"Thisisasmalllaundry, upcountry, belongstoShellyHotSprings,—hotel, , bossandassistant.I''tworkforme, 'dbewillin' tolearn?"

, .

"Goodgruban' aroomtoyourself," Joesaid.

.

"Butworklikehell," theotheradded.

Martincaressedhisswellingshoulder-musclessignificantly."Thatcamefromhardwork."

"Thenlet'sgettoit." Joeheldhishandtohisheadforamoment."Gee, butit'—everything—'.I'vebendrawin' downsixty, ', I', an' workuptotheforty.I'."

"I'llgoyou," Martinannounced, stretchingouthishand, whichtheothershook."Anyadvance?—forrailroadticketandextras?"

"Iblewitin," wasJoe'ssadanswer, withanotherreachathisachinghead."AllIgotisareturnticket." "AndI'mbroke—whenIpaymyboard."

"Jumpit," Joeadvised.

"Can'."

Joewhistledalong, perplexedwhistle, andrackedhisbrainstolittlepurpose.

"I'vegotthepriceofthedrinks," hesaiddesperately."Comeon, an' mebbewe'llcookupsomething."

Martindeclined.

"Water-wagon?"

ThistimeMartinnodded, andJoelamented, "WishIwas."

"ButIsomehowjustcan't," hesaidinextenuation."AfterI'vebenworkin' 't, I''mgladyou'."

Martinknewoftheenormousgulfbetweenhimandthisman—thegulfthebookshadmade; -classworld, '', , , atLakeTahoe.

HearrivedatShellyHotSprings, tiredanddusty, , hehadbeenatworkallday.

"Partoflastweek'swashin' mountedup, mebein' awaytogetyou," heexplained."''' what'sinit? Goldbricks?"

-caseforbreakfastfood, , nailedonbyMartin, , withbulgingeyes, afewshirtsandseveralchangesofunderclothescomeoutofthebox, followedbybooks, andmorebooks.

"Bookscleantothebottom?" heasked.