"I don't know whether ye can or not," came the frank reply.

"I'm thinkin' about it.

You don't look as if ye were flat broke.

If you're goin' to take me room, I don't want to be watchin' ye, and I won't! Once we know ye're clean and decent, ye can have the run of the place and welcome to it.

We had one dead-beat here last month, and that's enough.