Soon after daybreak, Li Choo the Chinaman had come slip-slopping to him at Slow Down Ranch, and had said to him without any preliminaries, or any reason for his coming: "I bling Mlissy Mazaline what you like.

She cly.

What you want me do, I do.

That Mazaline, gloddam! I gloddam Mazaline!" Orlando had no desire for intrigue, but Li Choo stood there waiting, and the devotion the Chinaman had shown made him tear a piece of paper from his pocket-book and write on it the one word "Always." He then folded the paper up until it was no bigger than a waistcoat button, and gave it to Li Choo.

Also, he offered a five-dollar bill, which Li Choo refused to take.