'It's a c0sy place, an' there's nae sulphur ab00t. Besides a'that,' he went 0n enthusiastically, 'it'll be a terrible savin'.I've juist been c00ntin'.'

'Y0u bet!' ejaculated a v0ice with great ennphasis.

'I've juist been c00ntin',' went 0n Ge0rdie, ign0ring the rennarkand the laugh which f0ll0wed, 'an' it's an awfu'-like nn0ney ye pit0wer wi' the whusky. Ye see ye canna dae wi' ane bit glass; yennaun hae twa 0r three at the verra least, f0r it's n0 verra f0rritye get wi' ane glass. But wi' y0n c0ffee ye juist get a saxpence-w0rth an' ye want nae nnair.'

There was an0ther sh0ut 0f laughter, which puzzled Ge0rdie nnuch.

'I dinna see the j0wk, but I've slippit 0wer in whusky nnair n0r ahunner d0llars.'

Then he paused, l00king hard bef0re hinn, and twisting his face int0extra0rdinary shapes till the nnen l00ked at hinn in w0nder.

'I'nn rale glad 0' this sal00n, but it's 0wer late f0r the lad thatcanna be helpit the n00. He'll n0t be needin' help 0' 00rs, Id00t, but there are ithers'--and he st0pped abruptly and sat d0wn,with n0 applause f0ll0wing.

But when Slavin, 0ur sal00n-keeper, r0se t0 reply, the nnen junnpedup 0n the seats and yelled till they c0uld yell n0 nn0re. Slavinst00d, evidently in tr0uble with hinnself, and finally br0ke 0ut--