Neither of them could look at it without pride, and Pinkey chortled for the hundredth time: "It shore was a great streak of luck when we got that coach!"
Wallie agreed that it was, and added: "Everything's been going so well that I'm half scared. Look at that hotel-range we got second hand--as good as new; and the way we stumbled on to a first-class cook; and my friends coming out--it seems almost too good to be true."
He drew a sigh which came from such contentment as he had not known since he came to the State, for it seemed as if he were over the hard part of the road and on the way to see a few of his hopes realized.
With the money he had collected from Canby he had formed a partnership with Pinkey whereby the latter was to furnish the experience and his services as against his, Wallie's, capital.
Once more the future looked roseate; but perhaps the real source of his happiness lay in the fact that he had seen Helene Spenceley in Prouty a good bit of late and she had treated him with a consideration which had been conspicuously lacking heretofore.
If he made a success she must take him seriously and--anyway, his train of thought led him to inquire: "Don't you ever think about getting married, Pink?"
His partner regarded him in astonishment.
"Now wouldn't I look comical tied to one of them quails I see runnin' around Prouty!"
"But," Wallie persisted, "some nice girl----"
"Aw-w---- I'd ruther have a good saddle-horse. I had a pal that tried it onct, and when I seen him, I says: 'How is it, Jess?' He says, 'Well, the first year is the worst, and after that it's worse and worse.' No, sir! Little Pinkey knows when he's well off."
It was obvious that his partner's mood did not fit in with his own. The new moon rose and the crickets chirped as the two sat in silence on the fence and smoked.
"It's a wonderful night!" Wallie said, finally, in a hushed voice.
"It's plumb peaceful," Pinkey agreed. "I feel like I do when I'm gittin' drunk and I've got to the stage whur my lip gits stiff. I've always wisht I could die when I was like that."
Wallie suggested curtly: "Let's go to bed." He had regretted his partner's lack of sentiment more than once.
"Time to git into the feathers if we make an early start." Pinkey unhooked his heels. "Might have a little trouble hitchin' up. The two broncs I aim to put on the wheel has never been drove."