My old friend Dave Perry, who had presented Buckskin Joe to me, and who resided at North Platte, was most anxious to go with us for pleasure, and Frank North told him he could, and have plenty of fun, provided he would furnish his own horses, provisions and bedding, and do the usual work required of a cow-boy.

"Good heavens, and ain't he a man for you?" "He was a man," replied Lefty Joe with an indescribable emphasis.

He did not comprehend yet that his master was dying, enough to be sorry: he had a sort of pride in being nearest to Mars' Joe in a time like this,in having him to himself.

"I thought you said this Joe of yours was miserable, I've seen him when he was enjoying himself pretty well, but I never saw him like this.

The brakie had touched Lefty Joe for two dollars; he had secured fifty cents; and since the vigor of Lefty's oaths had convinced him that this was all the money the tramp had, the two now sat elbow to elbow and killed the distance with their talk.

"I say, Ford," sung out Joe from the rear, "isn't it getting pretty near time for us to think of getting something to eat?"

A droll fellow was Joe at times, for under his sobriety lay much humor; and I soon discovered that a visit from him was more efficacious than other cordials in cases of despondency and discontent.

I put Joe on the job, and after watching for several nights Joe got him.

CHAPTER II ON THE BRINK "Whatwhat's your plan, Blake?" yelled Joe into his chum's ear, as he sat behind him on the jolting second saddle of the swaying motor cycle.

Masters glowered at him, and then silently obeyed, lifting Joe as a helpless bulk, for the fat man was nearly fainting with pain.

Ham Logan had returned to Joe after having eaten a good meal, and later Bill Watson formed the third member of a trio that talked for some time in a corner of Joe's tent.

He spoke to Joe about it that arternoon, and Joe said that if 'e ever accused 'im o' such a thing again he'd knock 'is 'ead off.

For an instant his eyes came at Joe like horses jumping the gate.

Again the preacher said: "Who'll stand up for Him?" JOE by this time had got onto his feet, and was steadyin' himself by holdin' onto a tree, while he sung out: "I say (hic!)

The fireman, with his gleaming ax, ready to chop Joe out of the box in case anything should go wrong, was also on the stage.

" "Fred is very patient and persevering; I often wonder, Miss Schomberg, that John, who really did cause the accident, seems to think less about Joe than Fred, who had not any thing to do with it.

And so she fought side by side with Joe through the blacks weeks of that January.

"Then what?" asked Joe between gulps of juice.

"Gone out, you mean?" yelled Joe above the roar of waters.

Not only were Blake and Joe without facilities for developing the films they took, but it is very hard to make negatives in hot countries.