第2章

offtoohostiletotalk。Ittakestenminutestogetherbacktotheagencytohearme\'pologize，an\'eventhensheglaresan\'snortslikeshe\'sliabletostampedeag\'in。No；youdon\'twanttotryan\'

givethisgirlnomoney。Whatwe-allsneedsistohuntupsomethin\'

forhertoworkatan\'payher。\'

"\'TheDoc\'sright，\'saysEnright，\'an\'thethingistofindsomethin\'forthisyereladytodo。Anygentwithanotiononthesubjectcan\'tspeaktooquick。\'

"\'Nopartyneedtakemyremarksaspersonal，\'saysBurns，whorunstheRedLight，\'asnothin\'invidjousisintended；butIrisestosaythataheapofmybusinessisoncredit。Agentcomesinfreean\'

sociable，nameshissozodont，an\'getsit。Ifhepayscash，allright；ifhewantscredit，allright。"Younamesyourdaytodrink，an\'younamesyourdaytopay，"ismymotto，asyou-allsknows。Thisbein\'troo，onderpresentexigenceswhatforaschemewoulditbeformetogetanoutfitofbooks，——day-books，week-books，ledgers，an\'therestofthelayout，——an\'letthisyeremaidenkeep\'emawholelot？Ithrowsthisoutasasu\'gestion。\'

"\'Iain\'tmeanin\'nothin\'ag\'instBurns\'ssu\'gestion，\'saysTexasThompson，\'butinmyopinionthiscampain\'tripeforkeepin\'booksasyet。Thingslikethathastobecometobydegrees。I\'veknowedaheapoftroublearisefromkeepin\'books，an\'aslongasthisyere\'sapeacefulcamplet\'skeepitthata-way。\'

"\'Thatsettlesit，\'saysBurns，\'thar\'senoughsaid，an\'Idon\'tkeepnobooks。\'

"\'You-allspresentknowsme，\'saysCherokeeHall，who，asIsaysprevious，isturnin\'farointheRedLight，\'an\'mostofyouhasmetmefrequentinabusinessway。Thar\'smygamegoin\'everynightreg\'lar。Thar\'snothin\'tin-hornaboutit。Itain\'tnoskingameneither。Anygentwithdoubtscanstepoveran\'testmybox，whichhe\'llfindallcomfortableonthelayoutawaitin\'hisconvenience。

Itain\'tbeenusualformetoblowmyownbazootoanyextent，an\'I

onlydoesitnowasbein\'preliminarytothestatementthatmygameain\'tnodeadfall，an\'isoneasarespectablean\'virchusfemalepersoncouldsetinonwithperfectsafetytoodtoherreputation。

Thisyereladyinquestionneedslight，reg\'laremployment，an\'I

letsitflythatifshewantsinonanysechdealI\'llgoherabluestackaweektoholddownthechairaslook-outformygame。\'

"\'Cherokee\'sofferisallright，\'saysEnright；\'it\'sgoodtalkfromasquar\'man。Women，however，ispartic\'lar，an\'likehossestheyshiesatthingstharain\'tnodangerin。Youseeshowthatis；awomandon\'treasonnothin\'，shefeelsan\'mightylikelythisyoungpersonisloadedtothegyardswithsechnotionsag\'ingamblin\'aswouldsendherflyin\'atthebaremention。Thefactis，Ithinksofsomethin\'sim\'lar，buthastogiveitup。Ifiggers，firstdashouto\'thebox，thatasafe，easytrailtohighgroundistogiveheratablean\'letherdealalittlestudfortheboys。Thisyerewouldn\'tbenoresk，an\'therakeisashorethingfornineortendollarsanight。Bein\'abenev\'lence，Iknowstheboyswouldsetinmightyfree，an\'thetroublewouldbecorraledrightthar。WiththisyereinmymindItapshergentlyaboutourvariousgameswhenI

callsforherpaw；an\'toputitstraight，shetakesitreluctantan\'disgustedatthemerehint。Ofcoursewe-allshastostandthesethingsfromwoman，an\'wemightaswellp\'intupsomeotherwayan\'

notimelost。\'

"\'Don\'tyou-allsreckonfortomakeaspeshulrakeonallpokergoin\'，sameasaboutthatYallerhousegent，mightbeanondefeasiblewaytogetattheneckofthisbusiness？\'saysDaveTutt。\'Imerelyasksitasaquestion。\'

"\'Thatwouldn\'tdo，\'saysDocPeets，\'butanyhowyerecomesWilkinshow，an\'if，asEnrightsays，the\'reoutofchuckuphisway，I

reckonsI\'llloseasmallbettotheoldshorthornontilsechtimesaswedevisessomeschemeallreg\'lar。\'

"\'Howdy，Wilkins？\'saysDoc，mightygayan\'genial，\'how\'sthingsstackin\'up？\'

"\'Mightyornery，\'saysWilkins。

"\'Feellikemakin\'alittlewagerthisA。M。？\'saysDoc。

"\'Whatdoyou-allwanttogambleat？\'saysWilkins。

"\'Oh，\'saysDoc，\'I\'mfeelin\'aheapcarelessaboutwhatIdogambleat。S\'poseIgoesyoutendollars\'sworthofgrubtheLordsburgbuckboarddon\'tshowupnoneto-day？\'

"\'IfIhadtendollarsI\'daboutcallyoualotonthat，\'saysWilkins，\'butI\'maporecussan\'ain\'tgotnotendollars，an\'

what\'stheuse？Noneofyou-allsain\'tgotnoRedLightwhiskey-

chipsyouain\'tusin\'，beyou？S\'poseyou-allsgropesaboutinyourwar-bagsan\'sees。I\'mneedin\'ofadrinkmightybad。\'

"OldWilkinslookssomequeerabouttheeyes，an\'more\'nusualshaky，sowegiveshimabigdrinkan\'hesorterbracesup。

"\'I\'llbackWilkins\'sendofthatbetyouoffers，Doc，\'saysTutt，\'soconsideritmade，willyou？\'

"\'Youwasofferin\'tobetgrub，\'saystheoldman，powerfulpeevishan\'fretful。\'Whatfordoyouwanttobetgrub？Whydon\'tyoubetmoney，soIgetswhatIwantswithit？It\'smymoneywhenIwins。

MebbyIdon\'twantnogrub。MebbyIwantsclothesorwhiskey。Youain\'tnosport，Doc，totieupaplaywithastringlikethat。Gimmeanotherdrinksomeone，I\'mmostdyin\'forsome。\'

"Theoldman\'pearslikehe\'smightysickthata-way，sothar\'snothin\'foritbuttogivehimanotherhooker，whichwedoesaccordin\'。

"\'I\'mfeelin\'likeIwasshothardbysomethin\'，\'hesays，\'an\'I

don\'tlikefortogohometillI\'mbetter，an\'scareSue。IreckonI\'llcampdownonthisyeremontetableforanhourtillIcomes\'round。\'

"SoWilkinscurlsuponthetable，an\'noonenoticeshimforabouttwentyminutes，whenalongcomesrattlin\'uptheLordsburgmail。

"\'Youwin，Wilkins，\'saysPeets；\'comeovertotheNewYorkStorean\'cutoutyourstuff。\'"Theoldmanactslikehedon\'thear，soDocshakeshimupsome。Nouse，tharain\'tnogetupinhim。

"\'Lookslikehe\'sgonetosleepforgood，\'saysDoc。

"Thenhewalks\'roundhim，shakeshim，an\'takesalookathiseye，a-openin\'ofitwithhisfinger。Finallyhestandsback，stickshisthumbinhisbelt，an\'whistles。

"\'What\'sup？\'saysCherokeeHall。\'Heain\'ttryin\'toworkusforanotherdrinkIhopes。\'

"Well，thisisadeal，\'saysDoc，\'an\'nohumbugneither。Gents，I\'mblessedifthisyereoldprairie-dogain\'tshorelyupan\'died。\'

"We-allscomesupan\'takesalookathim，an\'Dochascalledtheturn。Shoreenoughtheoldmanhascashedin。

"`Thisisahossonus，an\'nodoubtaboutit，\'saysEnright。\'I

ain\'tworryin\'forWilkins，ashemostlikelyisaheadonthedeal；

butwhatgetsmeishowtobreakthenewstothisyeremaiden。It\'sgoin\'tobeahair-lineplay。Ireckons，Doc，it\'syouan\'me。\'

"SotheygoesovertoWilkins\'swickeyupan\'callstheyoungSuegirlout，an\'Enrightbeginstellin\'hermightysoftashowherpawistookbaddowntotheRedLight。Butthegirlseemstogetitasrightasifshe\'sscoutedforitamonth。

"\'He\'sdead!\'shesays；an\'thencripplesdownalongsideofthedooran\'beginstosob。

"\'Tharain\'tnousedenyin\'it，Miss，\'saysEnright，\'yourpawstruckinonthebigtrailwherethehoof-printsallp\'intsoneway。

Butdon\'ttakeithard，Miss，tharain\'tagentdon\'tgiveyousympathy。Whatyoudonowisstayrightyere，an\'thecamp\'lltendtothefuneral，an\'putituprightan\'jestasyousays，youbein\'

mourner-in-chief。Youcantrustusfortheproperplay；sinceweburiesJackKing，obsequiesisourlongsuit。\'

"ThelittleSuegirlstrugglesthroughsomehow，an\'hashernervewithher。Thefuneral，youbet，isright。Thistimeweropesinapreacherbelongin\'tosomedeep-wateroutfitoverinTucson。Hesomehowisstrayed，an\'happensalongourway，an\'wegetshimsquar\'inthedoor。Hejumpsinan\'givesthemceremoniesascientificwhirlasain\'tpossiblenohowtoamatures。All\'roundwewouldn\'thaveputonmoredogifwe\'dbeenplantin\'Enright；allofcourseonthelittleSuegirl\'saccount。Nextdaytheoutfitgoesovertofindoutwhateversheallowstodo。

"\'Yousees，Miss；saysEnright，\'anythin\'yousays，goes。Notwaitin\'tolearnitsname，even，I\'mdirectedtostateashowthecampbacksyourplayan\'makesgood。\'

"\'I\'mallowin\'togototheStates，\'saysthegirl，\'an\'I\'mobleegedtoyou。\'

"\'Wewashopin\'，\'saysEnright，\'asyou\'dstayyere。We-allssorterfiggersyou\'dteachusaschool。Ofcoursetharain\'tnopapoosesyet，butasaforcedplaywearrangestoborrowasmallherdfromTombstone，an\'candoittooeasy。Then，ag\'in，anight-schoolwouldhitourneedsright；sayonenightaweek。Thar\'saheapofignoranceinthisyerecamp，an\'weneedsanight-schoolbad。Itwouldwinforfiftydollarsaweek，Miss；an\'youthinksofit。\'

"No，theporegirlcouldn\'tthinkofitnohow。

"\'Ofcourse，Miss，saysEnright，\'weallsain\'texpectin\'youtoopenthisyereacademythefirstkyardsoffthedeck。Youneedstimetolineupyouraffairs，an\'amlikewisewrungwithgrief。Youtakesyourleesureastothat；meanwhileofcourseyourstipendgoesonfromnow。\'

"ButthelittleSuegirlcouldn\'tlisten。Herpawisdead，an\'nowshe\'sdueintheStates。Shesaysthingsisallrightthar。Shehasfriendsasherpawneverlikes；butwho\'sfriendsofhers，an\'

she\'llgotothem。

"\'Well，Miss，\'saysEnright，mightyregretful，\'ifthat\'showitlays，Ireckonsyou\'llgo，sothar\'snothin\'forustodobutsettleupan\'forkoversomedustweowesyourpaw。Hebein\'nowdeceased，ofcourseyourepresents。\'

"Thegirlcouldn\'tseehowanyoneowesherpaw，\'\'causehe\'sbeentoosicktowork，\'shesays。

"\'Weoweshimallthesame，\'saysEnright，mightyferocious。\'Weonderstandswellenoughhowwecomestoowehim，don\'twe，Doc？\'

"\'Youcanstackinyourlifewedo，\'saysDoc，plentypromptan\'

cheerful。\'We-allsowesforhisnailin\'themhoss-thiefswhentheytriestocleanoutthecorral。\'

"\'That\'sit，\'saysEnright，\'forketchin\'ofsomerustlerswholaysforourstock。It\'sallright，Miss；youneedn\'tlooksodoubtful。

Youwouldn\'tifyouknowedthiscamp。It\'sthelastoutfitonearthaswouldgoan\'givemoneytopeople。It\'sagoodstraightcamp，Wolfvilleis；butbusinessisbusiness，an\'weain\'tpirootin\'

\'roundnone，givin\'nothin\'away，bewe，Doc？\'

"\'Notmuch，\'saysDoc。\'It\'senoughforagenttopaydebts，withoutstampedin\'\'roundmakin\'presentsofthings。\'

"\'That\'swhatever，\'saysEnright；\'soMiss，meanDoc\'llvamosovertotheRedLightan\'getthedust，an\'Ireckonswe\'llbebackinanhour。Is\'poseweowesMisterWilkinsabout\'fivehundreddollars，don\'twe，Doc？\'

"\'Tain\'tsomuch，\'saysDoc，who\'sguilefulthata-way。AsheseesthelittleSuegirlarchin\'foranotherbuck，hepullsoutapaperan\'makesabluff。\'Yereitis，——fourhundredan\'ninety-threedollarsan\'seventy-fourcents。Iputsitdownallaccurate，\'causeIdon\'tallownosharptocome\'roundan\'beatmenone。\'

"We-allsthrows\'roundan\'makesupthepottocometoDoc\'sfigger——

whichIwantstosayrightyere，DocPeetsistheablestgentI

eversees——an\'thelittleSuegirlhastotakeit。

"Whichthismoneyletsheroutright，an\'shecriesan\'thanksus，an\'thenextdayshetakesthestageforTucson。We\'rethartosay\'good-by\'an\'wishthelittleSuegirlluck。

"\'Adios，\'saysPeets，takin\'offhishattoher；\'itain\'tdownonthebillsnone，butifyou-allcouldmanagetokissthisyereoutfitonceapiece，Miss，itwouldberegarded。Youneedn\'tbeafraid。Someof\'emlooksalittleoff，butthey\'reallright，an\'b\'arhuggin\'

isbarred。\'

"SothelittleSuegirlbeginswithEnrightan\'kissesusall，a-

sobbin\'meantimesomefree。Astheaffectionproceeds，Cherokeesortershovesbackan\'allowshe\'llpass。

"\'Notanypass!\'saysEnright。\'AnygentwhothrowsoffonthattharlittleSuegirl，shewillin\'，needn\'tlookforanyluckbutlynchin\'。\'

"\'Thatsettlesit，\'saysCherokee，\'Isalootsthisyerelady。\'

"Soheupsan\'kissesthelittleSuegirllikeshe\'sahotflat-

iron，an\'backsintothecrowd。

"\'Cherokeemakesmetired，\'saysPeets，who\'sridin\'herdontheplay。Whenitcomeshisturnhekissesherslowan\'rapturous，an\'

iscontemptuousofCherokee。

"Whenshe\'sinthestagea-startin\'，Cherokeewalksup，allrespectful。

"\'You\'vebeenawayfromtheStatessometime，Miss，\'hesays，\'an\'

it\'sanevenbreakyouwon\'tfindthingsthewayyouexpects。Now，youremember，shore；whatevergame\'sbein\'turnedbackthar，ifitgoesag\'inyou，raisethelongyellforasharpcalledCherokeeHall；an\'hisbank\'syourstogobehindyourplay。\'"

CHAPTERIV。

THEWASHWOMAN\'SWAR。

Itwasevening。Thefirstdarkforeshadowingofthecomingnightclothedallinhalfobscurity。ButIknewtheway；Icouldhavetravelledthelittlepathatmidnight。Therehewas，theOldCattleman，underafavoritetree，thebettertoavoidtheheavydew。

Hesatmotionlessandseemedtobesoakinghimself，asonemightsay，inthebalmyweatherofthathour。

MywisdomhadorderedJim，myblackman，toattendmysteps。Thelaconic，half-sadsalutationofmyoldfriendatoncegaveBlackJimamission。Hewasdispatchedinquestofstimulants。AftercertainexactandalmostelaboratecommandstoBlackJim，andthatusefulAfrican\'sdeparture，Igentlyprobedmycompanionwithaquestion。

"No，thar\'snothin\'thematterofme；sorterpensive，that\'sall，"

wasmyreturn。

TheOldCattlemanappearedsilentandoutofsorts。FollowingthecomingofBlackJim，however，whobroughtalustytoddy，heyieldedtoabettermood。

"ItsimplymeansI\'mgettin\'old；mysettin\'\'roundbalkythisa-

way。Thar\'ssomeseventywrinklesonmyhorns；nothin\'youngorrecentaboutthat。Whichnowitoftenhappenstome，likeitdoestooldfolksgeneral，thatjestwhenitbeginstogrownight，Igetsmoodyan\'bad。Lookslikemythoughtshasbeenoutonsomementalfeed-groundallday，an\'theycomesstringin\'inlikecattletogetbeddeddownforthenight。Nacheral，Is\'posetheysortermillsan\'

stands\'roundoneasylikeforawhilebeforetheyliesdownallcomfortable。Oldpeoplepartic\'largetsdissatisfied。Ifthey\'ssingle-footerslikemean\'ain\'tweddednone；campin\'\'roundattavernsan\'findin\'of\'emmockeries；theywishestheyhasawifeawholelot。Iftheybe，theywishshe\'dgovisitherfolks。Gettin\'

oldthata-wayan\'lonelymakesfolksfrequentmightycontrary。

"No，asIimpartstoyouyeretofore，——mebbyit\'samonth，——Inevermarriesnothin\'。Ireckonstoo，I\'minloveoneround-upan\'anothermightynearadozentimes。ButsomehowIallerslosethetrailan\'

neverdoesrunupwithnoneof\'emonce。

"DownintheBrazoscountrytharwasalittleblue-eyedgirl，——backfortyyearsitis，——an\'thewayIadoresherplumbtirespeople。I

reckonsIropesathermore\'nfiftytimes，butInevercouldfasten。

TharcomesatimewhenitlookspowerfullikeI\'mgoin\'torunmybrandontoher；butshelearnsthatBillJenksmarks150calvesthelastspringround-up，an\'meonlyforty，an\'thatsettlesit；shetakesJenks。

"It\'sastonishin\'howlittleIdeemsofthisyeremaidenafterBillgetsher。Twomonthsbefore，I\'drodemyponytodeathtolookonceinhereyes。She\'slikesunshineinthewoodstome，an\'Idotesoneverywordsheutterslikeit\'saroastapple。ButaftershegetstobeBill\'swifeIcoolscomplete。

"Notthatlovin\'Bill\'swife，withhisgeniusforshootin\'apistol，isgoin\'toproveapicnic，——an\'himsorterpeevishan\'hostilenacheral。Butlettin\'thatgointhediscard，Ishoredon\'tcarenothin\'abouthernohowwhenshe\'sBill\'s。

"IrecallsthatpriortothemnuptialswithBillIgetsthatlocoedlovin\'thisgirlIgoesbulgin\'outtomakesomepoetryoverher。I

compilesonestanza；an\'I\'myeretoremarkit\'sharderworkthanaJunedayinabrandin\'pen。Ropin\'an\'flankin\'calvesan\'standin\'

offanoldcowwithonehandwhileyouironsupheroffspringwitht\'other，fromsun-uptilldark，issedentarycomparedtomakin\'

stanzas。WhatwastheonImakes？Well，youcanbetahossIain\'tforgotitnone。

"\'Abeautifulwomanisshorelyamoon，Thenightsofyourlifetoilloomine；She\'sallthatisgraceful，guilefulan\'soon，Iswoman，lovelywoman。\'

"I\'mplumbtangledupinmyropewhenIgetsthisfar，an\'Itakesalay-off。BeforeIgathersstrengthtotackleitag\'in，Jenksgetsher；sobein\'thar\'snolongernothin\'tharinInevermakesafinish。IallersalloweditwouldhavebeenapowerfulgoodpoemifI\'dstampededalongcl\'arthrough。

"Yes，son；womenthata-wayisshorelyrangycattlean\'allersonthemove。Thar\'satimeoncewhentwoof\'emcomesmightynearsplittin\'Wolfvillewideopenan\'leavin\'itonbothsidesofthetrail。Allthateversavesthedayistheca\'mjedgementan\'

promptitoodofOldManEnright。

"ThisishowWolfvillewalksintothispetticoatambush。Thecampisgettin\'alongallpeacefulan\'serenean\'man-fashion。Thar\'sthepost-officeforourletters；thar\'stheRedLightforourbug-juice；

thar\'stheO。K。Restaurawforourgrub；an\'thar\'sthestagean\'

ourponiestopullourfreightwithwhenWolfvillelifebeginstopullonusastoopastoral，an\'wethirstsforthemeetropolitangayetyofTucson。

"AsIsaysweallshasallthatheartcanhungerfor；thatishungeronthesquar\'。

"Amongotherthings，thar\'saChinkrunnin\'alaundryan\'a-doin\'ofourwashin\'。Thisyeretub-trundler\'snameisLung，which，however。

brandsnocattleyere。

"It\'soneafternoonwhenDocPeetsgetsaletterfromabarkeepoverinTucsonsayin\':DearDoc:

Thar\'sanesteemableladydueinWolfvilleonto-morrer\'sstage。

She\'sp\'intin\'outtorunalaundry。Pleasebackherplay。Ifthar\'saChinamanintown，runhimout。

Andobleege，yours，Dick。

"\'Whateverdoyouthink，Enright？\'saysDocPeetsafterreadin\'ustheletter。

"\'That\'sallright，\'saysEnright，\'theChinkgoes。It\'sonbecomin\'

asaspectacleforaCaucasianwomanoffullbloodtobecontendin\'

forfoulshirtswithaslothfulMongol。Wolfvillepermitsnosechdebasin\'exhibitions，an\'Lungmustvamos。Jack，\'hesays，turnin\'

toJackMoore，\'takeyourgunan\'sa\'nteroveran\'stampedethisyereopium-slave。Tellhimifhe\'svisibletothenakedeyeinthesceneryyere-aboutsto-morrowwhenthisladyjumpsintocamp，he\'sshoreaskedthepriceofsoapthelasttimeheeverwillinthisvaleoftears。\'

"\'What\'sthematteroflynchin\'thisyereChink？\'saysDanBoggs。

\'Thecamp\'sdeadlydull，an\'itwouldcheerupthingsawholelot，besidesbein\'complimentstothisyoungfemaleOldMonte\'sbringin\'

inonthestage。\'

"\'Ohno，\'saysEnright，\'noneedofstringinhimnone。Onsecondthought，Jack，Idon\'treckonI\'drunhimoutneither。Itdignifieshimtoomuch。S\'poseyoucanteruptohistub-campan\'bringhimover，an\'we\'llrevealthisupheavalinhisshirt-burnin\'destiniesbywordofmouth。Ifhegrowsreluctantjestropehim\'roundtheneckwithhisqueue，an\'yankhim。Itimpresses\'eman\'shows\'emthey\'reupag\'inthelaw。Is\'pose，Peets，Ivoicesyoursentimentsinthis？\'

"\'Shore，\'"saysDocPeets——whichthisPeetsisthefinest-eddicatedmanIevermeets。\'ThisChinamanmustpullhisfreight。We-allsowesitnotonlytothisTucsonlady，buttothelovelysexsherepresents。Woman，woman，whathasshenotdoneforman!AsJohannaofArcshefreesthesensuousvine-cladhillsoffar-offSwitzerland。AsGraceDarlingshesmoothsthefever-heatedpillowoftheCrimea。Inreecompensesheasksonelittle，punyboon——tofirefromourmidstaheathenfromtheOrient。Gents，thar\'sbutoneanswer:Weplaysthereturngamewithwoman。ThisChinamanmustgo。\'

"WhenJackcomesbackwithLung，whichhedoesprompt，Enrightstartsintodealthegame。

"\'Itain\'tnouse，Lung，\'saysEnright，\'tryin\'toexplaintoyou-

allwhat\'sup。YourweakAsiaticintellectcouldn\'tgetthedropontoitno-how。You\'vebeenbroughttoashow-downag\'inawoman，an\'you\'reout-held。You\'vegottoquit；savey？Don\'tletusfindyouyereto-morrow。Bythird-drinktimewe\'llbea-scoutin\'foryouwithsomethin\'besidesanop\'ryglass，an\'ifyou\'renoticedaspartofthelandscapeyou\'regoin\'tohaveaheapofbadluck。I\'dadviseyoutop\'intforRedDog，butastothatyouplaysyourhandyourse\'f。"

"NextdaythatolddrunkardMontecomesswingin\'inwiththestage；

thesixhossesonthejump，sameasheallersdoeswithawomanalong。Overatthepost-office，wherehestops，aladygetsout，an\'

ofcoursewe-allsbowsp\'litean\'hopesshe\'swellan\'frisky。Sheallowssheis，an\'headsfortheO。K。House。

"Itfloatsoverprettysoonthathername\'sAnnie，an\'asnoneofuswantstocallherjest\'Annie\'——thesamebein\'toofreeaplay——an\'

hearin\'shelivesayearortwoatBenson，weconcloodstocallherBensonAnnie，an\'letitgoatthat。

"\'Thesamebein\'musicalan\'expressive，\'saysDocPeets，aswealllinesupag\'intheRedLightbar，\'Isu\'gestswebaptizethislady"BensonAnnie，"an\'yere\'stohersuccess。\'

"Sowe-allsturnsupourglasses，an\'BensonAnnieitis。

"ThenextdaythefetidLungisathingofthepast，an\'BensonAnniehasthegametoherse\'f。Twodayslatersheraisesthetarifftofiftycentsonshirts，insteadoftwenty-five，aspreviouswiththeChink。Butnoonerenigs。

"\'Agent，\'saysDocPeets，\'asholdsthataCaucasianwomanisgoin\'

towashashirtforthemiserablestipendofaslaveoftheOrientmustbeplumblocoed。Wolfvillepaysfiftycentsforshirtsan\'isproudtharof。\'

"Thingsgoesalongformightylikeamonth，an\'thenthisyereBensonAnnieallowsshe\'llhaveavisitor。

"\'I\'mplumb，cleansick，\'shesays，\'ofseein\'nothin\'butalotofdrunken，good-for-nothin\'sotsa-pesterin\'\'round，an\'IdonereckonsI\'llhavemyfriendSalcomeoverfromTombstonean\'seemeawholelot。It\'llbesomerelaxation。\'

"Mebbyit\'sfourdaysafterwhenthisyereSalhopsoutenthestage，an\'forthenextweektharain\'tnowashin\'donewhatever，whileBensonAnniean\'Salworksthewireaigeoffentheirvisit。

"`Agentaswouldbegretchtwopore，hard-workin\'girlsalay-offofaweek，\'saysEnright，\'ain\'tcleanstrain，an\'Idon\'twanttoknowsechahoss-thiefnohow\'；an\'we-allsfeelslikewise。

"Butslapontheheelsofallthisyeregregar\'ousnessonthepartofBensonAnniean\'Sal，thedealbeginstocomequeer。Attheendoftheweekthetwogirlshasarow，an\'intheturnSalgoestot\'otherendofcampan\'opensalaundry。Thatdoessettleit。BensonAnniegivesSalfits，an\'Salshorelysends\'emback。Thentheyquitsspeakin\'，anwhentheymeetsonthestreettheyconcoctssnootsateachother。ThisscaresEnright，buthedoeshislevelbestan\'triestokeeptheboysfromtakin\'sides。

"\'Inaplaylikethisyere，\'hesays，\'thiscampdon\'ttakenokyards。ForthefirsttimeWolfvillepassesout，an\'offerstomakeitajack\'

"Butasonedayan\'thenexttrailsby，theboyssortergetslineduponewayan\'t\'other；someforBensonAnniean\'someforSal，an\'

thingsisshorelygettin\'hot。Hamilton，overatthedance-hall，upsan\'nameshisplacethe\'SalSaloon，\'an\'BurnstakesdownthesignontheRedLightan\'callsitthe\'BensonAnnieHouse。\'Finallythingssorterculminates。

"DanBoggs，who\'saopen，voylentAnnieman，comesa-prancin\'intotheRedLightonenight，an\'afterstampin\'an\'rappin\'hishorns\'roundawholelot，allowshisshirtiscleanerthanDaveTutt\'s。

"Tuttsayshedon\'tcarenothin\'forhimse\'f，an\'nonewhateverfortheshirt；an\'whilehean\'Dan\'sallersbeenfriendsan\'crossedtheplainstogether，stillhedon\'tallowhe\'llstand\'roundmuchan\'seeaporeondefendedfemale，likeSal，maligned。SoTuttoutswithhisgunan\'getsBoggsinthelaig。

"Thisyerebringsthingsdowntocases。Enrightisworriedsickatit。Buthe\'sbeenthinkin\'mightyarduousforquiteaspell，an\'

whenBoggsgetscreased，heseessomethin\'mustbedone，an\'beginstolinehimse\'fforaplayforout。

"It\'sthenextdayafterBoggsgetsag\'inTutt，an\'DocPeetshaspluggedupthehole，whenEnrightroundsupthewholepasselofusintheRedLight。Helooksthatdignifiedan\'whatyou-allscallsimpressive，thatthebarkeep，yieldin\'tothegravityofthesituation，allowsthedrinksisonthehouse。We-allsgetsourfortydrops，an\'sorterstandspattharoninsilence，waitin\'forEnrighttoonfoldhisgame。Weshoreknowsifthar\'satrailhe\'llfindit。

"\'IGents，\'hesaysatlast，——an\'itseemslikehe\'ssorryan\'hurtthata-way，——\'I\'llnotdriftintothemharrowin\'differenceswhichhasrentasunderwhatwasaforetimesthepeacefullestcampinArizona。Iwantsyou-alls，however，totakenoteofmyremarks，forwhatIsaysisshorelygoin\'togo。\'

"YereEnrightpausestotakeasmalldrinkbyhimse\'f，whilewe-allstarriesabout，someoneasyan\'anxiousastowhatkyardsfallsnext。

AtlastEnrightp\'intsoutonthetrailofhisremarksag\'in。

"\'Itiswithpainan\'mortification，\'hesays——an\'yerehefixeshiseyesomehardan\'delib\'rateonayoungtenderfootnamedFrench，who\'sbeenlostfromtheStatessomethin\'likesixmonths——\'itiswithpainan\'mortification，Isays，thatInotesforaweekpastouryoungfriendan\'townsman，WillyumFrench，payin\'markedan\'

ondiscreetattentionstoBensonAnnie，afemalepersonwhomweallrespects。Atalltimes，dayan\'night，whenhecouldescapehisdootiesasbook-keepforthestagecompany，hehaspitchedcampinhers\'ciety。Wolfvillehasbeenshocked，an\'apureladycompromised。Standin\'aswe-allsdoesinthelightofaparenttothisporeyoungfemale，wehavedeterminedthewrongmustbemaderight，an\'MisterFrenchmustmarrythegirl。IhavesubmittedtheseyereviewstoBensonAnnie，an\'sheconcurs。I\'vetookthetroubletobringagospel-sharpoverfromTucsontodothemarryin\'，an\'

I\'vesetthehappyeventforto-night，toconcloodwithablow-outinthedance-hallatmyexpense。Wewill，ofcourse，yerebyloseBensonAnnieinthemindustrialwalksshenowadorns，forIpausestogiveMisterFrenchap\'inter；thesentimentsofthiscampisag\'inamarriedfemaletakin\'inwashin\'。NottoplayittoolowdownonMisterFrench，who，whileperformin\'aprivatedooty，isalsoworkin\'forapublicgood，Iheadsasubscriptionwithfiftydollarsforapresentforthebride。I\'dsayinclosin\'thatifI

wasMisterFrenchIwouldn\'tcaretoobjecttothisunion。Theladyisgood-lookin\'，thesubscriptioniscash，an\'inthepresentheatedconditionofthepublicmind，an\'withtheheartofthecampsetonthisweddin\'，Iwouldn\'tberesponsibleifhedoes。Now，gents，who\'llfollowmyfiftydollarswithfiftymore？Barkeep，doyourdootywhilethesubscription-papergoes\'round。\'

"Thebiddin\'ismightylively，an\'intenminutessevenhundreddollarsisraisedforadowry。ThenFrench，whohasbeensettin\'inasortofdaze，getsup:

"\'MisterEnrightan\'gents，\'hesays，`thisyereisas\'prise-partytome，butitgoes。It\'sahossonme，butIstandsit。Iseeshowitis，an\'asaforcedplayImarriesBensonAnnieintheinterestsofpeace。Whichthesamebein\'settled，ifBensonAnnieisyere，whirlherupan\'I\'llcomeflutterin\'frommyperchlikeapanofmilkfromatopshelf，an\'putanendtothisonhealthfulexcitement。

"We-allsapplaudsFrenchan\'isproudtonotehe\'sgame。

"`An\'tobefreean\'openwithyou，French，\'saysTexasThompson，soastomakehimfeelhe\'saheadonthedeal；whichheshoreis，forthisyereBensonAnnieiscorn-fed，\'ifitain\'tforahigh-speritedladybackinLaredowhoreliesonme，I\'dbeplayin\'yourhandmyse\'f。\'

"Well，noonedelaysthegame。EnrightbringsoverBensonAnnie，who\'sblushin\'some，butain\'tholdin\'back；an\'shean\'Frenchfrontsupforbusiness。Thisyerepreacher-sharpEnright\'sropedupisjestshufflin\'forthedeal，when，whateverdoyoureckontakesplace？I\'maMexicanifthisyereSaldon\'tcomewanderin\'in，a-

cryin\'an\'a-mournin\'powerful。SheallowswithsobsifherdearfriendAnnie\'sgoin\'togetmarriedshewantsinonthegameasbridesmaid。

"\'Whichyou-allshorelygetsahandassech，\'saysDocPeets，who\'sactin\'lookoutforthedeal；an\'sohestakesoutSaloverbythenighsideofBensonAnnie，whokissesherquitefrantic，an\'unitesherwailstoSal\'s。Bothof\'emweepin\'thata-wayshorelymakestheoccasionmightysympathetican\'damp。ButPeetssaysit\'sthereg\'larcaper，an\'youcangamblePeetsknows。"\'Thar，\'saysEnright，whenthelastkyard\'soutan\'theFrenchfam\'lyisreceivin\'congratulations，\'Ireckonsthatnow，withonlyonelaundry，Wolfvilleseesaseasonofpeace。It\'sallright，butI\'myeretoremarkthatthenextladyasdazzlesthiscampwithherdeebut，an\'onfurlsapurposetoplungeintowork，ain\'tgoin\'tokeepalaundrynone。Gents，thebridle\'splumboffthehoss。We\'llnowrepairtothedance-hall，ifsobemeetsyourtastes，an\'takethefirststepsinadebauchfromwhich，whenit\'sover，thisyerecampofWolfvilledatestime。\'"

CHAPTERV。

ENRIGHT\'SPARD，JIMWILLIS。

"Ifmymem\'ry\'sdealin\'asquar\'game，"remarkedtheOldCattleman，ashemovedhischairabitmoreintotheshade，"it\'ssome\'ersoverinthefoot-hillsof，theFloridaswhenEnrightvouchsafeswhyhehatesMexicans。"

Themorningwasdrowsy。Conversationbetweenushadinasleepywayrangedawidefield。AshadgrowntobeourhabitweatlastsettledonWolfvilleanditsvolatileinhabitants。IaskedtobeenlightenedastothesageEnright，andwasinformedthat，asidefromhiscourageandloveofstrictjustice，theprominentcharacteristicofourWolfvilleLycurguswashiswrathagainstMexicans。

"NotthatEnrightloathessomuchashedeplores\'em，"continuedtheoldgentleman。"However，Idon\'taimtobeheldassayin\'heindorsestheirexistencealittlebit；nonewhatever。

"Enright\'stellin\'ofthistalearisesoutenatrivialincidentwhichaMexicanisthemarrowof。We\'reoutonthespringround-up，an\'combin\'thedrawsan\'dryARROYASoverbetweenthecowspringsan\'theFloridas，whenonenightaMexicanrunsoffapasselofourponies。Thehoss-hustlerisasleep，Ireckons，atthetimethisMexicanstacksin。Hesayshimse\'fhe\'slyin\'alongthebackofhisbroncogazin\'atthestarswhenthisrobberjumpsattheponiesan\'

flapsablanketorsomethin\'，an\'awaypatterseveryhoofintheband。

"ThisyereMexicandon\'trunoffwithonlyaboutahandful；Itakesithecan\'troundupnomoreinthedark。Whenyou-allstampedesabunchofponiesthata-waytheydon\'tholdtogetherlikecattle，butplungesoffdiffusive。It\'severybroncoforhimse\'f，disdainfulofallelse，an\'whenit\'ssun-upyoufinds\'emspatteredalloverthescenean\'notregardin\'ofeachothermuch。

"ButthisyereMexican，afterhestampedes\'em，huddleswhathecantogether——asIsaysmebbyit\'sadozen——an\'p\'intsoffintothehills。

"Ofcourseitain\'tnotimeafterthesunshowsthetrackswhenEnright，JackMoore，an\'myse\'fisonthetrail。Tuttan\'DanBoggswantsinontheplay，butwecan\'tspar\'somanyfromtheround-up。

"It\'soneofthestolenponiestipsthisGreaser\'shand。It\'sthesecondday，an\'we-allslosesthetrailformebbyit\'sfifteenminutes。We\'resmellin\'alongacanyontofinditag\'in，whenfromoverap\'intofrockswehearsabronconicker。HegetsthescentofanacquaintancewhichMoore\'sridin\'on，an\'says\'How!\'pony-

fashion。

"Thar\'snoneedgoin\'intowearyin\'details。Followin\'thenickerwecomessurgin\'inonourprey，an\'it\'soverinaminute。Thar\'stwoMexicans，——ourcriminaltrackin\'upwithapardthatmornin\'。Butofcoursewe-allsknowshe\'stharlonghoursbackbythetracks，soitain\'tnos\'prise。

"ThisyeresecondMexicanisdownedontherun-in。Heshowsaheapofinterestinourcomin\'，an\'takestoshootin\'usupmightyvividwithaWinchesteratthetime；an\'soEnright，who\'sclosein，jumpssomeleadintohiman\'stretcheshim。Hedon\'tmanagetodonoharm，nohow，more\'nhecreasesmyhossalittle。However，asthisyerehossisamazin\'low-sperited，an\'asbein\'burntthata-waywithabulletsorterlivenshimupaheap，Idon\'tcomplainnone。StillEnright\'sall-wiseenoughtocoppertheGreaser，fortharain\'tnosayin\'whatluckthefelonhaswiththatlittleoldgunofhisifhekeepsonshootin\'。Which，asIobserves，Enrightdownshim，an\'hispowder-burnin\'an\'hoss-rustlin\'stopsimmediate。

"AsfortheotherMexican，whichhe\'sthepartywhojumpsourponiesinthefirstplace，hethrowsuphishandsan\'allowshecashesinhischipsforwhateverthebanksays。

"We-allsropesoutourcaptive；sorterhog-tieshimhandan\'foot，wristan\'fetlock，an\'thengoesintocampallcomfortable，wherewerunsuponourgame。

"JackMooredropstheloopofhislariatovertheoffmoccasinofthedeceasedMexican，an\'cantershisponydownthedrawwithhim，so\'sweain\'toffendednonebythevisionofhimspraddledoutthata-waydead。Thisyere\'sthoughtfulofJack，an\'showshe\'snacherallyrefinedan\'objectstoremainderslyin\'\'roundloose。

"\'No，itain\'tsomuchI\'mrefined，\'saysJack，whenIcomplimentshimthatheexhibitshisbringin\'up，an\'himbein\'toomodestthata-waytoaccept；\'itain\'tthatI\'mrefinednone——whichmynacherisshorecoarse——Ijestsorterprotestsinmybosomag\'inhavin\'acorpseidlin\'\'roundthata-waywhereI\'mcamped。TharforeItakesmyropean\'snatchesdeceasedoffwhereheain\'tnoticeableonthescenery。\'

"Jackdoesitthatgentlean\'considerate，too，thatwhenwepassestheMexicannextdayonourwayin，excepthe\'ssomeraveledan\'

frayedcoastin\'alongwhereit\'srocky，an\'whichcan\'tbehe\'pednone，he\'sasexcellentacorpseaswhenhecomesofftheshelf，warmastherifleEnrightthrowshimwith。

"\'Whateverbewegoin\'todowiththisyerehoss-thiefpris\'nerofours？\'saysJackMooretoEnrightthenextday，whenwe\'resaddlin\'

upan\'organizin\'topullourfreight。\'He\'sshoreduetobotherusalot。We\'replumbsixtymilesfromTuttan\'theboys，an\'ridin\'

herdonthisyeresaddle-coloredgent，a-keepin\'ofhimfromlopin\'

off，ismightylikelytobeaheapexhaustin\'。Iknowsmen，\'Jackremarksattheclose，lookin\'wistfulatEnright，\'aswouldbeefhimrightyerean\'leavehimasacompanionpiecetothatcompadreofhisyoudowns。\'

"\'Nachersaswouldexecuteapris\'nerincoldblood，\'saysEnright，\'isroodean\'oncivilized。WhichIdon\'tmeantheyislowneither；

butit\'sonconsideratethata-waytogoan\'ca\'mlykillapris\'ner，an\'noco\'tnorcommitteeauthorizin\'thesame。Ineverknowsofitbein\'donebutonce。It\'sMexicanswhodoesitthen；whichiswhytheyain\'tnonepop\'larwithmesince。\'

"\'It\'sshorewhatyoucallsamightyinduratedplay，\'saysJack，shakin\'hishead，\'togoshootin\'somehe\'plessgentyou\'vetook；

but，asIstates，it\'sacinchit\'llbeaheapfatiguin\'keepin\'

casesonthisyereMexicantillwemeetsupwithaquorumofthecommittee。Stillit\'sourdooty，an\'ofcoursewedon\'tdouble-deal，norputbackkyardsonwhat\'sourplaindooty。\'

"\'Whatyou-allstates，\'saysEnright，\'`istoyourcredit，butI\'lltellyou。Tharain\'tnoharmmountin\'thismarauderonaslowponythata-way；an\'bein\'humanes\'fficienttoleavehishandsan\'feetontied。Ofcourseifhetakesadvantageofourleniencyan\'goesstampedin\'offtomakehisescapesome\'ersalongthetrail，I

reckonsyou\'llshorelyhavetoshoot。Thar\'snopass-outthenbutdownhim，an\'wesadlytreadstharin。An\'，\'goesonEnright，somethoughtful，ifthisyereMexican，afterwe-allsisthatpatientan\'

liberalwithhim，abusesourconfidencesan\'escapes，weleavesitalone-handplaytoyou。Myeyesisgettin\'someoldan\'off，anyway；

an\'besides，ifwethreetakestobangin\'awaysimooltaneous，intheardorofcompetitionsomeofusmightshootthepony。Soifthisyerecaptiveruns——whichhelookstame，an\'Idon\'texpectnonehewill——weleavesthedetainin\'ofhim，Jack，toyouentire。"

"InspiteofEnright\'sfaithitshoreturnsoutthisMexicanisorneryenough，wherethetrailskirtstheriver，towheelsuddenan\'

goplungin\'across。ButJackgetshiminmidstream。Ashegoesoverthebronco\'sshoulder，hatfirst，heswingsonthebridlelongenoughwithhisdyin\'handtoturntheponysoitcomesoutag\'inonourside。

"WhichI\'mgladhelivess\'fficienttoheadthathossourway，\'saysjack。"Itsavessplashin\'acrossafterhiman\'wettin\'yourlegginsalot。"

"It\'sthatnightincampwhenjackbringsupwhatEnrightsaysaboutthetimetheMexicansdownsapris\'ner，an\'tharbyfixeshisviewsof\'em。

"\'It\'salongtrailback，\'saysEnright，\'an\'Idon\'tlikethisyarnenoughtofindmyse\'frelatin\'ittoanyexcessivedegrees。Itdrawsthecinchsometightan\'painful，an\'Idon\'tteachmymindtodwellonitnomore\'nisnecessary。

"\'ThisisallwhenI\'maboy；mebbyIain\'ttwentyyearsyet。It\'sdurin\'theMexicanwar。Igetsastackofwhitechipsan\'standsinonthedealinaboyishway。AllIsaveysofthewarisit\'sag\'intheMexicans，which，whileIain\'tgotnofeudwith\'empersonalatthetime，makesitplentysatisfactorytome。

"\'It\'sdownofftwodaystothewestofChihuahua，an\'sevenofusisprojectin\'\'roundseein\'whatevercanwetiedownan\'brand，whensomeMexicansgetsusoutonalimb。Itain\'tasquar\'deal；stillI

reckonsit\'ssquar\'enough，too；onlybein\'whatyou-allscallsstrategic，it\'soffensivean\'sneakin\'asaplay。

"\'Thisyerelieutenantwho\'sleadin\'us\'roundpermiscus，lookslikehe\'ssomeromanticaboutayoungMexicanfemale，who\'scalledthePrincessofCasaGrande。WhichtherepooteofthisyerePrincesswomanisbad，an\'Istrikesastoryseveraltimesofhowshe\'sthatincensedag\'inAmericanssheoncesawsoffathimblefuloflocoonacaptaininsomewhiskeyhe\'sallowin\'todrink，an\'hegoesplumbcrazyan\'dies。

"\'Butlocoornoloco，thisyerePrincesspersonisshorethatgoodlookin\'apintoponydon\'tcomparetharwith；an\'whenshegetsherblackeyesonourlieutenant，thatsettlesit；weroundsupatherhaciendaan\'goesintocamp。

"\'Besidesthelieutenantthar\'ssixofus。Oneof\'em\'sashorthornwhomatchesmeforage；whichhisname\'sWillis——JimWillis。"\'NowI

ain\'touttomakenodescriptionsofthefriendshipwhichgoesonbetweenthisyereWillisan\'me。IseesashowonetimewhenI\'mpesterin\'\'roundbackinSt。Looey——an\'I\'myeretoremarkIdon\'tgothatfareastnomore——whichtakesonaboutacoupleofsportswho\'snamedDamonan\'Pythias。Themtwopeople\'sallright，an\'game。An\'theyshoredeemshighofoneanother。ButatthetimeIseesthisyereDamonan\'

Pythias，Isaystomyse\'f，an\'eversinceImakesonhesitatin\'

assertiontharof，thatthebrotherlyviewsthemtwogentsentertainsain\'tamarkertoJimWillisan\'me。"\'ThisyereJimIknowssincewe\'reyearlin\'s。We-allsjumpsoutenthecorraltogetherbackinTennessee，an\'goesoffintothisMexicanwarliketwins。An\'bein\'

twoboysthata-wayamongabandofmen，Iallowstharain\'tnothin\'before，northen，norafter。whichIloveslikeJim。"\'AsIobserves，Jiman\'me\'sintheoutfitwhenthisyerelieutenantcomestrackin\'\'roundthatPrincessofCasaGrande；whichherloveforhimisabluffan\'adeadfall；an\'thesamegetsallofusbeforewe\'rethrough。An\'itgetsmyJimWillisspeshul。"Mebbyit\'sthethirdmornin\'afterwe-

allsmeandersintothisnestofMexicans，an\'thelieutenantgetslinedoutforthatPrincessofCasaGrande。Weain\'tbeenturnin\'

outearlynohow，tharbein\'nothin\'

toturnoutabout；butthisthirdmornin\'somebodyarousesusaheapvigorous，liketheyaimstotransactsomebusinesswithus。Whichtheyshorelydoes；it\'sanoutfitofGreaserguerillas，an\'we-allsain\'tnothin\'moreorlessthancaptives。"\'Theorneryan\'

ongratefulpartisthatthePrincesssendsoneofherownpeoniesscoutin\'\'roundinthehillstobringinthisbandofcattle-eatersontous。"\'WhenthelieutenanthearsoftheperfidyofthePrincessfemale，he\'sthatmortifiedhegetsapistolthefirstjumphemakesan\'blowsoffthetopofhishead；whichifheonlyblowsoffthetopofhersitwouldhavegoneaheapfurtherwiththerestofus。

Ifhe\'dconsultedanyofus，itwouldhaveshorelybeenadvised。Buthemakesanimpulsiveplaythata-way；an\'isthatsorean\'chagrinedhejestgrabsaguninafrenziedwayan\'casheshischipsabrupt。"\'No，asIstates，\'saysEnright，musin\'tohimse\'f，\'ifthelieutenanthadonlydownedthatPrincesswhoplaysusinaspris\'nerssosmoothan\'easy，itwouldhavebeenregarded。Hecouldhavegonecaperin\'overthebrinkafterherwiththebridleoffthenextsecond，an\'we-allswouldstilltalkwellofhim。"\'Asitis，however，thisriotousfemaledon\'tlasttwomonths。

Whichit\'salsoafactthattakin\'usthattimemusthavebeenaheapon。luckyforthemGreasers。Thar\'snineof\'em，an\'everylastmandiesinthenextfivemonths；an\'neveraone，noryetthePrincess，knowswhatthey\'reag\'instwhentheyquits；orwhatbreezeblowstheirlightout。Iknows，becausemean\'apartywhosenameisTate——

BillTate——neverleavesthemhillstillthelastofthatoutfit\'sgothisheapofrockspiledup，withitslittlepinecrossstickin\'

outenthepeaktharof，showin\'he\'sdonejumpedthisearthlygameforgood。"\'ThisBillTatean\'mebreakscamponthemGreaserstogetherwhilethey\'retankin\'uponmescal，mebbyit\'stwodayslater；an\'theynevergetstheirlariatsonusnomore。"\'"Youain\'tgotnodates，norspeshulengagementswithnobodyintheStates，haveyou？"saysTatetomewhenwe\'resafeoutenthemMexican\'shands。"\'"No，"saysI，"whatevermakesyouask？"\'"Oh，nothin\'，"saysTatelookin\'attheskysorterblackan\'ugly，"onlysinceyou-allhastheleesure，whatforaplaywoulditbetomakealongcampbackinthesehillsbysomewater-holesome\'ers，an\'standpatontilwedownstheseyereGreasers——squawsan\'all——

who\'shadustreed？Itoughterbedid；an\'ifwe-ailsdon\'tdoitnone，it\'saheaplikelyit\'sgoin\'tobeneglectedcomplete。It\'seasyasaplay；everyhoss-thiefof\'emlivesrightintheseyerevalleys，forIhears\'emtalk。Allwehastodoissa\'nterbackinthehills，makeacamp；an\'bybein\'slowan\'shore，an\'takin\'timean\'pains，webushwhacksan\'killsthelastone。""\'ThewayIfeelsaboutWillismakestheprospectmightyallurin，\'an\'tharuponTatean\'meopensagamewiththemMexicansittakesfivemonthstodeal。"\'Butit\'splumbdealtout，an\'wewin。WhenTatecrossestheRioGrandewiththearmygoin\'

back，heshorelyhastheskelpofeveryMexicanincloosiveofsaidPrincess。"\'ButIwandersfromWillis。WherewasIatwhenIbogsdown？AsIsays，thislieutenantnabsapistolan\'goesflutterin\'fromhislimb。Butthisdon\'tdothemGreasers。TheyputsupaclaimthatsomeAmericanstracksupononeoftheiroutfitan\'killshimoff，theysays，fivedaysbefore。

Theyallowsthat，breakin\'evenonthedeal，oneofusisduetodie。Tateofferstolet\'emcountthelieutenant，buttheyshakestheirheadstillthelittlebellsontheirsombrerostinkles，an\'

declinesthelieutenantemphatic。"\'Theyp\'intsoutthisyerelieutenantdiesinhisowngame，onhisowndeal。It\'snoracketoftheirs，an\'itdon\'tgotomatchthemanthey\'reshy。"`Oneofussixwho\'slefthastodietocountevenforthisGreaserwho\'sbeencalledinthemfivedaysago。Tatecan\'tmove\'em；allhesaysisnouse；sohequits，an\'ashe\'sbeentalkin\'Spanish——whichthesameistoomuddyalanguagefortherestofus——Tateturnsinan\'tellsushowthethingsizesup。"`"Oneofusisshorelyelectedtotrailoutafterthelieutenant，"saysTate。"Theresttheyholdsaspris\'ners。Eitherwayit\'sahard，deepcrossin\'，an\'one\'saboutasroughatossastheother。""\'ThislastTatestacksintomebbywinoutalittlecomfortfortheonetheMexicanscutsoutenourbunchtokill。"`Afterabriefpow-wowtheGreaserwho\'sactin\'range-bossfortheoutfitputssixbeansinabuckskinbag。Fiveiswhitean\'one\'sblack。ThemGreasersisonthegamblebigger\'nwolves，an\'theycrowdsupplentygleefultoseeustakeagambler\'schanceforourlives。Theoneofuswhodrawsablackbeanistop\'intoutafterthelieutenant。"`Sayin\'somethin\'

inSpanishwhichmostlikelymeans"Agebeforebeauty，"theMexicansmakesWillisan\'mestandbackwhilethefourotherssearchesoneaftertheotherintothebagforhisbean。"`Tategoesfirstan\'winsawhitebean。

"`Thenashiftless，no-accountpartywhomwe-allscalls"ChickenBill"reachesin。Ishorelyhopes，seein\'it\'sboundtobesomebody，thatthisChickenBillacquirestheblackbean。Butluck\'sag\'inus；

ChickenBillbacksoffwithawhitebean。"`WhenthethirdgentturnsoutawhitebeantheshadowbeginstofallacrossJimWillisan\'me。IlooksatJim；an\'IgivesittoyoustraightwhenIsaysthatIain\'tatthattimethinkin\'ofmyse\'fsomuchasaboutJim。

Toseethisyeredeal，blackasmidnight，closin\'inonJim，iswhat\'shurtin\'；itdon\'tsomehowoccurtomeI\'mlikewiseupag\'intheironmyse\'f。"`"Lookslikethisyereamiabledeeviceisouttorunitsbrandontooneofus，"saysJimtome；an\'Ilooksathim。

"`An\'then，asthefourthfindsawhitebeaninthebag，an\'drawsadeepsighan\'standsback，Jimsays:"Well，Sam，it\'suptous。"

ThenJimlooksatmekeenan\'steadyawholelot，an\'theMexicans，bein\'ratherpleasedwiththesituation，ain\'tgoadin\'ofustohurryupnone。

"`Whenit\'stoJiman\'metheyselectsmeoutastheonetopullforthenextbean。Jim\'sstilllookin\'atmehard，an\'Iseesthewaterinhiseye。\'

"`"Letmehaveyourdraw，Sam，"hesays。

"`"Shore，"Ireplies，standin\'astepofffromthebag。"It\'syourstooquick。"

"`ButtheMexicansdon\'tseeitthata-way。It\'smyturnan\'mydraw，an\'Jimhastotakewhat\'sleft。SotheMexicanstellsTatetosendmeaftermybeanag\'in。

"`"Holdonasecond，Sam，"saysJim，an\'bythistimehe\'ssteadyasachurch。"Sam，"hegoeson，"thar\'snouseyou——allgettin\'theshortendofthis。Thar\'sreasonsforyoulivin\'，whichmycaseisvoidtharof。Nowletmeaskyou:beyouuponbeans？Canyoutellablackfromawhitebeanbythefeel？"

"`"No，"Isays，"beansisallaheapthesametome。"

"\'"That\'swhatIallows，"goesonthisJim。"Nowyere\'swheremysooperiorknowledgegetsin。IftheseMexicanshadletmedrawforyouI\'dfixedit，butitlooksliketheyhasscrooples。Butlisten，an\'youbeatsthedealasitis。Thar\'sadifferenceinbeanssameasinponies。Blackbeansisroughlikeacactuscomparedtowhitebeans，whichsaidlastvegetableisshorelyassmoothasglass。Nowyere\'swhatyou——alldoes；jestgrp[ean\'scout\'roundinthatbaguntilyoupicksoutthesmoothbean。That\'syourbean；that\'sthewhitebean。Cinchthesmoothbeanan\'theblackonecomestome。"

"WhenJimsaysallthisitseemslikeI\'minadazean\'sorterwoozy。Ineverdoubtshimforamoment。OfcourseIdon\'ttakenoadvantageofwhathesays。Irecallstheadvicemyoldmothergivesme；it\'slongenoughagonow。Theoldladysays:"Samyool，neverletmehearofyouweakenin\'。Beaman，oramouse，oralong-tailrat。"

SowhenJimlaysitoffaboutthemtwobeansbein\'smoothan\'roughthata-way，an\'thewhitebein\'thesmoothbean，Inacherallysearchesouttheroughbean，allowin\'she\'llshorebeblack；whichshowsmyintellectscan\'tcopewithJim\'snone。

"`ThebeanIbringstothesurfaceiswhite。I\'mpaleasaghost。Myheartwiltslikewaterinsideofme，an\'Ifeelswhiteasthebeanwhereitlaysinmyhand。OfcourseI\'msomeyoungthemdays，an\'itdon\'tneedsomuchtostaggerme。"`Irecollectslikeitwasinavisionhearin\'Jimlaugh。"Sam，"hesays，"Ireadsyoulikesomuchsunshine。An\'Ishorelyfoolsyouupalot。Don\'tyoureckonI

allowsyou\'lldoubleonthetrail，p\'intin\'southifIsays\'north\'

atashowlikethis？Thewhitebeanisallersarough，sandybean；

allerswasan\'allerswillbe；an\'neverletnoonefoolyouthata-

wayag\'in。An\'now，Sam，ADIOS。"

"\'I\'mstandin\'lookin\'atthewhitebean。IfeelsJimgripmyotherhandasliesays"ADIOS，"an\'thenextisthe"bang!"oftheMexicans\'sguns。Jim\'sdeadthen；he\'soutinasecond；neverbatsaneyenorwagsay\'ear。

"\'Whichnow，\'saysEnrightattheend，asheyankshissaddle\'roundsohemakesaplaceforhishead，\'whichnowthatyou-allsisfullyinformedwhyIappearsaversetoGreasers，IreckonsI\'llslumbersome。Ineverdoesseeone，Idon\'tthinkofthatboy，JimWillis；

an\'IneverthinksofJimbutIwantstomurderaMexican。\'

"Enrightdon\'tsaynomore；sorterrollsupinhisblankets，dropshisheadonhissaddle，an\'laysalongtimequiet，likehe\'sasleep。JackMoorean\'meain\'tsayin\'nothin\'；merelysettin\'tharpeerin\'intothefirean\'listenin\'tothecoyotes。AtlastEnrightliftshisheadoffthesaddle。

"\'Mebbyit\'stwentyyearsagowhenapartyoverontheRioGrandeallowsashowJim\'saimin\'tocold-deckmewhenheonfoldsaboutthehabitsofthembeans。Ittakessevenmonths，aironconstitootion，an\'threemedicine-sharps——an\'eachasgoodasDocPeets，——beforethatRioGrandepartyisregardedasoutendanger。\'"

CHAPTERVI。

TUCSONJENNIESHEART。

"\'Whyeverain\'tImarried？\'saysyou。"TheOldCattlemanrepeatedthequestionaftermeashesettledhimselfforoneofourmany"pow-wows，"ashedescribedthem。"Lookslikeyou\'vedealtmethatconundrumbefore。Whyain\'tIwedded？Theanswertothat，son，isalongshotan\'alimbintheway。

"NowIreckonsthereasonwhyI\'mallerswifelessawholelotismainlyduetothewidepop\'larityofthemfemalesItakesafter。

Someothergentsortergetsherfirsteachtime，an\'nacherallythatbarsme。BillJenks\'swifeonthatoccasionisaspec\'mencase。

That\'soneofthedisapp\'intmentsIonfoldstoyou。Nowthar\'samaidenInotonlywants，butneeds；jestthesame，Billgetsher。