THE TALE OF BRAZOS DICK
where, and then more, and it was London. And Tuckett takes my ten dollars and says if I wants to go back in a month he can take me, and if in less a friend of his will, and he gives me the address of a hotel, but I didn't go to it. I went to one Charlie here told me of, near the Strand. But I thanked old Tuckett all the same, for he was a good sort. And I got into a kaib, a kind of London buggy, and we drives seventeen thousand miles, more or less, through streets, and at last comes to a narrow sort of cañon where my house is. And I gets a room there, and the gal that showed it to me smiled and says, 'You're an American, ain't you?' I didn't deny it, but how she knew so quick beat me. And my trouble begun that very night, boys. And now I'll hev another drink."
"What'll you take?" asked Keno Gedge, who was very much interested in spite of the fact that gambling had no show that night.
"B'urbon, sir," said Dick. He drank and began again.
"Well, gentlemen, soon as I was fixed up,
213
