第1章

ThesetalesbytheOldCattlemanhavebeensubmittedtoperhapsadozenpeople。Theyhaveread，criticised，andadvised。Theadvicewasgood；thecriticismjust。SomesuggestedasketchwhichmightindetailsetforthToffville；therewerethosewhowantedsomethinglikeapictureoftheOldCattleman；whileothersurgedanelaborationofthepersonalcharacteristicsofOldManEnright，DocPeets，CherokeeHall，Moore，Tutt，Boggs，FaroNell，OldMonte，andTexasThompson。Ihave，how-ever，concludedtoleaveallthesematterstotheillustrationsofMr。Remingtonandtheimaginationsofthosewhoread。Ithinkitthebetterway-certainlyitistheeasieroneforme。IshallthereforepermittheOldCattlemantotellhisstoriesinhisownfashion。Thestylewillbecrude，abrupt，andmeagre，butItrustitwillproveassatisfactorytothereaderasithastome。

A。H。L。

NewYork，May15，1897。

CHAPTERI。

WOLFVILLE\'SFIRSTFUNERAL。

"TheseyereobsequieswhichI\'maboutmentionin\'，"observedtheOldCattleman，"isthefirstrealfuneralWolfvillehas。"

Theoldfellowhadlightedacobpipeandtiltedhischairbackinafashionwhichproclaimedaplantobecomfortable。Hehadbeguntotolerate——evenencourage——mysociety，althoughitwasclearthatasatenderfootheregardedmewithaspeciesofgentledisdain。

IhadprovokedthesubjectoffuneralceremoniesbyarecurrencetotheaffairoftheYellowhouseMan，andaqueryastowhatwouldhavebeentheprogrammeofthepublic-spiritedhamletofWolfvilleifthatinvalidhaddiedinsteadofyieldingtothenursingofJackMooreandthattariffondraw-pokerwhichthegeniusofOldManEnrightdecreed。

Itcameineasyillustration，asanswertomyquestion，fortheOldCattlemantorecallthefuneralofaformerleadingspiritofSouthwesternsociety。ThenameofthisworthywasJackKing；andwithabriefexpositionofhismoresalienttraits，mygrizzledraconteurleddowntohisburialwiththeremarkbeforequoted。

"Ofcourse，"continuedtheOldCattleman，"ofcoursewhilethar\'ssomelikethisYallerhousegentwhosurvives；thar\'sothersoftheboyswhoisdownedonetimean\'another，an\'goesshoutin\'hometoheavenbyvarioustrails。ButontiltheeventInowrecalls，theremaindershasbeenfreightedeastorwesteverytime，an\'thecampgetsleft。It\'shardluck，butatlastitcomestowardus；an\'tharwebeonedaywithacorpseallour\'n，an\'nopartnershipwithnobodynornothin\'。

"\'It\'sthechanceofourlife，\'saysDocPeets，\'an\'weplaysit。

Thar\'snothin\'toorichforourblood，an\'theseobsequiesisgoin\'

tobespread-eagle，youbet!We\'llshowRedDogan\'sim\'larvillagestheyain\'tsign-campscomparedwithWolfville。\'

"Sowebeginstodrawinourbeltsan\'getabigready。JackKing，asIsaysbefore，iscorpse，eemergin\'outenagameofpokerassech。Whichpriortharto，Jack\'sbeenpeevish，an\'pesterin\'an\'

pervadin\'\'roundforseveraldays。Thecampstandsaheapo\'troublewithhiman\'triestosmoothitalongbygivin\'himhiswhiskeyan\'

hiswayaboutashewants\'em，hopin\'forachange。Butmanisonlyhuman，an\'whenJackstartsinonenighttomakeaflushbeatatrayfullforsevenhundreddollars，heaskstoomuch。

"Tharain\'tnoondertakers，soweroundsuptheoutfit，an\'knowin\'

he\'dtakeaprideinit，an\'dotheslam-upthing，weputsinDocPeetstodealthegameunanimous。

"\'Gents，\'hesays，aswe-allsturnsintotheRedLighttoberefreshed，\'inassoomin\'thepresentpressureIfeelsthecomplimentspaidmeintheseelection。Ishallactforthecreditofthecamp，an\'Ineedsyourhelp。Idesiresthattheseritesbeahowlin\'vict\'ry。Idon\'twantpeoplecomin\'\'roundnextweekallowin\'tharain\'tbeennofuneral，an\'Idon\'treckonmuchthattheywill。We\'vegotthecorpse，an\'ifwegetsbuckedoffnowit\'sourfault。\'

"Soheapp\'intsOldMontean\'DanBoggstogoforaboxforJack，an\'detailsacoupleofniggersfromthecorraltodigatomb。

"\'An\'mindyou-alls，\'saysPeets，`Iwantsthatholeatleastamilefromcamp。Inordertomakeafuneralasuccess，youneedsdistance。

That\'swheredeceasedgetsaction。Itgivestheprocessionachancetospreadan\'showup。Youcan\'tmakenofuneralimposin\'exceptyou\'replumbliberalondistances。\'

"Itallgoessmoothrightoffthereel。Wegetsaboxan\'graveready，an\'Peetssticksupanoticeonthestage-stationdoor，settin\'theexcitementforthird-drinktimenextday。Promptatthedropofthehatthecampletsgoallholdsan\'turnslooseinabodytoputJackthroughright。He\'slaidoutinsplendidshapeintheNewYorkStore，withnothin\'tocomplainofifhe\'saskedtomakethekickhimse\'f。Hehasanewsilknecktie，blueshirtan\'pearlbuttons，trousers，an\'boots。Someone——BensonAnnie，Ireckons——haspastedsomeco\'tplasterovertheholeonhischeek-bonewherethebulletgetsin，an\'all\'roundJacklooksbetterthanIeverseeshim。

"\'Letthecongregationremoveitshats，\'saysPeets，a-settin\'downonaboxupatJack\'shead，\'an\'asmanyascanwillpleasegetsomethin\'tocampon。Now，myfriends，"hecontinues，"tharain\'tnoneedofmyputtin\'onanyfrillsorgettin\'inanyscrollwork。Theobjectsofthisconventionisplainan\'straight。MisterKing，herepresent，isdead。Deceasedisaveryheadstrongperson，an\'persistsyesterdayinentertainin\'viewstouchin\'aclubflush，queenatthehead，whichresultsinlifeeverlastin\'。Now，gents，thisisaracketfullofsolemnity。Wewantsnothin\'butgoodwords。Don\'tmindaboutthetrooth；whichthesameain\'tinplayatafuneral，nohow。WeallknowsJack；weknowshisrecord。Ourinformationisamplethata-way；howhestealsahossatTucson；howberobsagentlastfallatTombstone；howhedownsapartyatCruces；howthatscaronhisneckhegetsfromWells-Fargo\'speoplewhenhestandsupthestageoverontheLordsburgtrail。Butwelaysitallasideto-

day。Wedon\'tcoppernarybet。Yesterdaymornin\'，accompaniedbythereportofaColt\'sforty-five，MisterKing，wholiesyeresocoolan\'easy，leavesustoenterinbehindthegreatwhiteshinin\'gatesofpearlan\'gold，whichswingsinwardtogloryeternal。It\'sagreatsetbackatthistimetharain\'tnosky-pilotinthecamp。

Thisdeeficiencyinsky-pilotsisahossontous，butwedoesourbest。AtatimelikethisIhearsthatsingin\'isagood，safebreak，an\'ItharforecallsonthatlittlegirlfromFlagstafftogiveus"TheDyin\'Ranger。"

"SothelittleFlagstaffgirlcl\'arshervalveswithadrink，an\'

givesusthesong；an\'whentheentirecongregationdrawskyardsonthelastverseitdoeseverybodygood。

"\'FarawayfromhisdearoldTexas，Welaidhimdowntorest；

Withhissaddleforapillow，Andhisgunacrosshisbreast。\'

"ThenPeetsgetsouttheScriptures。\'I\'mgoin\'toreadachapteroutentheseyereTestaments，\'hesays。\'Iain\'tmakin\'noclaimforit，exceptit\'spartofthegamean\'accordin\'toHoyle。Ifthar\'sapreacheryerehe\'ddoit，butbein\'thar\'snosechbrandonthisrangeImakesitasaforcedplaymyse\'f。\'

"Sohereadsus，achapteraboutthesepulcher，an\'MaryMagdalene，an\'theresurrection；an\'everybodytakesitinprofoundasprairie-

dogs，forthat\'stheleadtomake，an\'weknowsit。

"ThenPeetsallowshe\'dliketohearfromanygentondertheheadof\'goodoftheorder。\'

"\'MisterOndertakeran\'Chairman，\'saysJimHamilton，\'Iyieldstoaninwardimpulsetosaythatthisyereplayweighsonmeplumbheavy。Askeeperofthedance-hallIseesaheapofthecorpsean\'

knowshimwell。MisterKingismyfriend，an\'whilehismoodsisvariablean\'oncertain；an\'it\'scl\'arlyworthwhiletowearyourgunwhilehe\'shoverin\'near，Iloveshim。Hehashisweaknesses，asdoweall。Adisp\'sitiontomakenewroolesasheplaysalongforsechgamesofchanceasenjoyshisnoticeisperhapshisgreatestfailin\'。Hisgivin\'waytothishabitisprimar\'lythecauseofhisbein\'garneredin。Ihopeshe\'llgetalongthar，an\'offersasidebet，evenmoney，uptofivehundreddollars，hewill。Hemayalterhissysteman\'standwayupwiththeangelsan\'seraphs，an\'ifwordsfrommecouldfixit，I\'dshorelystack\'emin。Iwouldsayfurtherthatafterconsultin\'withBillyBurns，whokeepstheRedLight，wehas，inhonorofthedeadan\'tomarktheoccasionofhiscashin\'in，agreeduponabusinessdepartureofinteresttoall。

ThisdepartureMisterBurnswillstate。Imournfullygiveswaytohimforsaidpurpose。\'

"\'MisterPeets，an\'ladiesan\'gents，\'saysBurns，\'likeMisterHamilton，whoI\'mproudtomeetyereasgent，citizen，an\'friend，I

knowsdeceased。He\'sagoodman，an\'adead-gamesportfrom\'wayback。Aprotractedwrastlewiththeremorselessdrinksofthefrontierhadbeguntotellonhim，an\'forayearorsohe\'sbeenliabletohavespells。Referrin\'totheremarksofMisterHamilton，Istatesthatbyagreementbetweenusan\'inhonortodeparted，thequotationsonwhiskeyinthisyerecamp，fromnowon，willbetwodrinksfortwobits，insteadofoneasprevious。Wedon\'twanttoonsettletrade，an\'wedon\'tbelievethiswill。Wemakesitasarayoflightinthedarknessan\'gloomofthehour。

"Afterthisyereutterance，whichiswellreceived，weformstheprocession。DocPeets，withtwobuglersfromtheFort，takesthelead，withJackan\'hisboxinoneofthestagecoachescomin\'next。

Enright，Tutt，Boggs，ShortCreekDave，TexasThompson，an\'me，bein\'thesixpallbearers，isonhossesnextinline；an\'JackMoorecommandin\'oftherestoftheoutfit，linesoutpermiscus。

"\'ThisisagreatdayforWolfville，"saysPeets，asheridesupan\'

downtheline。\'Tharain\'tnocampthissideofSt。Looeycouldturnthistrick。WhichIonlywishesJackcouldseeithimse\'f。It\'smorecalculatedtobringthisoutfitintofav\'rablenoticethanalynchin\'。\'

"Atthegraveweturnsinan\'givesthreecheersforKing，an\'threeforDocPeets；an\'lastwegivesthreemorean\'atigerforthecamp。Thebuglerscutslooseeverythin\'theyknows，fromthe\'water-

call\'tothe\'retreat，\'an\'whiletheniggersisa-shovelin\'inthesandwebangsawaywithoursix-shootersforgeneralresultsdelightful。Youcangambletharain\'tbeennofunerallikeitbeforeorsince。

"AtthelastPeetshaulsoutenthestageweusesforJack，aheadboard。Whenit\'ssetupitlookslikeifJackain\'tsatisfied，he\'sshorelyhardtosuit。Onitinbiglettersis:

JaCKKinG

LIfEAiN\'T

IN

HOLDiNGAGOODHAND

BUT

InPLAYiNGAPOREHANdWeLL。

"\'Yousees，wehastoworkinalittlesentiment，\'saysDocPeets。

"Thenwedetailstheniggerstostandwatch-an\'-watcheverynighttillfurtherorders。No；weain\'tafraidJack\'llgetoutnone，butthecoyotesisshoreduetocomean\'digforhim，sotheniggershastostandgyard。Wedon\'tallowtofindspec\'mensofJackspread\'roundlooseafterallthetroublewetakes。"

CHAPTERII。

THESTINGINGLIZARD。

"Thar\'snosorterdoubttoit，"saidtheOldCattlemanafteralongpausedevotedtomeditation，andfinallytotherefillingofhiscobpipe，"tharain\'ttheslightestroomforcavilbutthemceremoniesoverJackKing，deceased，isthemostsatisfactorypageantWolfvilleeverpromotes。"

ItwasatthispointIprovedmycunningbysayingnothing。Iwaspleasedtoheartheoldmantalk，andrightlytheorizedthatthebettermethodofinvokinghisreminiscencesjustatthistimewastosayneveraword。

"However，"hecontinued，"Idon\'treckonit\'smanyweeksafterwefollowsJacktothetomb，whenwecomesaheapnearschedoolin\'

anotherfuneral，withthegeneralpublica-contributin\'ofthecorpse。Tobespeecific，Ireferstoaoccasionwhenwe-allscomespowerfulclosetolynchin\'CherokeeHall。

"Idon\'tmindonbosomin\'myselfaboutit。It\'sallamisonderstandin\'；thesamebein\'Cherokee\'sfaultcomplete。Wedon\'tknowhimmore\'ntomerelydrinkwithatthateepock，an\'he\'sthatslyan\'furtiveinhisplays，an\'covershistrailssospeshul，henacherallybreedssechsuspicionsthatwhenthestagebeginstobestoodupreg\'laronceaweek，an\'allonaccountable，Cherokeecomesmightyclosetoculminatin\'inarope。Whichgoestoshowthatyoucan\'tbetooopenan\'freeinyourgame，an\'Cherokeewouldtellyousohimse\'f。

"ThisyeretangleI\'mthinkin\'ofain\'tmore\'namonthafterCherokeetakestoresidin\'inWolfville。Hecomestrailin\'inoneevenin\'fromTucson，an\'onfoldsalayoutan\'goestoturnin\'faro-

bankintheRedLight。Nooneremarksthispartic\'lar，whichsaidspectaclesisfrequent。ThegeneralideeisthatCherokee\'sonthesquar\'an\'hisgameisstraight，an\'ofcoursepublicinterestdon\'tdelvenofurtherintohisaffairs。

"Cherokee，himse\'f，isoneoftheseyereslim，silentpeoplewhoain\'ttalkin\'much，an\'hiseyeforcolorisoneofthemrawgrays，likeanewbowie。

"It\'sperhapsthethirddaywhenCherokeebeginstostruggleintopublicnotice。Thar\'safelonwhosenameisBoone，butwhocallshimse\'fthe\'Stingin\'Lizard，\'an\'who\'sbeenpesterin\'\'roundWolfville，mebby，it\'samonth。ThisyereStingin\'LizardistharwhenCherokeecomesintocamp；an\'itlooksliketheStingin\'Lizardtakesanotionag\'inCherokeefromthejump。

"NotthatthisyereLizardislikelytocontrolpublicfeelin\'inthematter；nonewhatever。He\'ssomeonpop\'larhimself。He\'stootoomultuousforonething，an\'hehasahabitofmolestin\'toweristsan\'folkshedon\'tknowatall，whichpallsondisinterestedpeoplewhohasdootiestoperform。AboutonceaweekthisLizardmangoesan\'getsthetreemers，an\'thenthecamphastosetupwithhimtillhisvisionssubsides。Factis，he\'swhatyou-allsEastcalls\'adisturbin\'element，\'an\'wemakesreadytohanghimonceortwice，butsomethin\'comesupan\'putsitoff，an\'wesorterneglectsit。

"ButasIsays，hetakesanotionag\'inCherokee。It\'sthethirdnightafterCherokeegetsin，an\'he\'sca\'mlybehindhisboxattheRedLight，wheninperamb\'latesthisLizard。SeemslikeCherokee，bein\'oneofthemquietwolves，foolsuptheLizardalot。ThisLizard\'sbeenhostilean\'blood-hungryallday，an\'IreckonsheallatoncerecallsCherokee；an\'，deemin\'ofhimeasy，heallowshe\'llgoan\'chewhismanesomeforrelaxation。

"IfIwaslowan\'ornerylikethisLizard，Iain\'tnoneshorebutI\'dbefooledthemdaysonCherokeemyse\'f。He\'sbeenfretfulabouthiswhiskey，Cherokeehas，——puttin\'itupshedon\'ttasteright，whichnotonlikelyitdon\'t；butbeyondpickin\'flawsinhisnose-

painttharain\'tmuchtotakeholdonabouthim。He\'ssosliman\'

noiselessbesides，tharain\'tnoneofusbutfiggersthisyereStingin\'Lizard\'sduetostampedehimifhetries；whichmakeswhatfollowsallthemoreimpressive。

"SotheLizardprojectsalongintotheRedLight，whoopin\'an\'

carryin\'onbyhimse\'f。Straightwayhegoesupag\'instCherokee\'slayout。

"Idon\'tbuynochips，"saystheLizardtoCherokee，ashegetsinopposite。"Iputsmoneyinplay；an\'whenIwinsIwantsmoneysim\'lar。Thar\'sfiftydollarsonthekingcoppered；an\'fiftydollarsontheeightopen。Turnyourkyards，an\'turn\'emsquar\'。Ifyoudon\'t，I\'llpeeltheha\'ran\'hideplumboffthetopofyourhead。"

"CherokeelooksattheLizardsortersoopercillusan\'indifferent；

buthedon\'tsaynothin\'。Hegoesonwiththedeal，an\'，thekyardscomin\'thata-way，hetakesintheLizard\'stwobets。

"Durin\'thenextdealtheLizardain\'tsayin\'muchdirect，butkeepscussin\'an\'wranglin\'tohimse\'f。Buthe\'sgettin\'hismoneyupallthetime；an\'withthefiftydollarsheloseontheturn，he\'sshymebbyfourhundredan\'fiftyattheclose。

"\'Bein\'intheholeaboutfivehundreddollars，\'saystheLizard，inamannerwhichisaheaponrespectful，\'an\'sothatawayfarin\'

gentmaynotbemisledtorooinutter，Inowrisestoaskwhatforalimitdoyouputonthisdeadfallanyhow？\'

"\'Thebridle\'splumbofftoyou，amigo，\'saysCherokee，an\'histonesissomehard。Inoticesitallrightenough，\'causeI\'mdoin\'

businessatthetablemyse\'fatthetime，an\'keepin\'likewisecaseonthegame。`Thebridle\'splumboffforyou，\'saysCherokee，\'soanynotionyouentertainsinfavorofbankruptin\'ofyourse\'fquickmayriotrightalong。\'

"\'You\'redeadshoreofthat？\'saystheLizardwithasneer。`NowI

reckonsathousand-dollarbetwouldscarethispuerilegameyoudealsa-screechin\'upatreeorintoahole，tooeasy。\'

"`Ineverlikestoseenogentstrugglin\'inthecoilsoferror，\'

saysCherokee，withasneerasizelargerthantheLizard\'s；`I

don\'tknowwhatwadsofwealththemporeoldclothesofyoursconceals，butjestthesameItellsyouwhatI\'lldo。Climbrightontothelayout，body，soul，an\'roll，an\'putafiggeronyourworthlessse\'f，an\'I\'llturnyouforthewholeshootin\'-match。

You\'reinyeretomakethingsinterestin\'，Iseesthat，an\'I\'llvoylatemybusinessprinciplesan\'takeanightofftoentertainyou。\'An\'yereCherokeelugsoutarollofbillsbigenoughtochokeacow。

"\'IgoesyouifIlose，\'saystheStingin\'Lizard。Thenassoomin\'asooperiorair，heremarks:\'Mebbyit\'sadrinkbackonthetrailwhenIhasmisgivin\'sastotherectitoodofthisyerebraceyou\'redealin\'。Bein\'public-speritedthata-way，inmyfirstfrenzyI

allowsI\'lltakemygunan\'abateitawholelot。Butaca\'mermoodcomeson，an\'Idecides，asnotbein\'solikelytodisturbapeace-

lovin\'camp，Iremovesthistrapfortheonwarybymerelybustin\'

thebank。Thar，\'goesontheStingin\'Lizard，atthesametimedumpin\'alargewadonthelayout，\'thar\'sevenfourthousanddollars。Rollyourgameforthatjestasitlays。\'

"\'Straightenupyourdust，\'saysCherokee，hiseyesgettin\'akindofgleaminto\'em，\'straightenupyourstuffan\'getitsome\'ers。

Don\'tleaveitallspraddledoverthescene。Iturnsforitreadyenough，butweain\'tgoin\'toarguenoneastowhereitlaysafterthekyardfalls。\'

"Therestofuswho\'sbeenbuckin\'thegamemoderatean\'rightcashesinatthis，an\'leavesanonobstructedclothtotheStingin\'

Lizard。Thisyere\'smorecautionthangoodnacher。Aslongasfolksisbettin\'alonginlimits，sayonderfiftydollars，tharain\'tnoshootin\'likelytoensoo。Butwheneveragamegetsimmoderatethata-way，an\'thelimit\'soff，an\'thingsisgoin\'thatlocoedtheybeginstoplayathousandan\'overonakyardan\'screamforaction，gentsofexperiencestandsreadytogotoduckin\'leadan\'dodgin\'

bulletsinstanter。

"Buttoresoome:TheStingin\'Lizardlinesuphisstuff，an\'thedealbegins。Itain\'tthirtysecondstillthebankwins，an\'theStingin\'Lizardisthewrongsideofthelayoutfromhismoney。Hetakesitonusualugly，onlyheain\'tsayin\'much。Hesa\'ntersovertothebar，an\'getsabigdrink。Cherokeeisrifflin\'thedeck，butInoteshe\'sgothisgrayeyeontheStingin\'Lizard，an\'myrespectforhimincreasesrapid。Iseesheain\'tgoin\'togettheworstofnodeal，an\'isorganizedtoprotecthisgameplumbthroughifthisLizardmakesabreak。"\'Doyou——allknowwhereIhailsfrom？\'askstheStingin\'Lizard，comin\'backtoCherokeeafterhe\'sdonehidhisdrink。

"\'WhichIshorelydon\'t；\'saysCherokee。\'Ihasfromtimetotimemuchworthlessinformationthrustuponme，butsofarIescapesallnewsofyoucomplete。\'

"\'WhereIcomesfrom，whichisTexas，\'saystheLizard，ignorin\'ofCherokee\'smanner，thesamebein\'someinsultin\'，`theyteachesthebabiestwothings，-nevereatyourownbeef，an\'neverletnokyard-

thiefdownyou:

"\'Whichishighlythrillin\'，\'saysCherokee，\'asreminiscencesofyouryooth，butwheredoesyou-allgetactionon\'eminArizona？\'

"\'WhereIgetsactionwon\'tbenoquestionlong，\'saystheLizard，mightytruculent。\'Inowannouncesthatthisyeregameisaskinan\'

abrace。TharforeIreturnsformymoney；an\'，tobefrank，I

returnsa-shootin\':

"It\'satthisp\'intwe-allswhorepresentsthepublickicksbackourchairsan\'stampedesoutenrange。AstheLizardmakeshisbluffhishandgoestohisartillerylikeaflash。

"TheLizard\'ssomequick，butCherokee\'stoosoonforhim。WiththefirstmoveoftheLizard\'shand，hesearchesoutabowiefromsom\'ersbackofhisneck。I\'msomeemployedplacin\'myse\'fatthetime，an\'don\'tdecernitnonetillCherokeebringsitoverhisshoulderlikeastreamofwhitelight。

"It\'sshoregreatknife-work。CherokeegivestheLizardaigeanp\'int，an\'allinonemotion。BeforetheLizardmore\'nliftshisweepon，Cherokeehalfslasheshisgun-handoffatthewrist；an\'

then，jestastheLizardbeginstowonderatit，hegetsthenine-

inchbladeplumbthroughhisneck。He\'sletoutrightthar。

"\'ItlookslikeIhasmoreofthisthingtodo，\'saysCherokee，an\'

histoneshowshe\'shalf-waymournin\'overit，`thananysportintheTerritory。Itriestokeepoutenthis，butthatLizardgentwouldhaveit。\'

"Afterthekillin\'，Enrightan\'DocPeets，withBoggs，Tutt，an\'

JackMoore，sortertalksitoverquiet，an\'allowsit\'sallright。

"\'ThisStingin\'Lizardgent，\'saysEnright，hasbeenprojectin\'

\'roundlustin\'fortroublenow，mebbyit\'ssixweeks。It\'samazin\'

tomehelastsaslongashedoes，an\'itspeaksvolumesfortheforbearin\'，law-abidingtemperoftheWolfvillepublic。ThisLizard\'samightyoppressiveperson，an\'aheapobnoxious；an\'whileIdon\'tlikeaknifenonemyse\'fasatrailout，an\'inclinestodistrustagentwhodoes，Is\'poseit\'safterallaheapamatteroftastean\'thewayyourfolksbringsyouup。Ileanstotheview，gents，thatthisyerecorpseisconstructedonthesquar\'。Whatdoyou-allthink，Peets？\'

"\'Ientertainsideassim\'lar，\'saysDocPeets。\'OfcourseItakesitthiskyard-sharp，Cherokee，aimstoburyhisdead。Henacherallyain\'tlook。in\'forthecamptogo\'roundcleanin\'upafterhimnone。\'"That\'sabouthowitstands。NobodyfindsfaultwithCherokee，an\'asheupsan\'plantstheStingin\'Lizard\'sremainderthenextday，makin\'thedealwithastainedbox，crape，an\'thefullregalia，itallleavesthecampwithamightydecentimpression。Byfirst-drinktimeintheevenin\'ofthesecondday，weain\'tthinkin\'nomoreaboutit。

"Nowyou-allbeginstomarvelwheredowegettothehangin\'ofCherokeeHall？We\'reworkin\'intowardsitnow。

"Yousees，followin\'theStingin\'Lizard\'sjumpintothemistybeyond——whichit\'sthatsuddenIofferstwotoonethemangelsnotesalookofs\'priseontheStingin\'Lizard\'sfaceastohowhecomestomakethetrip-Cherokeegoesondealin\'farosameasusual。AsI

saysbefore，heain\'tnotalker，nohow；nowhesayslessthanever。

"Butwhatstrikesusasonusualis，hesaddlesupapintoponyhe\'sgotovertothecorral，an\'jumpsoffeverynowan\'thenfortwoan\'

threedaysataclatter。Nooneknowswherehep\'intsto，more\'nhesayshe\'sdueoverinTucson。TheseyerevacationsofCherokee\'sisallinthemonthaftertheStingin\'Lizardgetsdowned。"It\'saboutthistime，too，thestagegetsheldupsechascand\'lousnumberoftimesitgivespeopleatiredfeelin\'。Allbyoneparty，too。HemerelyprancesoutinonexpectedplaceswithaWinchester；standsupthestageinanonconcernedway，an\'thengoesthrougheverythin\'

an\'everybody，frommail-bagstopassengers，likethegraceofheaventhroughacamp-meetin\'。Nacheral，itallcreatesaheapofdisgust。"\'Ifthisyereindustrioushold-upkeepsuphislick，\'saysTexasThompsonaboutthethirdtimethestagegetsrustled，`an\'

headsoffafewmorelettersofmine，allIhastosayismywifebackinLaredoain\'tgoin\'toonderstanditnone。Sheain\'tlottin\'

muchonmenohow，an\'ifthecorrespondencebetweenusgetsmuchmorefitful，she\'sgoin\'p\'intin\'outforadivorce。Thisdeal\'sliabletoturnasplitformeinmydomesticaffairs。\'An\'that\'sthewaywe-allsfeels。ThisstageagentisshorelyindisrepootsomeinWolfville。Ifhe\'dbeenshakin\'upRedDog\'sletter-bags，wewouldn\'thavemindedsomuch。

"Ineverdoesknowwho\'sthefirsttothinkofCherokeeHall，butallatonceit\'sallovercampTalkin\'itover，it\'snoticedmightysoonthat，comerighttocases，nooneknowshisrecord，wherehe\'sbeenorwhyhe\'syere。Thenhisstampedin\'outofcamplikehe\'sbeendoin\'foramonthistoomanyforus。

"\'IputsnotrustinthemTucsonlieshetells，neither，\'saysDocPeets。\'Whateverwouldhebeshakin\'upoverinTucson？Hisgame\'syere，an\'thistheerythathe\'sgottogoscatterin\'overtharonceaweekissomegauzy。\'

"\'That\'swhatever，\'saysDanBoggs，whoallerstrailsinafterDocPeets，an\'playsthesamesystememphatic。An\'Isaysmyse\'f，notfindin\'nofaultwithBoggstharfor，thatthisyerePeetsisthefinest-eddicatedan\'levelest-headedsharpinArizona。

"\'Well，\'saysJackMoore，whoasIsaysbeforedoestheropeworkfortheStranglers，\'ifyou-allsgetsitsettledthatthisfarogent\'sturnin\'themtrickswiththestagean\'mail-bags，thesoonerhe\'sswingin\'tothewindmill，thesoonerwehearsfromourlovedonesathome。Whatdoyousay，Enright？\'

"\'Why，\'saysEnright，allthoughtful，\'Ireckonsit\'sacase。S\'poseyoucaperoverwherehefeedsattheO。K。Housean\'bringhimtous。

Thesignsan\'signal-smokesshorelyp\'intstothisyereCherokeeasourmeat；butthesethingshastobedoneinorder。Bringhimin，Jack，an\'，tosaveanothertrip，s\'poseyoubringalariatfromthecorralatthesametime。\'

"Itdon\'ttakeMoorenotimetothrowagunonCherokeewherehe\'sconsoomin\'flapjacksattheO。K。House，an\'tellhimthecommitteeneedshimattheNewYorkStore。Cherokeedon\'tbucknone，butcomesalong，passiveasatabbycat。

"\'Whatever\'sthehockkyardtoallthis？\'hesaystoJackMoore。\'IsitthisStingin\'Lizardplayamonthago？\'

"\'No，\'saysMoore，"t\'ain\'tquitesechancienthist\'ry。It\'sstagecoaches。Thar\'sapasselofpeopledownyereasallowsyou\'vebeenrustlin\'themails。\'

"OldManRucker，whokeepstheO。K。House，isawaywhenMooreroundsuphisparty。ButMissisRucker\'sthar，an\'thewaythatoldladytalkstoEnrightan\'thecommitteeisashame。Shecomesovertothestore，too，alongofMoorean\'Cherokee，an\'prancesinan\'

comesmightynearstampedin\'thewholeoutfit。

"\'Seeyere，SamEnright，\'sheshouts，wipin\'herhandsonherbib，\'whatbeyou-allsaimin\'fortodo？Linin\'up，Is\'posetohangtheonlydecentmanintown？\'

"\'Ma\'am，\'saysEnright，\'thisyeresharpis\'cusedofstandin\'upthestagethemtimesrecentoverbyTucson。Doyouknowanythin\'

aboutit？\'

"\'No；Idon\'t，\'saysMissisRucker。\'Youdon\'treckon，now，Ididitnone，doyou？Isaysthis，though；it\'saheapsightmorelikelysomedrunkarda-settin\'rightyereonthiscommitteestopsthemstagesthanCherokeeHall。\'

"\'Woman\'snacher\'sthatemotional，\'saysEnrighttotherestofus，\'she\'soncapableofdoin\'right。Whileshe\'stheloveliestofcreatedthings，stillsechistheinfirmitiesofherintellects，thatgov\'mentwouldbogdowninitsmostimportantfunctions，iflefttowoman。\'

"\'Bogdownornot，\'saysMissisRucker，gettin\'redan\'heated，\'youfoolssettin\'uptharlikeabandofprairie-dogsdon\'thangthisyereCherokeeHall。\'Notherthing，youain\'tgoin\'tohangnobodytothewindmillag\'innohow。Ihasmyworktodo，an\'thar\'senoughonmyhands，feedin\'sechswineasyou-allsthreetimesaday，withouthavin\'tocutdowndeadfolksoutenmywayeverytimeIgoesforabucketofwater。You-allstakesnoticenow；youdon\'thangnothin\'

tothewindmillnomore。AsforthisyereCherokee，heain\'tstoppednomorestagesthanIbe。\'

"\'Butyouseesyourse\'f，ma\'am，youhasn\'ttheslightestevidencetharof，\'saysEnright，tryin\'tosootheherdown。

"\'Ihas，however，what\'samightysightbetterthanevidence，\'saysMissisRucker，\'an\'that\'smyfirmconvictions。\'

"\'Well，seeyere，\'saysCherokee，who\'sbeenlistenin\'allpeaceful，\'letmeinonthis。Whatbeyou-allsdoin\'thison？IreckonsI\'mentitledtoalookatyourhandformymoney。\'

"Enrightgoesonan\'laysitoffforCherokee；howhe\'soutencampeverytimethestageisrobbed，an\'theideeisabroadhedoesit。

"\'Asthekyardslayinthebox，\'saysCherokee，\'Idon\'treckonthar\'smuchdoubtbutyou-allswillwindupthedealbyhangin\'me？\'

"\'It\'sshorelyfivetoonethata-way，\'saysEnright。\'AlthoughI\'mboundtosayitain\'tnonedecisiveasyet。\'

"\'Thetroothis，\'saysCherokee，sorterthoughtful，\'Iwasn\'taimin\'

tobehungnonethisautumn。Iain\'tgottime，gents，foronething，an\'hasarrangedaheapdiff\'rent。Inthenextplace，Ineverstandsupnostage。\'

"\'That\'swhattheyallsays，\'putsinBoggs，who\'samightyimpatientman。\'Ishorelynotesnoreasonwhywe-allscan\'tproceedwiththisyerelynchin\'atonce。S\'posethisCherokeeain\'tstoodupnostage；he\'sdoneplentyofotherthingsasmeritsdeath。Itstrikesmethar\'sasightofonnecessarytalkyere。"

"\'Ifyouain\'toutworkingtheroad，\'saysDocPeetstoCherokee，notheedin\'ofBogg\'spetulance，\'themstage-robbin\'times，s\'poseyouonfoldswhereyouwasat？"

"Well，son，nottostringthisyerestoryoutlonger\'nthreedrinks，yereishowitis:ThisCherokeeitlookslikeissoft-heartedthata-way，——whatyoucallsromantic。An\'itseemslikewisethatshovin\'

theStingin\'Lizardfromshorethattimesortertakesadvantagean\'

feedsonhim。Sohegoesbrowsin\'\'roundthepostmasterallcasooal，an\'putsquestions。Cherokeegetsap\'interaboutsomeyearlin\'orotherinTucsonthisStingin\'Lizardsendsmoneytoan\'makesgoodfor，whichhefindsthesametobefactoncaperin\'over。It\'sanephyorsomesechplay。An\'theStingin\'Lizardhastheyoungonestakedoutoverthar，an\'isputtin\'upforhisraimentan\'gruballreg\'larenough。

"\'WhichIyereafterbacksthisinfant\'splaymyse\'f，\'saysCherokeetothebarkeepoftheOrientalSaloonoverinTucson，whichisthepartytheStingin\'Lizardpasturestheyoungoneon。\'You\'reallright，Bill，\'goesonthisCherokeetothebarkeep，\'butnowIgoesbackoftheboxforthisinfantboy，IreckonsI\'llsawhimoffontoapreacher，orsomesharpsim\'lar，wherehegetsaChristianexample。Whateverdoyouthink？\'

"Thebarkeepsayshimse\'fheallowsit\'stheplaytomake。Sohean\'

Cherokeegoessurgin\'\'round，an\'atlasttheycampstheboy——who\'ssevenyearscomin\'grass——ontheonlypulpit-sharpinTucson。Thisgospel-spreadersayshe\'llfeedan\'beddowntheboyforsomesum；

whichwasshoreagiantone，butthefiggersInowforgets。

"Cherokeegiveshimastackofbluestostarthisgame，an\'isnowpesterin\'\'roundinaco\'ttryin\'togettheyoungonecounter-

brandedfromtheStingin\'Lizard\'soutfitintohis，an\'giventhenameofCherokeeHall。That\'swhattakeshimovertoTucsonthemtimes，an\'notstage-robbin\'。

"Twodayslater，infact，tomakeshorealldoubtsisover，Cherokeeevenringsinsaiddivineonus；whichthedivinetellsthesamestory。Idon\'treckonnowhe\'smuchofapreacherneither；forhegivesWolfvilleonewhirlforluckoverinthewarehousebackoftheNewYorkStore，an\'Ishorehears\'emasmakesamightysightmorenoise，an\'bangstheBibletwiceashard，backintheStates。IsayssotoCherokee；butheputsituphedon\'tbanknoneonhispreachin\'。

"\'WhatIaimsat，\'saysCherokee，\'issomeonewhoridesherdontheboyallright，an\'don\'tlethimstampedeoffnoneintoviciousways。\'

"\'Whydon\'tyoukeepthecampinformedofthisyereorphanan\'theplayyoumakes？\'saysEnright，atthetimeit\'sexplainedtothecommittee，——thetimetheytreesCherokeeaboutthemstages。

"\'It\'sthatbenev\'lentan\'mushy，\'saysCherokee，\'I\'mplumbashamedofthedeal，an\'don\'tallowtogopostin\'nonoticestharof。Butalongcomesthisyerehold-upbusiness，an\'，allinadvertent，tipsmyhand；whichthesameIstands，however，jestthesame。\'

"\'It\'sallright，\'saysEnright，somedisgustedthough；\'butthenexttimeyoumakesthemfoundlin\'asylumtrips，don\'twalkinthewatersomuch。LeaveyourtrailsoWolfvilleseesit，an\'thenfolksain\'tsolikelytojumpyourcampinthedarkan\'taketoshootin\'

youupforInjunsan\'sim\'larhostiles。\'

"\'Butonethingmore，\'continuesEnright，an\'thenweordersthedrinks。JackMooreisyerebyinstructedtopresentthecomplimentsofthecommitteetoRucker，whenhetrailsinfromTucson；whichhealsonotifieshimtohobblehiswifeyereafterdurin\'sessionsofthisbody。She\'snottogodraggin\'herlariat\'roundloosenomore，settin\'lawan\'orderatdefiancedurin\'sechhoursasisgiventobusinessbytheStranglers。"

CHAPTERIII。

THESTORYOFWILKINS

"No；Idon\'treckonIevercutsthetrailofthisyereWilsonyoumentions，once。IfIdoes，thefact\'sdonepulleditspicket-pinan\'

strayedfrommyrecollections。"

Ihadrecalledthenameofaformerfriend，oneWilson，who，soregiventoliquor，haddriftedtoArizonamanyyearsbeforeanddisappeared。Suggesting"Wilson"totheOldCattleman，IaskedifhehadmetwithsuchanameandcharacterinhisWolfvillerambles。

Asoftenchanced，however，thequestionborefruitinastory。Itfrequentlyneededbutaslightblowfromtherodofcasualinquiry，andthefountainsofmyoldfriend\'sreminiscencesgushedforth。

"No，Inevercrossesupwithhim，"observedtheoldCattleman；"butspeakin\'ofWilsonputsinmymindagentbythenameofWilkins，whoit\'ssomelikelyisasdisrepootableasyouroldpardWilson。"

"WhataboutWilkins？"Iasked。

"Nothin\'thrillin\'，"answeredtheoldgentleman；"nothin\'you\'dstayupnightstohear，Idon\'treckon。It\'sWilkins\'sdaughterwhoistheonlyredeemin\'thingabouttheoldCimmaron；an\'it\'saheaplikelyrightnowit\'sherIremembersaboutinsteadofhim。

"Notatall，"hecontinued，"Idon\'tmindonfoldin\'astoWilkins，noryetofan\'concernin\'hisdaughter。YouseethisWilkinsisherdin\'\'roundWolfvillewhenIfirsttrailsin。Ineverdoesknowwherehehailsfrom。Idon\'treckon\'though，heevergradesnowayshigh，an\'atthecrisisI\'mmentionin\'hisspeshulplayisgettin\'

drunkmostly；an\'notallowin\'tohurthimse\'fnonewithwork。

"\'Workin\'withyourfins，\'saysthisWilkins，\'islowan\'

onendoorin\'toagentwithpridetowound。Itain\'tnouseneither。

Iknowsfolksasworks，an\'folksasdon\'t，an\'youcan\'ttellonefromwhich。Theygetsalongentirelysim\'lar。

"\'Buthowyougoin\'tolive？\'saysDaveTutt，whenhemakesthisremark，an\'whoisfussin\'withWilkinsforbein\'soreedic\'lousan\'

shiftless。

"\'That\'sallrightaboutmylivin\'，\'saysWilkins；\'don\'tyou-allpassnorestlessnightsonmyaccount。GoreadyourScriptures；readthatbluffaboutfeedin\'theyoungravensan\'sparrers。Well，that\'smethistrip。I\'mgoin\'torapforashow-downonthempromisesan\'

seewhat\'sin\'em。\'

"\'Thiscampain\'tstrongonHolyWrit，nohow，\'saysDaveTutt，\'an\'

I\'mpartic\'larpunythata-way。It\'syourgamethough，an\'yourAmericanjedgementgoessoopremeastohowyouplaysit。\'

"ThisWilkinslivesinawickeyupoutontheaigeofthetown，an\'agirl，whichshe\'shisdaughter，about19yearsold，keepscampforhim。Nooneknowsherwell。Shestaysonherreservationmightyclose，an\'neverseemsvisiblemuch。InoticesherintheNewYorkStoreonce，buyin\'somesalthoss，an\'sheain\'tnodreamoflovelinessneitherastolooks。

"Herfacemakesyoufeelshe\'sgoodpeoplethough，withherbigsofteyes。Theyhasatired，broke-downlook，likesomehowshe\'sbeenpackedmore\'nshecancarry，an\'hastwoorthreenotionsaboutlayin\'downwiththeload。

"It\'smebbytwoweeksafterDaveTutt\'stalkwithWilkins，whenwe\'reallintheRedLighttakin\'ourfortydrops，an\'SamEnrightbringsupthisyereWilkins。

"\'Ithasbeenaquestionwithme，\'hesays，\'howthisoldshorthornandhisgirlmanagesfortomakeout；an\'whileIcarenonewhateverforWilkins，itain\'tnocredittoalivecamplikethistopermitayoungfemaletosuffer，an\'Ipausesyeretoadd，itain\'tgoin\'tooccurnomore。Yesterday，allowin\'tobushwhacksometroothabout\'em，IwaitstilloldWilkinsdriftsovertothecorral，an\'thenI

goesprojectin\'\'roundforfacts。Iworksitplentycunnin\'，an\'

sorterhappensuptotheoldman\'stepee。Icallsthegirloutan\'

putsitupIwantstoseeherpawaheaponsomebusiness。

"\'"Iwantstoseehimspeshul，"\'Isays。

"\'"Well，heain\'therenow，"\'saysthegirl，"sowhatever\'llyoudo？"\'

"\'"Idon\'treckonyoucouldprance\'roundsomean\'findhimforme，couldyou，Miss？"\'Isays。

"\'Sothegirl，\'continuesEnright，\'whichhernameisSusan，putsonhershakeran\'goesstampedin\'off；an\'whileshe\'sgoneIinjunsan\'spies\'roundawholelot；an\'，comin\'downtotheturn，Wilkinsan\'thatgirlain\'tgotnothin\'toeat。Thequestionnowis，whatactiondoesWolfville\'naugerateatajuncturesechasthis？\'

"\'What\'sthematterwithtakin\'upadonationliketheydoesforapreacher，an\'sawitontothegirl？\'saysDanBoggs。

"\'Youcouldn\'topenyourgamethata-way，nohow，\'saysDocPeets。

\'That\'saccordin\'toHoyleforsky-pilotsan\'missionarypeople；butayoungfemalea-hoidin\'ofherse\'fhighspurnsyourmoney。Thar\'snothin\'ketchesmelikeafemaleofmyspeciesindistress，an\'I

recallsofferin\'tostakealady，who\'slosthermoneysomehow，backinSt。Looeyonce。Thisyerefemalewasstrangetomeentire，butifshe\'dknowedmefrom\'waybackshecouldn\'ta-blazedupmorefrightful。TheminuteIpullsmybankrollonher，shegoescavortin\'