderful fruits of the country, because
the former came from the States and tasted to him of home. He
had crowded into his young life experiences that would have
shattered the nerves of any other man with a more sensitive
conscience and a less happy sense of humor; but these same
experiences had only served to make him shrewd and self-
confident and at his ease when the occasion or difficulty came.

He pulled meditatively on his pipe and considered Langham's
question deeply, while Clay and the younger boy sat with their
arms upon their knees and waited for his decision in thoughtful
silence.

``I'd like to go to the theatre, too,'' said MacWilliams, with an
air as though to show that he also was possessed of artistic
tastes. ``I'd like to see a comical chap I saw once in '80--oh,
long ago--before I joined the P. Q. & M. He WAS funny. His
name was Owens; that was his name, John E. Owens--''

``Oh, for heaven's sake, MacWilliams,'' protested Langham, in
dismay; ``he's been dead for five years.''

``Has he?'' said MacWilliams, thoughtfully. ``Well--'' he
concluded, unabashed, ``I can't help that, he's the one I'd like
to see best.''