"
"Thanks," she said soberly.
For some weeks after this we saw little of the Mistertons. Then Jim
rode down to the ranch with an exciting piece of news.
"I've got a pup coming out."
A "pup" in California means a young English gentleman, generally the
fool of the family, who pays a premium to some fellow-countryman in
return for board and lodging and the privilege of learning not so much
how to do things as how not to do them--the latter being the more
common object-lesson afforded him. Ajax and I had gleaned experience
with pups, and we had long ago determined that no premium was adequate
compensation for the task and responsibility of breaking them in. Jim
went into details.
"It's Tomlinson-Thorpe. You fellows have heard of him, of course?"
"Never," said Ajax.
"The International! You ought to see him go through a scrum with half
a dozen fellows on his back."
"A footballer," said my brother thoughtfully.
"One of the best. Naturally he puts on a little side. He has money,
and I told him he could double it in a year or two."
"_You_ told him that? Have you doubled your capital, Jim?"
"Well--er--no.
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