Page:The Coming of Cassidy and the Others - Clarence E. Mulford.djvu/179

 had not even looked up until the noise of the gun made him!

"My Gawd, 'e must be a wizard with 'em. I 'opes I don't forget!" With the thought came a great itching of his kneecap; then his foot itched so as to make him squirm and wear horrible expressions. Bill, chancing to glance up carelessly, caught sight of the expressions and growled, whereupon they became angelic. Fearing that he could no longer hold in the laughter that tortured him, Bill arose.

"Shoulder, arms!" he ordered, crisply. The gun went up with trained precision. "Been a sojer," thought Bill. "Carry, arms! About, face! To a bedroom, march!" He followed, holding his sides, and stopped before the room. "This th' best?" he demanded. "Well, it ain't good enough for me. About, face! Forward, march! Column, left! Ground, arms! Fall out." Tossing a coin on the floor as payment for the supper Bill turned sharply and went out without even a backward glance.