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"You oughtn't to have put Patsy on the fight till everybody was filled up, Slim. Happy's liable to go to bed with an empty tummy, if yuh don't ride out and warn him to approach easy. Listen over there!" From where they lay, so still was the air and so incensed was Patsy, they could hear plainly the rumbling of his wrath while he talked to himself over the dishwashing.
"Why, what under the sun do you want, Happy?" she asked, going into her own room and debarring all the others whose curiosity was at the snapping point. When they emerged Happy's face was brimful of glee, but Mrs. Harold warned: "Mind the promise is only conditional: If Polly says 'yes' well and good, but if you let the secret out you and I will be enemies forevermore."
And what's more, he had some slaves who were ear-specialists at the keyhole, and they did him a lot of harm, for a man won't prosper when he believes, on the spot, every tale that he hears; a man in business, especially. Still, he had a good time as long as he lived: for happy's the fellow who gets the gift, not the one it was meant for. He sure was Fortune's son! Lead turned to gold in his hands.
Sonora led with a bunch of berries, which was followed by Trinidad with an orange. "From 'Frisco," he said simply, watching the effect of his words with pride. A bunch of berries was also Happy's contribution, which he made with a stiff little bow and the one word: "Regards." Meantime Nick, faithful friend that he was, went down on his knees and began to remove the Girl's moccasins.
I reckon the' wasn't another pair in the territory 'at could 'a' covered their ante that day, an' it was a feather in Uncle Happy's cap all right. But all the time I was thinkin' o' these things I was dreadin' havin' it out with Jabez. He was contrairy enough at the best; but all bunged up, I could see my self-control gettin' strained twice a minute.
Now if there was one thing Polly could do it was whistle. Indeed, she insisted that it was her only accomplishment and many a happy little impromptu concert was given in Middies' Haven with Happy's guitar, Shortie's mandolin and Durand's violin.
If yuh think yuh can come Christian Science act on a storm, and bluff it down jest by sayin' it ain't there, you're away off. I ain't that big a fool; I " he trailed into profane words, for the calf he was at that minute holding showed a strong inclination to plant a foot in Happy's stomach.
A maid was moving quietly about the room. "Good morning, miss," she said. "A lovely morning. And if there's any truth in the saying that 'happy's the bride that the sun shines on, why " The maid stopped and smiled before she caught sight of Beatrice's pale, set face. "I suppose you think I am to be envied?" Beatrice asked. "Now don't you?"
Happy's boisterous exit caused a peculiar expression to appear immediately on Handsome's face, which might be interpreted as one of envy at his friend's exuberant condition; at all events, he proceeded forthwith to order several drinks, gulping them down in rapid succession. Meanwhile, at the faro table, the luck was going decidedly against the boys.
"A dentist ought to locate in Dry Lake; from what I have heard confidentially to-night, there's a fortune to be made off the teeth of the Happy Family alone." Every drop of blood in Happy's body seemed to stand then in his face. "I I'll pull the curtain for yuh," he volunteered, meekly. "You're the seventh applicant for that place." The schoolma'am was crushingly calm.
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