My head is so confused , I 've lost my reckoning . ' ` Thanksgiving Day , man ! And we 'll give you a regular New England dinner , if you 'll eat it , ' answered the surgeon heartily . But Emil was too spent to do anything , except lie still and give thanks , more fervently and gratefully than ever before , for the blessed gift of life , which was the sweeter for a sense of duty faithfully performed . Chapter 12 . DAN 'S CHRISTMAS Where was Dan ? In prison . Alas for Mrs Jo ! how her heart would have ached if she had known that while old Plum shone with Christmas cheer her boy sat alone in his cell , trying to read the little book she gave him , with eyes dimmed now and then by the hot tears no physical suffering had ever wrung from him , and longing with a homesick heart for all that he had lost . Yes , Dan was in prison ; but no cry for help from him as he faced the terrible strait he was in with the dumb despair of an Indian at the stake ; for his own bosom sin had brought him there , and this was to be the bitter lesson that tamed the lawless spirit and taught him self-control . The story of his downfall is soon told ; for it came , as so often happens , just when he felt unusually full of high hopes , good resolutions , and dreams of a better life . On his journey he met a pleasant young fellow , and naturally felt an interest in him , as Blair was on his way to join his elder brothers on a ranch in Kansas . Card-playing was going on in the smoking-car , and the lad -- for he was barely twenty -- tired with the long journey , beguiled the way with such partners as appeared , being full of spirits , and a little intoxicated with the freedom of the West . Dan , true to his promise , would not join , but watched with intense interest the games that went on , and soon made up his mind that two of the men were sharpers anxious to fleece the boy , who had imprudently displayed a well-filled pocket-book . Dan always had a soft spot in his heart for any younger , weaker creature whom he met , and something about the lad reminded him of Teddy ; so he kept an eye on Blair , and warned him against his new friends . Vainly , of course ; for when all stopped overnight in one of the great cities , Dan missed the boy from the hotel whither he had taken him for safe-keeping ; and learning who had come for him , went to find him , calling himself a fool for his pains , yet unable to leave the confiding boy to the dangers that surrounded him . He found him gambling in a low place with the men , who were bound to have his money ; and by the look of relief on Blair 's anxious face when he saw him Dan knew without words that things were going badly with him , and he saw the peril too late . ' I ca n't come yet -- I 've lost ; it 's not my money ; I must get it back , or I dare not face my brothers , ' whispered the poor lad , when Dan begged him to get away without further loss . Shame and fear made him desperate ; and he played on , sure that he could recover the money confided to his care . Seeing Dan 's resolute face , keen eye , and travelled air , the sharpers were wary , played fair , and let the boy win a little ; but they had no mind to give up their prey , and finding that Dan stood sentinel at the boy 's back , an ominous glance was exchanged between them , which meant : ` We must get this fellow out of the way . '
XXXXX saw it , and was on his guard ; for he and Blair were strangers , evil deeds are easily done in such places , and no tales told .
Dan Day Emil Jo Kansas overnight pocket-book sharpers smoking-car whither