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"\'Excuseme，"IsaystoFrosty。"Youstayrightyerewiththebottle，an\'I\'llbeamongyouag\'ininaminuteallspraddledout。"
"\'Igoeswanderin\'outbackoftheTubofBlood，whereit\'slonesome，an\'campsdownbyaSpanish-bayonet，an\'tugsawaytogetmybootoffan\'mydinerointocirc\'lation。
"\'An\'whileI\'matit，sleepan\'nose-paintseizesme，an\'mylightgoesplumbout。Irollsoverbehindthebayonet-bushan\'raisesasnore。AsforthatFrosty，hewaitsawhile；thenhepullshisfreight，allowin\'I\'mtoodeliberateaboutcomin\'back，forhim。
"\'Itmusthavemadethemcoyotesstopan\'considerawholelotaboutwhatIbe。Toshowyouhowgoodthemcoyotesis，Iwantstotellyou:Idon\'tnoticeitontilthenextday。WhileI\'mcurleduptother\'arofthatbushtheycomesmightyneargnawin\'thescabbardoffenmygun。Fact；theleatherlookslikesomepuphasbeenchewin\'
it。ButrightthenIain\'tmindin\'nothin\'sooninterestin\'asacoyotebitin\'ontheleatherofmygun。
"\'Nowthisiswherethatbluffaboutbreadonthewaterscomesin；
an\'itfallssopatontheheelsofthemdevotionsofmine，ithe\'psbranditonmymem\'ry。WhileI\'mlayin\'thar，an\'mightylikelywhilethemcoyotesislunchin\'offenmyscabbardthata-way，alongcomesarankstrangertheycallsSpanishBill。
"\'IlearnsafterwardhowthisSpanishBillishard，plumbthrough。
He\'srustledeverythin\'fromabunchofponiestothemail-bags，an\'
isnothin\'butahold-upwhoneedshangin\'everyhour。WhatevertakeshimtowhereIlaysbymybayonet-bushIneverknows。Hedon\'tdisclosenothin\'onthatp\'intafterward，an\'mebbyhetracksuponmeaccidental。
"\'Butwhatinformsmeplainthatheexploresmywar-bagsforstuff，beforeeverheconcloodstolookaftermyhealth，isthis:Later，whenwegetsacquaintedan\'Ionfurlsmyfinancesontohim，heseemsdisapp\'intedan\'hurt。
"\'ThestatisticsofthebarkeepoftheTubofBloodnextday，goestotheeffectthatI\'mshorelyouttharfourhours；an\'whenSpanishBilldiscoversmeI\'mmightynearfroze。TaosnightsinNovemberhasaheapofthingsincommonwiththemArticregionswehearsof，wherethemfur-linedsportsgoesinpursootofthatNorthPole。
Bein\'froze，an\'mebbyfromanover-dabofnose-paint，IneversaveysaboutthisyereSpanishBillmeetin\'upwithmethata-wayontillater。Butbywhatthebarkeepsays，hedrugmeintotheTubofBloodan\'allowshe\'sgotamaverick。
"\'"Fixthisyerefrozegentupsomethin\'withteeth，"saysSpanishBilltothebarkeep。"Idon\'tknowhisnamenone，buthe\'ssufferin\'
an\'hasgottoberecoveredifittakestheentirecheck-rack。"
"\'Whichthebarkeepstandsinan\'bringsmeto。Icomes\'roundan\'
canwalksomeifSpanishBillgoesalongsteadyin\'ofmebythecollar。TharuponsaidBillridesherdonmedowntotheJacksonHousean\'spreadsmeonsomeblankets。
"\'It\'sdaylightwhenIbeginstobeawaremyname\'sBoggs，an\'thatI\'manativeofKentucky，an\'littlepersonalitieslikethat；an\'
whatwakesmeupisthisSpanishBill。
"\'"Seeyere，"saysthishold-up，"I\'mgoin\'toturninnow，an\'it\'stimeyou-allisup。Yere\'swhatyoudo:Thar\'sfivewhiskey-checksontheTubofBlood，whichwillhe\'pyoutoanappetite。Followin\'
ofas\'fficientquantityoffire-water，youwillreturntotheJacksonHousean\'eat。Ipaysforit。Iwon\'tbeoutenmyblanketsbythen；buttheyknowsthatSpanishBillmakesgood，\'causeI
impressesiton\'emspeshulwhenIcomesin。
"\'"You-alldon\'tknowme，"goesonthisSpanishBill，asIsetsupan\'blinksathimsomefoggyan\'blurred，"an\'Idon\'tknowyou"——
whichwe-allsallows，outenp\'liteness，isadeadlosstoboth。"Butmyname\'sSpanishBill，an\'I\'mturnin\'monteintheBankExchange。
I\'llbetharatmytablebyfirst-drinktimethisevenin\'；an\'ifyousa\'ntersthata-wayatthatepock，we\'llhaveadrink；an\'bein\'
asyou\'rebusted，ofcourseIstakesyoumoderateonyourway。"
"\'It\'sthisbluffaboutmenothavin\'moneyputsmeinmindlaterthatthisBillmusthaverustledmyraimentswhenhefindsmethattimewhenI\'mpresidedoverbycoyoteswhileIsleeps。Whenhesaysit，however，ImerelyremarksthatwhileI\'mgratefultohimasmockin\'-birds，moneyafterallain\'tnoobjectwithme；an\'，pullin\'
offmynighmoccasin，Ipourssometwopoundsofspecieontotheblankets。
"\'"WhichIpacksthisinmyboot，"Iobserves，"toputmysc\'finmindI\'vegotarollbigenoughtofillanose-bagovertoHoward\'sstore。"
"\'"An\'I\'mfeelin\'thegaliesttohearit，"saysthisSpanishBill；
thoughasIsu\'gestsheactspainedan\'amazed，likeagentwho\'sover-lookedabet。
"\'Well，that\'salltharistothatpart。That\'swhereSpanishBilllaunchesthatbreadofhis\'n；an\'thewayitlaterturnsoutitsorterb\'arsdownonme，an\'keepsmerememberin\'whatthatskyscoutsaysatthepra\'r-meetin\'abouttheactionagentgetsbyplayin\'agooddeedtowin。
"\'It\'sthemiddleofJanuary，mebbytwomonthslater，whenI\'moverontheUpperCalienteaboutfiftymilesbackoftheSpanishPeaks。
I\'mworkin\'abunchofcattle；Cross-Kisthebrand；y\'ear-marksaswallow-forkintheleft，withtherighty\'earonderhacked。\'
"What\'sthegoodofay\'ear-markwhenthar\'sabrand？"repeatedtheOldCattlemanafterme，forIhadinterruptedwiththequestion。
"Whatever\'sthegoodofy\'ear-marks？Why，whenmixedcattleisinabunch，standin\'socloseyoucan\'tseenobrandsontheirsides，an\'
you-allisridin\'throughtheoutfitcuttin\'out，y\'ear-marksiswhatyougoesby。Cattleturnstolookasyoucomesridin\'an\'
pesterin\'among\'em，an\'theirtwoy\'earsp\'intsfor\'ardlikefans。
Yougetstheiry\'ear-markslikeprintin\'onthepageofabook。Ifyouwastogooveraherdbythebrands，youwouldn\'tcutoutasteeranhour。ButtotrailbackafterBoggs。
"`It\'stwomonthslater，an\'I\'mridin\'downadrawoneday，\'saysthisDanBoggs，\'cussin\'therangean\'theweather，whenmyponygoestohavin\'symptoms。Thisyereponyisthatsagaciousthatwhileitmakesnottheslightestmentionofcattlewhenthey\'snear，itnevercomesupondeer，orpeopleinthehills，butittakestogivin\'ofmanifestations。ThisissoIcansquarmyse\'fforwhatevergametheyopensonus。
"`AsIsays，mean\'thisyerewiseponyispushin\'outintotheCalientewhentheponybeginstomakesigns。Ibringshimdownallcautiouswherewecanlookacrossthevalley，an\'
[Illustrationwithcaption:"NacherallyIstopsan\'surveyshimcareful]
you-allcangambleI\'msomeastonishedtoseeagentwalkin\'alongafoot，offmebbyacouplehundredyards。Hesorterlimpsan\'leansoverononesidelikehe\'shurt。NacherallyIstopsan\'surveyshimcareful。It\'splentystrangehe\'stharatall；an\'strangerstillhe\'safoot。Ilookshimoverforweepons；Iwantstonotewhathe\'slikean\'howhe\'sheeled。
"\'Yousaveysaswellasmeitdon\'tdotogocanterin\'outtostrangersthata-wayinthehills；speshullyastrangerwho\'safoot。
Hemighthungerforyourponyforonething，an\'openaplayonyouwithhisgun，aswouldleaveyouafootan\'likewisetoodeadtoknowit。
"\'I\'mallerscautiousthata-way，aroundapartywho\'slosthishoss。Itlocoeshiman\'makeshimf\'rocious；Is\'posebein\'afoothefeelshe\'pless，an\'letoutan\'crazy。Agentafootisaheapeasiertoaggravate，too；an\'amightysightmorelikelytolayforyouthanwhenhe\'sinaTexassaddlewithaponybetweenhisknees。
"\'WhichiswhyIremarks，thatIstacksupthispedestriancarefulan\'accuratebeforeIgoesafterhim。
"\'AsIsays，hecarriesonlikehe\'shurt；an\'he\'spackin\'asix-
shooter。Heseemsfamiliar，too；an\'whileIlookshimoverI\'mwonderin\'whereIcutshistrailbefore。
"\'AsIhastheadvantageofaWinchester，Iatlastridesintotheopenan\'givesawhoopee。Thepartyturns，comeslimpin\'towardme，an\'whoeverdoyouallowitis？Whichit\'sshorelySpanishBill；an\'
it\'srightyerehegetsactiononthatbreadonthewatersheplaysinwhenherecoversmethattimeinTaos。
"\'Tomakeitbrief，SpanishBilltellsmethatafterIleavesTaoshegoesoveran\'dealsmonteabitatWagonMound。OnenightaMexicancomescaperin\'in，an\'Billgiveshimalayoutortwo。Atlasthemakesanalcybetoffiftydollarsonthequeen；whattheGreaserscallsthe"hoss。"TheMexicanloses；an\'insteadoftakin\'
iteasylikeasportshould，hegrabsthemoney。
"\'Aswashisdooty，SpanishBillbendshissix-shooterovertheMexican。Tharuponhesearchesoutaknife；an\'thisyeresocomplicatesthebusiness，Bill，tosimplifythings，plugstheMexicanfullofholes。
"\'Thisshootin\'isonthesquar\'，an\'noonetakeshostilenoticeofit。SpanishBillgoesonlayin\'outhismontesameasusual。Twodayslater，though，hegetsap\'intertheMexicansisfixin\'forhim。Sothatnighthemovescamp——mebbytowhereit\'sahundredan\'
sixtymilesfromWagonMound，overontheVermejo。
"\'ButitlooksliketheGreasershangstothetrail；forthedaybeforeItracksuponhimabandof\'emhopsoutenadryarroya，wherethey\'sbush-wackin\'forhim，an\'goestoshootin\'。Asmightbeexpected，SpanishBillturnsloose，freean\'frequent，an\'theyallshorelyhasahigh，excessivetime。
"\'TheMexicansdownsSpanishBill\'spony，an\'abulletcreasesBill\'sside；whichlastiswhatcurveshimoveran\'indooceshimtolimpwhenItrailsupwithhim。
"\'AsSpanishBillgoesdown，theMexicansscatter。Thegameistoohighfor\'em。Theywasshytwopeople，withanotherpluggeddeepan\'
strong；bywhichyounotesthatBillisaimin\'lowan\'good。
"\'Aftertheshootin\'SpanishBillcrawlsovertoaranch，an\'，gettin\'aponyan\'saddle，whichheeasydoes，hebreaksbackintothehillswhereIencountershim。It\'sthatmorninghisponygetstiredofthedeal，an\'buckshimoff，an\'goesstampedin\'back。
That\'swhyhe\'safoot。
"\'Whilehe\'stalkin\'allthis，IrecallshowSpanishBillroundsmeupthatnightinTaos，soIdon\'thesitate。Itakeshimovertomycamp。Thenextmornin\'heturnshisnoseforTexasonmybestpony；
whichisthelastIseesorhearsofSpanishBill，onlesshe\'stheBillwho\'slynchedovernearEaglePassayearlater，ofwhichI
surmisesit\'ssomelikely。
"\'ButwhetherBill\'slynchedornot，itallbringsupag\'inwhatthatGospel-gentsaysaboutdoin\'benev\'lences；an\'howaftermanydaysyoudiesan\'makesawinnin\'，an\'livesonvelvetalleternity。
An\'don\'tyouknowthisSpanishBillpickin\'meupthatnight，an\'
theninlessthantwomonths，whenhe\'safootan\'hurtinthehills，gettin\'ag\'instmean\'drawin\'outofthegameaheadasaddle，aponyan\'safety，makesitseemlikethatBible-sharpisrightawholelot？
"\'That\'showitstrikesme，\'concloodsBoggs。\'An\'asItellsyou；
ifsomanycattledon\'tdiethatspring；an\'ifIdon\'tgivewaysofrightfulinmytalk，I\'dshorelyhunteddownacongregationthenextJune，an\'stoodin。"\'
CHAPTERXVIII。
DAWSON&RUDD，PARTNERS。
"Whatever\'sthedifferencebetweentheEastan\'theWest？"saidtheOldCattleman，repeatingmyquestionratherforthepurposeofconsiderationthanfromanyfailuretounderstand:"What\'sthedifferencebetweentheEastan\'theWest？Which，sofarasInotes，torelapseintometaphor，asyou-allssays，thebigdifferenceisthattheEastallersshootsfromarest；whiletheWestshootsoffhand。
"TheWestshorelearnseasyan\'isquicktochangeasystemoralteraplay。It\'splumbswift，theWestis；an\'whatsomeregardsasroughismererapidity。TheWestmightgobrokeatfaro-bankinthemornin\'，an\'berichatrouletteintheafternoon；youcan\'ttell。I
knowspartnersinArizonawhorollsoutinthegraylightofbreakin\'dayan\'beginsworkbydissolvin\'an\'windin\'upthefirm\'saffairs。Bydarkthemsamegentsispardsag\'ininanewenterprisecomplete。Folks\'llfightatsun-upan\'cooktheirchileconcarnetogetheratnight，an\'thensleeponderthesameblankets。Forwhichcausesthar\'snoprophetsintheWest；aWesternfuturethata-waybein\'somightyoncertainnoprophetcanfastenhislariat。
"Speakin\'ofpardsan\'thefogwhichsurroundswhatthesameislikelytodo，makesmethinkoftheonlicensedan\'onlooked-forcarryin\'s-onof\'DobyDawsonan\'CopperQueenBillyRudd。Themtwogentsfostersafeudamongthemse\'fsthatsplits\'emwideopenan\'
keeps\'empesterin\'eachotherforyears；whichthedoin\'softhemlocoedpeopleisthescandalofWolfvillewhileitlasts。
"It\'smebbythespringafterweerectstheBirdCageOp\'ryHouse，an\'Wolfvilleisgettin\'tobeconsiderableofacamp。We-allsisorganizedforashore-\'noughtown，anJackMooreisashore-\'noughmarshal，withEnrightforalcaldethata-way，an\'thar\'saheapofimprovements。
"WhenIfirsttracksintoWolfville，cowsiswhatyoumightcalltheleadin\'industry，withwhiskeyan\'faro-bankontheside。Butinthedaysof\'DobyDawsonan\'CopperQueenBillyRudd，orehasbeenonearthed，theminesisopened，an\'Wolfville\'sswelledtremendous。
We-allsevenwinsacounty-seatfightwithRedDog，whereinweputsitalloverthatorneryhamlet；an\'weshorelydealsthegamefortheentireregion。
"AsIstates，it\'sthespringafterwepromotestheBirdCageOp\'ryHouse——whichtempleofamoosementsiscompletethefallbefore——that\'Dobyan\'BillyturnsupinWolfville。Iknowsshe\'sspring，forI\'mawayworkin\'theround-upatthetime，an\'themgentsisboththardrunkwhenIcomesin。
"\'Dobyan\'Billy\'sbeenpardsfortenyears。They\'sminerfolks，an\'
\'Dobytellsmehimse\'fonedaythathiman\'BillyhasstoodinoneverymineexcitementfromAlaskatoLowerCaliforny。An\'neveroncedoestheygettheirtrailscrossedorhavearow。
"ThetwogentsstrikesatWolfvillewhentheminesisfirstopened，an\'stakesoutthreeclaims；onefor\'Doby，oneforBilly。an\'oneforbothof\'em。They\'scampedoffupadrawabouthalfamilefromtown，wheretheirclaimsis，an\'hasalittlecabinan\'seemstobegettin\'alongpeacefulasachurch；an\'Ireckonsthar\'s\'nodoubtbuttheybe。
"When\'Dobyan\'Billyfirstcomescaperin\'intoWolfvillethey\'sthatthickan\'friendlywitheachother，it\'sashametothieves。I
recallshowtheirrelationsthata-wayexcitesgeneraladmiration，an\'DocPeetsevengoessofarhecalls\'em\'Jonathanan\'David。\'
WhichPeetswouldhavekeptoncallin\'\'em\'Jonathanan\'David\'
plumbthrough，butBillygetshostile。
"\'Itain\'tmeIcaresfor，\'saysBilly，——whichhewaitsonDocPeetswithhisgun，——\'butnogent\'sgoin\'tomalign\'DobyDawsonnonean\'
alloodetohimas\'Jonathan\'withoutrebooke。\'
"Seein\'itpainsBilly，an\'astharain\'tevenawhitechipinmerenomenclaturethata-way，ofcourseDocPeetsdon\'tcall\'em\'Jonathanan\'David\'nomore。
"\'Dobyan\'Billy\'sbeenaroundmightylikelysixmonths。Thecampgetsusedto\'eman\'likes\'em。Theydigsan\'blastsawayinthembadger-holestheycallsshaftsallday，an\'thencomeschargin\'downtotheRedLightatnight。Afterthetwoisdrunksuccessful，theymutuallytakeseachotherhome。An\'astheylinesoutfortheircampupholdin\'an\'he\'pin\'ofeachother，an\'boththatdeadsoakedinnose-painttheylongbeforeabandonstryin\'tohe\'pthemse\'fs，I
tellsyou，son，theirloveisapicturean\'alesson。
"\'Whichthewaythempore，locoedsots，\'saysOldManEnrightonenight，as\'Dobyan\'BillyfallsoutentheRedLighttogether，an\'
thenturnsinan\'assistseachothertorise，——\'whichthewaythemporedarkeneddrunkardsridesherdoneachother，an\'isonse\'fishan\'generousthata-way，an\'backseachother\'splay，isasgoodassermons。You-allyoungmen，\'saysEnright，turnin\'onJackMoorean\'
Boggsan\'Tutt，\'you-allimatoorbuckswhosecharacterain\'treallyformednoneyet，oughterprofitplentybytheirexample。\'
"AsIremarks，\'Dobyan\'Billy\'sbeeninhabitin\'Wolfvilleformightyhardonsixmonthswhenthetroublebetween\'emfirstshowsitsteeth。AsBillywalksoutonemornin\'tosnifftheclimatesome，heremarksaMexican——whichhisnameisJoseSalazar，butdon\'tcutnofiggernohow——sorter\'propriatin\'ofamule。
"\'Thesame，\'asBillysays，inrelatin\'thecasooaltylater，\'bein\'
ourstarmule。\'
"Nacherally，onnotin\'themisdeedsofthisyereGreaser，Billyreachesinsidethecabin，an\'sortsoutaWinchesteran\'plugssaidculpritinamonghisthoughts，antharbybringshismule-rustlin\'
an\'hisreflectionstoapausesome。
"It\'stwohourslater，mebby，whenthedefunct\'sdaughter——theoutfitabidesoverinChihuahua，whichistheMexicanpartofWolfville——goestoashow-downwith\'Dobyan\'Billyanwantstoknowdoesshegetthecorpse？
"\'Shore，\'says\'Doby，\'whichwe-allshasnofurtheruseforyourpaw，an\'hisremainderisfreean\'welcometoyou。Youcanbetmean\'Billyain\'tholdin\'outnopaternalcorpsesnoneontheirweepin\'offsprings。\'
"Followin\'ofhisbluff，\'Dobygoesoveran\'consoleswiththeMexican\'sdaughter，whichhername\'sManuela，an\'shedon\'tlooksobadneither。DocPeets，whosejedgementoffemalesisacinch，allowsshe\'sasprettyasadiamondflush，an\'youcangambleDocPeetsain\'tmakinnoblindleadswhenit\'saquestionofsquaws。
"So\'DobyconsolesthisyereManuelaawholelot，whileBilly，who\'smakin\'coffeean\'bakin\'。powderbiscuitinside，don\'treallynoticehe\'sdoin\'it。Factis，Billy\'splumbbusy。TheNewYorkStorehavin\'changedbakin\'-powderontoustheweekbefore——thesameredoocin\'biscuitstoaconundrumforamonthafter——an\'thatbakin\'-powderchangesorterengagin\'Billy\'sfacultieswholly，heforgetsaboutdeceasedan\'hisdaughtercomplete；thatis，completetemporary。Later，whenthebiscuitsisdonean\'offenhismind，Billyrecallsallaboutitag\'in。
"\'But\'Doby，who\'sagoodtalkeran\'amightytendergentthata-
way，jumpsinan\'comfortsManuela，an\'showsherhowthismuleherpawisstealin\'isbywayan\'farthebestmuleincamp，an\'atlastshedrieshertearsan\'allowsinherlanguagethatshe\'sgrowin\'
resigned。\'Dobywindsupbyhe\'pin\'Manuelahomewithwhat\'sleftofherpaw。
"\'Whichit\'sjestlikethat\'Doby，\'saysBilly，whenhehearsofhispartnerpackin\'homehispreythata-way，an\'histonesshowsheadmires\'Dobynolimit，`whichit\'sshorelylikehim。Takefolksindistress，an\'you-allscanbetyourlastchip\'Dobycan\'tdotoomuchfor\'em。\'"Billy\'sdisgustsetsinliketherainyseason，however，whenabouttwomonthslater\'Dobyupsan\'wedsthisMexicangirlManuela。WhenBillylearnsofsaidceremony，hedeclinesaseatinthegame，an\'won\'tgonearthemnuptialsnohow。
"\'An\'Ideclar\'smyse\'frightyere，\'saysBilly。\'Fromnowfor\'ardit\'sacaseoflonehandwithme。Idon\'twantnomorepartners。
WhenagentwithwhomfortenyearsI\'vecamped，trailed，an\'
prospectedwith，allthewayfromtheDallstotheGila，quitsmecoldan\'clammyforasquawhedon\'tknowtenweeks，youcangamblethatletsmeplumbout。I\'vedonegotmymed\'cine。an\'I\'mreadytoquit。\'
"But\'Dobyan\'Billydon\'tactooallymakenoassignment，norgointowhatyou-allEasternsharpscallsliquidation。Thetwogoesonan\'
workstheirclaimstogether，an\'thefirmnamestillwavesas\'DobyDawsonan\'CopperQueenBillyRudd，\'onlyBillywon\'tgointo\'Doby\'snewwickeyupwherehe\'sgotManuela，——notafoot。
"\'WhichImighthaveconqueredmynativereluctance，\'saysBilly，\'sotodo，an\'Ievenmakesupmymindonenight——it\'safterI\'vegotmygrub，an\'you-allsknowshowplumbsoftan\'forgivin\'thata-
wayagentiswhenhisstomach\'sfullofgrub——togoupan\'visit\'emalot。ButasIgetstothedoorIhearsanoiseIdon\'tsavey；
an\'whenIInjunsuptoacrackan\'surveysthescene，I\'macoyoteiftharain\'t\'Doby，withhiswifeinhislap，singin\'toher。
That\'ssquar\'；actooallysingin\'；whichsecheffortsremindsmeofballardsbycinnamonb\'ars。
"\'Iain\'tnoneshore，\'goesonBilly，asherelatesaboutittome，\'butI\'dstoodsechegreegiousplays，chargin\'itgeneralto\'Doby\'sgettin\'locoedan\'mushy；butwhenthisyereingrateendshiswar-
song，whatdoyou-allreckonnowhedoes？Turnsinan\'begins\'pologizin\'formedownin\'herdad。Whichtheoldhold-upisonthemulean\'goin\'hell-bentwhenIcurlshimup。Well，thatendsthingswithme。Iturnsonmyheelsan\'goesdowntotheRedLightan\'getsdrunkplumbthrough。Yourecallsit；thetimeI\'mdrunkamonth，an\'
CherokeeHallbarsmeatfaro-bank，allowin\'I\'monconsciousofmysurroundin\'s。\'
"Billygoesonlivin\'attheiroldcamp，an\'\'Dobyan\'Manuelaatthenewone\'Dobybuilt。Thislastismebbyfourhundredyardsmoreupthedraw。Durin\'theday\'Dobyan\'Billyturnsinan\'worksan\'
digsan\'drillsan\'blaststogetherasofyore。Themainchangeisthatatevenin\'Billygetsdrunkalone；an\'as\'Dobyain\'talongtohe\'pBillyhomean\'needBilly\'she\'ptogethome，lotsoftimesBillyfallsbythetrailan\'putsinthenightamongthemesquite-
bushesan\'thecoyotesimpartial。
"Thisyeregoesonforplumbayear，an\'whilethingsiscooleran\'
moredistantbetween\'em，sameasit\'sboundtobewhentwogentssleepsindifferentcamps，still\'Dobyan\'Billyistrackin\'alongallright。Onemornin\'，however，Billygoesdowntotheholesthey\'sprojectin\'over，butno\'Dobyshowsup。Itgoesonontilmightylikelyfifth-drinktimethatforenoon，an\'asBillydon\'tseenotrace，sign，norsignal-smokeofhispard，hegetsoneasy。
"\'It\'safact，\'saysBillyafterward，\'thar\'shourswhenImore\'nhalfallowsthisyeresquawof\'Doby\'shasdonetookaknife，orsomesechweepon，an\'getsevenwith\'Doby，whilehesleeps，formepluggin\'herpawaboutthemule。It\'sthisyereideewhichtakesmeoutentheshaftI\'msinkin\'，an\'sendsmecavortin\'upto\'Doby\'scamp。Ipassesaresolutiononmywaythatifshe\'scashed\'Doby\'schipsforhimthata-way，I\'llshorelysa\'nteroveran\'laywasteallChihuahuatoplayevenfortheblow。\'
"Butasallturnsout，themsurmisesofBilly\'sisidle。Hegetsmebbyeasysix-shooterdistancefromthedoor，whenhediscernsasmallcrylikeafox-cub\'swhine。Billylistens，an\'theyelpcomesascl\'aronhisyearsasthewhistleofacurlew。Billytumbles。
"\'I\'maChinaman，\'saysBilly，\'ifitain\'takid!\'
"Sohebacksoffquietan\'noiselessontilhe\'sdeadsafe，an\'thenheliftsthelongyellfor\'Doby。When\'DobyemergesheconfirmsthembeliefsofBilly\'s；it\'sakidshore-\'nough。
"\'Boyorgirl？\'saysBilly。
"\'Boy，\'says\'Doby。\'
"\'WhichIshorelyquitsyoucoldifit\'sagirl；saysBilly。\'Asitis，Istandsbyyouinyourtroubles。Iain\'tnones\'prisedatyourluck，\'Doby，\'goesonBilly。`Ihalfforeseessomesechracketasthistheminuteyougetsmarried。However，ifit\'saboyshegoes。I
ain\'tthegenttolaydownonanold-timerunnin\'-matewhileluck\'sag\'inhim；an\'I\'llstillbeyourpartneran\'playoutmyhand。\'
"Ofcourse，\'Dobyhastogobacktolookouthisgame。An\'asBilly\'sthatrentan\'shakenbythemnewshecan\'tworknone，hetakestwoorthreedrinksofnose-paint，an\'thenpromulgatesashowit\'saholiday。Billyfeels，too，thatwhilethisyere\'sablow，stillit\'sagreatoccasion；an\'ashetakestofeelin\'hiswhiskeyan\'
roominatin\'onthetangledstateofaffairs，itsuddenlystrikeshimhe\'lljestnacherallycloseupthetrailbythehouse。
"\'Womenisfrailpeoplean\'can\'tabidenoisesthata-way，\'saysBilly，`an\'\'Doby\'sshorelookin\'somefadedhimse\'f。Ireckons，tharfore，I\'llsorterstopcommercealongthisyerethoroughfar\'
ontilfurtherorders。What\'Dobyan\'hissquawneedsnowisquietoodan\'peace，an\'youcanwagerallyou-allsisworththeyain\'tgoin\'
tosuffernodisturbances。\'
"Itain\'thalfanhourafterthisbeforeBilly\'sgottwosigns，bothdownan\'upthetrail，warnin\'ofpeopletohuntanotherwagon-
track。Thesignsismadeoutenpineboards，an\'Billyhasmarkedthisyeremottoonto\'emwithaburntstick"\'DOBY\'SGOTAPAPOOSE，SO
PULLYOURFREIGHT。"
"Itain\'tnotimeafterBillypostshiswarnin\'s，an\'he\'sstillmusin\'over\'emmightyreflective，whenalongprojectsaMexicanwithapairofburroshe\'spackin\'freighton。TheMexican\'sgoin\'
bythenoticeswitboutpayin\'theleastheedtharto。Butthisdon\'tdoBilly，an\'hestandshimup。
"\'Canyouread？\'saysBillytotheMexican，atthesametimep\'intin\'tothesigns。
"TheMexicanallowsinSpanish——whichthesameBillysaveysan\'
palaversliberal——thathecan\'tread。Thenhep\'intsouttogobyag\'in。
"\'Noyoudon\'tnone，onlessinthesmoke；saysBilly，an\'throwsagunonhim。\'Pausewhereyoube，myproudCastilian，an\'I\'llfloodyourdarkenedignorancewithlightbynacherallyreadin\'thisyereinscriptiontoyouawholelot。\'
"TharuponBillyreadsoffthenoticeaheapimpressive，an\'windsupbycommandin\'oftheMexicantolineoutonthetrailback。
"\'Vamos!\'saysBilly。\'Whichifyouinsistsonpushin\'alongthroughyereI\'llturninan\'crawlyourhumpsome。\'
"ButtheMexicangetsuglyasat\'ran\'tleratthis，an\'withonemotionhelugsoutasix-shooteran\'onbosomsthesame。
"Billyisatriflepreviouswithagunhimse\'f，an\'whiletheMexicanismightyabrupt，hegetsnonethebestofBilly。WhichtheoutcomeistheMexican\'sshotplumbdeadinhismoccasins，whileBillytakesasmallcreaseonhischeek，thesamenotbein\'deadly。
Billythenconfiscatestheburros。
"\'WhichIplays\'eminforfuneralexpenses，\'saysBilly，an\'isturnin\'of\'emintothecorralbyhiscampjestas\'Dobycomesprancin\'outwithasix-shootertotakepartinwhatevergameisbein\'rolled。
"When\'DobyseesBilly\'ssignsthata-way，he\'s\'fectedsoheweepstears。HeputshishandsonBilly\'sshoulder，an\'lookin\'athim，whilehiseyesisswimmin\'，hesays:
"\'Billy，you-allisthethoughtfullestpardthateverlived。\'
"\'Dobythrowssomuchsoulintoit，an\'himgivin\'\'waytoemotions，itcomesmightynearonhingin\'Billy。
"\'IknowsIbe，\'hesays，shakin\'\'Dobybythehandforaminute，\'but，OldMan，youdeservesit。It\'scomin\'toyou，an\'youbetyourlifeyou\'regoin\'togetit。Withsomefolksthisyerewouldbecastin\'pearlsbeforeswine，butnotwithyou，\'Doby。Youcan\'preciateaplay，an\'I\'mproudtobeyourpartner。\'
"Thenextfewmonthsgoeson，an\'\'Dobyan\'Billykeepspeggin\'awayattheirclaims，an\'gettin\'drunkan\'richaboutequal。Billyisstillthatreedic\'loushewon\'tgoupto\'Doby\'scamp；but\'Dobycomesoveran\'seeshimfrequent。ThefirstthrowoutoftheboxBillytakesanotionag\'inthekidan\'allowshedon\'twantnotrafficwithhim，——nonewhatever。
"But\'Dobywon\'thaveitthata-way，an\'whenit\'saboutsixmonthsoldhepackssaidinfantoveronemornin\'whileBilly\'satbreakfast。
"\'Ain\'thehell!\'says\'Doby，aheapgleeful，atthesametimesawin\'theinfantontoBillydirect。
"OfcourseBillyhastoholdhimthen。Whichheactslikehe\'sahottamale，an\'shiftshimaboutinhisarms。Butit\'splainheain\'tsodispleasedneither。Atlastthekidreachesoutswiftan\'cinchesontoBilly\'sbeardthata-way。ThisdelightsBilly，while\'Dobykeepstrackin\'\'roundtheroomtootickledtosetdown。Allhecanremark——an\'hedoesitfrequent，likeittellstheentirestory——is:
"\'Billy，ain\'thehell？\'
"An\'Billyain\'tnoneback\'ardadmittin\'heis，an\'allowsonhesitatin\'it\'sthehunkiestbabyinArizona。
"\'An\'I\'vegotdustintothethousands，\'remarksBilly，\'whichsayshe\'stheprizepapooseofthereservation，an\'saysittentoone。
Thisyereoffspringisacredittoyou，\'Doby，an\'Imarvelsyou-allisthatmodestoverit。\'
"\'Youcanbetitain\'tnoSiwash，\'says\'Doby。\'It\'scleanstrain，thatinfantis，ifIdoessayit。\'
"\'That\'swhatever。\'saysBilly。lookingtheinfantoveran\'
beginnin\'tofeelasproudofitas\'Dobyhimse\'f，\'that\'swhatever。
An\'I\'myeretoremark，anygentwhocanupan\'withoutnotalkorboastin\'havesuchapapooseasthat，islicensedtoplumehimse\'ftharon，an\'putondogoverit，thesamewithoutrestraint。Ifeveryoucallstheturnforthelimit，pard，it\'swhenyouhasthisyerechild。\'
"Atthis\'Dobyan\'Billyshakeshandslikeit\'saceremony，an\'bothisgravean\'dignifiedaboutit。\'Dobyputsitupthatusualhe\'sbeyondflattery，butwhenagentofjedgementlikeBillylooksoveraplaythata-way，an\'indorsesit，youcanbethe\'snotinsensible。
Thentheyshakeshandsag\'in，an\'\'Dobysays:
"\'Moreover，notmeanin\'nocompliments，nortossin\'ofnoboquets，oldpard，mean\'Manuelanamesthisyoungperson"Willyum"；sameasyou-all。\'
"Billycomesmightyneardroppin\'theinfantontheflooratthis，an\'thesmallvictimofhisonthoughtfulnessthata-wayyellslikeacoyote。
"\'Thatsettlesit，\'saysBilly。\'Agentwhocouldcomedowntoblastin\'an\'drillin\'——meremenialtasks，astheyshorelybe——ontheheelsofhonorlikethis，isamightysightmoresordidthanCopperQueenBillyRudd。\'Doby，thisyereisaremarkableoccasion，an\'wecel\'brates。\'
"Bythistimetheinfantisgrownplumbhostile，an\'ishowlin\'tobeattheband；so\'Dobyputsituphe\'lltakehimtohismotheran\'
afterwardshe\'sreadytojoinBillyinanorgy。
"\'IjestnacherallystampedesbacktotheagencywiththisyereWillyumchild，\'says\'Doby，an\'thenwe-allsrepairstotheRedLightan\'relaxes。\'
"Theyshorelydoes-Idon\'trecallnosechdebauch——thatis，nonesoextremean\'broadcast——sinceWolfvilleandRedDogengagesinthemThanksgiviin\'exercises。
"Dobyan\'Billy，astimegoesby，allersalloodstotheinfantas\'Willyum，\'so\'snottogethiman\'Billymixed；an\'durin\'thenexttwoyears，whileBillystillgoesshysofarastrackin\'overto\'Doby\'sranchisconcerned，assoonashewalks，WillyumcomesdownthecanyontoseeBillyeveryday。
"Oh，no，Billyain\'tnoneonforgivin\'toManuelaforropin\'up\'Dobyan\'weddin\'himthata-way；butyouseedownin\'herpawforstealin\'
themulethattimegetssoitmakeshimbashfulan\'reluctant。
"\'Itain\'tthatI\'mtimorousneither，noryetassoomin\'airs，\'thisyereBillysaystomewhenhebringsituphimse\'fhowhedon\'tgooverto\'Doby\'s，\'butI\'mnevernohandtoset\'roundan\'visitfreean\'easythata-waywiththeposterityofagentwhichIhashadcausetoplant。Thisyereain\'troodness；it\'sscrooples，\'saysBilly，\'an\'soit\'splumbuselessformetogogettin\'sociablewith\'Doby\'swife。\'
"It\'scrowdin\'closeontwoyearsaftertheinfant\'sbornwhen\'Dobyan\'BillygetsuptheirfeudwhichIspeaksofatthebeginnin\'。
Yere\'showitgetsfulminated。Billy\'sloafin\'overbythepost-
officedooroneevenin\'，talkin\'toTuttan\'Boggsan\'apasselofus，whenwhocomesprojectin\'along，p\'intin\'fortheNewYorkStore，but\'Doby\'swifean\'Willyum。Astheytrailsby，WillyumseesBilly——Willyumcanmakeasmallbluffattalkin\'bynow——an\'，p\'intin\'hisfingeratBilly，hesagsbackonhismother\'sdresslikeheaimstohalther，an\'says:
"\'Pop-pa!Pop-pa!\'meanin\'Billythata-way；althoughthesameiserroneousentire，aseverygentinWolfvilleknows。
"\'WhichifWillyum\'sforefingerhep\'intswithisaColt\'sforty-four，an\'insteadofsayin\'`Poppa!\'heonhooksthesameatBillydirect，nowIdon\'treckonBillycouldhavebeenmoreputout。\'Doby\'swifedragsWillyumalongatthetimelikehe\'sacalfgoin\'tobebranded，an\'sheneverhaltsorpauses。ButBillyturnsallkindsofhues，an\'isthatprostratedhesurgesacrosstotheRedLightan\'getstwodrinksalone，neverinvitin\'nobody，beforeherealizes。Whenhedoesinviteusheadmitsfrankhe\'splumblocoedforamomentbytheshock。
"\'Youbet!\'saysBilly，ashegetshisthirddrink，thesamebein\'
tookincommonwiththepop\'lacepresent，\'youbet!tharain\'tagentincampI\'dinsultbynoneglect；butwhenWillyummakesthemchargesan\'doesitpublicly，itonhingesmyreason，an\'themtwotimesIdon\'tinviteyou-alls，I\'mnotresponsible。\'
"We-allsseesBilly\'swounded，an\'tharforeit\'saha\'r-linedealtosayanythin\'；butaswellaswecanwetellshimthatwhatWillyumsays，thata-way，bein\'less\'ntwoyearold，isthemereprattleofachild，an\'he\'snottobedepressedbyit。
"\'Sechbreaks，\'saysDanBoggs，\'istookjocosebackintheStates。\'
"\'Shore!\'saysTexasThompson，backin\'Boggs\'splay；\'themlittlebluffsofinfancy，gettin\'tangledthata-wayabouttheirprogenitors，isregardedjoyousinLaredo。Whichthar\'snottheslightestneedofBillybein\'castdowntharat。\'
"\'Iain\'tsayin\'aword，gents，\'remarksBilly，an\'histonesissad。You-allsmeansproperanfriendly。ButIwarnstheworldatthistimethatInowembarksonthespreeofmylife。I\'mgointogetdrunkan\'neverhedgeabet；anmylastrequests，thesamebein\'
addressedtothebarkeep，personal，istoseteverybottleofbug-
juiceintheshebangonthebar，thartoreposewithinthereachofallontilfurtherorders。\'
"It\'saboutanhourlater，an\'Billy，who\'sfiledawayaquartoffire-waterinhisinteriorbynow，isvibratin\'betweentheRedLightan\'thedance-hall，growin\'drunkan\'dejectedevenup。It\'sthenhesees\'Dobyheadin\'upthestreet。\'DobyhearsofhissonWillyum\'swildplayfromhiswife，an\'itmakeshimhotthata-way。
Butheain\'tnonotionofblamin\'Billy；nonewhatever。
"However，\'Dobydon\'thaveentirechargeoftheround-up，an\'hehastofiggerwithBillyrightalong。
"\'Doby，\'shoutsBilly，ashenoteshispardapproachin\'，whilehebalanceshimse\'finhismoccasinsaheapdifficult，\'\'Doby，yourinfantWillyumisaeediot。WhichifIwastheparentofafoolpapooselikeWillyum，I\'dshorelydrophimdownashaftawholelotan\'filluptheshaft。Hewon\'tassaytwoouncesofsensetotheton，Willyumwon\'t；an\'heain\'tworthpowderan\'fusetoworkhim。
Actooally，thatporeimbecilebabyWillyum，don\'tknowhisownfather。\'
"Whichtherageof\'Dobyisbeyondboundscomplete。Forabouthalfaminutehiman\'Billyfrothsan\'cusseseachotheroutscand\'lous，an\'thencomestheguns。Theartilleryisacaseofs\'prise，themostexperiencedgentinWolfvillenotloekin\'fornogun-playbetweenfolkswho\'sbeenpardsan\'blanket-matesforyears。
"However，itdon\'tlastlong；itlookslikebothgetssorterconscience-strickenthata-way，an\'letsup。Still，whileit\'sshort，it\'slongenoughforBillytogethislaigoustedwithoneof\'Doby\'sbullets，an\'italllaysBillyupforDocPeetstofusswithforoverthreemonths。
"WhileBilly\'sstretchedout，an\'DoePeetsisridin\'herdonhislaig，\'DobykeepsassavageasanApachean\'don\'tcomenearBilly。
Thesame，however，ain\'tfullproofofcoldness，neither；forBilly\'sdonegiveitouthe\'lldown\'Dobyifhepokeshisheadinthedoor，an\'arrangeshisgunswherehecanwork\'eminontheenterpriseeasy。
"ButWillyumdon\'ttakenostand-off。ThelastthingWillyum\'safraidofisBilly；sohecomeswaltzin\'overeachday，clumsyasacubcinnamononhisshortlaigs，an\'makeshimse\'fplumbabundant。
HeplayswithBilly，an\'hesleepswithBilly，Willyumdoes；an\'heeatseverytimethenigger，who\'scomeoverfromthecorraltolookoutBilly\'sdomesticgamewhilehe\'sdown，rustlessomegrub。
"\'Doby\'sdisgustedwithWillyum\'sherdin\'\'roundwithBillythata-
way，bein\'sociablean\'visitin\'ofhim，an\'helaysforWillyuman\'
wallopshim。WhenBillylearnsofit——whichhedoesfromWillyumhimse\'fwhenthatinfantp\'intsinforavisitthedayafter——he\'saswildasamountainlion。Billycan\'tgetoutnone，forhislaigisaheapfragmentaryasyet，——\'Doby\'sbulletgettin\'alltheresultswhichiscomin\'thattime，——buthesends\'DobywordbyPeets，ifhehearsofanymorepunishmentsbein\'metedtoWillyum，heregardsitasaspeshulaffronttohim，an\'holds\'Dobyresponsiblepersonalassoonashecanhobble。
"\'Tellhim，\'saysBilly，\'thatifhecommitsanyfurtheratrocitiesag\'inthisinnocentWillyumchild，I\'llshoreleavehimtoodeadtoskin。\'
"\'ThisyereBilly\'sgettin\'locoedentire，\'saysEnright，whenhe\'stoldofBilly\'sbluff。\'Therighttomaulyourimmediatedescendantsthata-wayisguaranteedbytheconstitootion，an\'isoneofthemthingswe-allsfightsforatBunkerHill。However，IreckonsBilly\'smerelyblowin\'hishorn；bein\'sickan\'cantankerouswithhisgameknee。\'
"Billygetswellafterawhile，an\'himan\'\'Dobysorterplanstoavoideachother。Whateverworktheyputsinontheclaimtheyholdsinpartnership，theyhiresothergentstodo。Personal，eachworkstheclaimheholdshimse\'f，whichkeeps\'emasunderawholelot，an\'
isfrootfulofpeace。\'"DeepinsidetheirshirtsIallersallowstheseyerepersonsdeemshighan\'\'fectionateofoneanotherrightatthetimethey\'shangin\'uptheirhardestbluffsan\'carryin\'onmosthostile。Whichtrivialincidentsdisclosesthis。
"OnceintheRedLight，whenapartywho\'snewfromTucson，turnsintotellsomelightstoryofBilly，——himnotbein\'presentnone，——
\'Dobygoesalloverthisyereracontoorlikealandslide，an\'
retireshimfroms\'cietyforaweek。An\'\'Dobydon\'texplainhisgameneither；jestreprimandsthisoffensiveTucsongent，an\'letsitgoasitlays。Ofcourse，we-allsonderstandsit\'s\'cause\'Dobyain\'tputtin\'upwithnocarpin\'criticismofhisoldpard；whichthesameisnacheralenough。
"Don\'tyou-allevernotice，son，howonceyoutakestofightin\'forapartyan\'indorsin\'ofhisplays，itgetstobeahabit，——same，mebby，asfire-water？Whichyoulaysforhisdetractorsan\'pullsonwarforhimthata-waylongafteryouceasestohavetheslightestuseforhimyourse\'f。It\'sthata-waywith\'DobyaboutBilly。
"An\'thisyereBilly\'sfeelin\'sabout\'Dobyisheatedan\'sedulousallsim\'lar。\'Dobygetslaidoutforaweekbyrheumatics，whichheacquiresyearsbefore——heshoredon\'tropeontothemrheumaticsnone\'roundWolfville，youcangamble!saidcampbein\'salooberousthata-way——overontheNevadaplateaus，an\'whilehe\'streedan\'can\'tcomedowntohisclaim，apasselofsharpsupsan\'mavericksit；
whatminerscalls\'jumpsit。\'WhateverdoesBillydo？Paintsforwarpromptan\'enthoosiastic，takeshisgun，an\'thewayhestampedesan\'scattersthemmaraudersdon\'tbotherhimabit。
"Butwhile，asIstates，thisyeretrickofmakin\'war-med\'cinewhich\'Dobyan\'Billyhas，an\'schedoolin\'troubleforfolkswhocomesprojectin\'\'roundinvadin\'oftheother\'srights，mebbyisaheaphabit，Igleansfromittheideelikewisethatonderthesurfacetheyholdseachotherinesteemtoap\'intwhichisromantic。
"Dobyan\'Billylivesonforayearafter\'DobyplugsBillyinthelaig，keepin\'wideapartan\'notspeakin\'。Willyumisgotsoheputsinmostofhisnightsan\'allofhisdayswithBilly；whichthespectacleofBillypackin\'Willyumaboutcampnightsisfrequent。
\'Dobynever\'pearstofilenoprotest；Ireckonshelooksonitasafore-ordainedan\'hopelessplay。However，Billy\'saheapcarefulofWillyum\'smorals，an\'isshorelylinin\'himupright。
"Onceanewbarkeepinthedance-hallallowshe\'llpromoteWillyum\'sfeelin\'ssomewithaspoonfulofnose-paint。
"\'No，youdon\'t，\'saysBilly，plentysavage；\'an\'sincethemattercomesupIannouncescoldthat，noworyereafter，thefirstgentwhosawsoffnose-paintonWillyum，orlaysforthemoralsofthisinnocentinfanttocorrupt\'em，I\'llkillan\'skelphimsoshoreasIpacksgunorknife。\'
"\'Whichshows，\'saidDanBoggslater，whenhehearsofBilly\'sblazer，\'thatthisyereBillyRuddisamightyhigh-mindedgent，an\'
you-allscanplayittowinhehasmyregards。HecancountmeinonthisdealtokeepWillyumfromstrongdrinks。\'
"\'Ithinksmyse\'fhe\'sright，\'saysCherokeeHall。\'Willyumisnowbutthreeyearsold，whichisshorenotaged。MyideewouldbetoraiseWillyum，an\'notlethimdrinkadropofnose-paintever，merelytoshowthecampwhatcomesofsechexperiments。\'
"ButBilly\'sthatpos\'tivean\'self-relianthedon\'tneednoencouragementabouthowheconductsWillyum\'shabits；an\'，followin\'
hisremarks，Willyumallersgetsignoredcompleteoninvitationstolicker。Packin\'thekid\'roundthata-wayshortensupBilly\'sboozealot，too。Hedon\'tfeelsofreetogettankedexpansivewithWillyumonhismindan\'handsthata-way。
"It\'sshorelyapicture，thetendernessBillylavishesonWillyum。
ManyanightwhenBilly\'sstayin\'late，tryin\'towinhimse\'foutenthehole，Ibeholdshimplayin\'poker，ormebbyit\'sfarebank，withWillyumcurleduponhislapan\'shirt-front，snorin\'awayallsoundan\'genial，an\'Billymakin\'hisraisesan\'callin\'hisdrawtothedealerinwhispers，forfearhewakesWillyum。
"Buttharcomesatimewhenthefeudisover，an\'\'Dobyan\'Billyturnsinbetterfriendsthanbefore。Foramonthmebbythar\'saMexicangirl——whichshe\'sacousinthata-wayorsomekinto\'Doby\'swife——who\'sbeenstayin\'at\'Doby\'shouse，sorterbackin\'theirplay。
"ItfallsoutfrequentthisMexicangirl，Marie，trailsovertoBilly\'s，roundin\'upan\'collectin\'ofWillyumtoputanothershirtontohim，orsomesechbenefit。Billyneveractslikehe\'simpressedbythisyeregirl，an\'，whileherelinquishesWillyumeverytime，hegrowlsan\'putsituphe\'smalev\'lentoverit。
"Butthesenioritaisgame，an\'don\'tputnostorebyBilly\'sgrowls。SheropesupWillyuman\'dragshimawaymightydecisive。
Willyumhowlsan\'callsonBillyforaid，whichmostlikelyispaintoBilly\'sheart；buthedon\'tgetitnone。ThesenoritaharnessesWillyumintoacleanshirt，an\'thenshethrowsWillyumlooseontherangeag\'in，an\'hedriftsbacktoBilly。
"It\'sthegeneralviewthatBillyneveroncethinksofwedlockwiththesenoritaifhe\'sletalone。ButonedayDocPeetswaxesfacetious。
"\'Inamonth，\'saysPeetstoBilly，whilewe-allsisrenooin\'ourspcritsintheRedLight，\'thisyereMarie\'llquitcomin\'overforWillyum。\'
"\'Why？\'saysBilly，glarin\'atPeetss\'picious。
"\'Cause，\'repliesPeets，allcareless，\'\'causeyouupsan\'wedsherbythen。Iseesitinyoureye。Then，whenshe\'stharforgood，I
reckonsshenacherallyquitscomin\'over。\'
"\'Oh，Idon\'tknow，\'saysTexasThompson，who\'stakin\'inDocPeets\'
remark；\'Idon\'tallowBilly\'sgotthenervetomarrythisyereMarie。Notbutwhatshe\'sasprettyasanantelope。Butthinkof\'Doby。Hejestneverwouldquitchewin\'Billy\'smaneifhegoespullin\'offanynuptialceremonieswithhiswife\'srelativethata-
way。\'
"Billylookshardasgraniteatthis。Heain\'tsayin\'nothin\'，buthegetsoutsideofanotherdrinkinawaywhichshowshismind\'smadeup，an\'thenhegoesp\'intin\'offtowardshiscamp，sameasagentwhoentertainsdesigns。
"\'Ioffersthreetoone，\'saysCherokeeHall，lookin\'afterBillysorterthoughtfulthata-way，\'thatBillywedsthisyereMexicangirlinaweek；an\'I\'llgofivehundreddollarsevenmoneyhegetsherbeforenight。\'
"\'An\'notakers，\'saysDocPeets，\'forIaboutthinksyoucallstheturn。\'
"An\'that\'swhathappens。IntwohoursafterthisimpulsiveBillyprancesoutoftheRedLightontheheelsofTexasThompson\'sremarksabouthowhostile\'DobywouldbeifheevergetsMarie，he\'sdoneluredherbeforethepadreoverinChihuahua，an\'thepadremarries\'emasquickasyoucouldtakearunnin\'-ironan\'burnabrandonacalf。
"\'Whichthisisnotall。Liketheywasouttoaddtotheexcitementawholelot，I\'maMohaveif\'Dobyan\'hiswifedon\'tturnloosean\'
haveanotherinfantthatsameday。
"\'Ineverseesagentgetsoexcitedoveranothergent\'sgameasBillydoesover\'Doby\'snumbertwo。Hesendshisnewwifeupto\'Doby\'sontherun，whilehetakesWillyuman\'comespirootin\'backtotheRedLighttobraceup。Billy\'sshorenervousan\'needsit。
"\'Myporechild，\'saysBillytoWillyumaboutthethirddrink——
Willyumissettin\'onamonte-tablean\'payin\'heedtoBillyaheapdecorousan\'respectfulforathree-year-old——\'myporechild，\'saysBillythata-way，\'you-allisag\'inahardgameupatyourpaw\'s。
Thisyereisplayin\'itplumblowonyou，Willyum。Itlooksliketheyfillsahandag\'inyou，son，an\'youain\'tinitnomoreat\'Doby\'s；who，whateverisyourfoolclaimsonthatp\'intayearago，isstillyourdadondoubted。Butyou-allknowsme，Willyum。YouknowsthattalkinHolyWrit。Ifyourfatheran\'mothershakesyou，yourUncleBillytakesyouup。I\'mpowerful\'fraid，Willyum，you\'llhavetohaveactiononthempromises。"
"WillyumlistenstoBillyplentygravean\'owly，buthedon\'tmakenoobservationsonhisluckorcommunicatenoviewstoBillyexceptthathe\'shungry。Thisyereain\'trelevantnone，butBillyatoncepastureshimoutonacanofsardinesan\'somecrackers，whilehekeepsonbein\'liberaltohimse\'faboutwhiskey。
"\'Idon\'tfeellikedenyin\'myse\'fnothin\'，\'hesays。\'YereIgetsmarried，an\'inless\'nanhourmywifeisravagedawayatthewhoopofdootytorideherdonanothergent\'sfam\'ly，；leavin\'me，herhusband，withthatothergent\'sabandonedprogenyonmyhands。Thisyere\'sgettin\'tobeaboggyfordforBillyRudd，youbet。\'
"ButwhileBillytakesonaheap，hedon\'timpressmelikehe\'shurtnoneafterall。WhenDocPeetstrailsinfrom\'Doby\'s，wherehe\'sbeenintheinterestsofsciencethata-way，Billyatoncedrughimasideforapow-wow。TheytalksoverinonecorneroftheRedLightawhile，thenBillylooksuplikeoneload\'soffenhismind，an\'
yells:
"\'Barkeep，it\'sanotherboy。Usemynamefreelyinurgin\'drinksonthecamp。\'
"ThenBillygoesonwhisperin\'toDocPeetsan\'layin\'downsomethin\'，likehisheart\'ssotonit。AtlastDocsays:
"\'Thebestway，Billy，isformetobring\'Dobyover。\'WiththisDocPeetsgetsontohisponyatthedooran\'goescurvin\'backto\'Doby\'s。
"\'It\'saboy，\'saysBillytotherestofusafterDocPeetslinesout，`an\'childan\'motherbothonvelvetan\'winnin\'rightalong。\'
"Theseyereeventscrowdin\'eachotherthata-way——firstaweddin\'
an\'thenaninfantboy——hasabrightenin\'effectonpublicsperit。
Itmakesusfeellikethecamp\'sshorelygettin\'astart。Whilewe-
allsisgivin\'waytoBilly\'sdesiretobuywhiskey，Peetscomesback，bringin\'\'Doby。
"Thar\'snothin\'whatyou-allscallsdramaticabout\'Dobyan\'Billycomin\'together。Theymeetsan\'shakes，that\'sall。Theytakesadrinktogether，whichshowsthey\'souttobefriendsforgood，an\'
thenBillysays:
"\'ButwhatIwantspartic\'lar，\'Doby，isthatyoumakesovertomeyoursonWillyum。He\'sshorethefinestyoung-oneinArizona，an\'
Mariean\'meneedshimtosorterorganizeon。\'
"\'Billy，\'says\'Doby，\'you-allan\'meispartnersforyears，an\'
we\'repartnersyet。Wehasourstormcloud，an\'wehasalsoourerasofpeace。Standin\'aswedoonthebrinkofoneofsaideras，an\'asshowin\'sincerity，IyerebycommitstoyoumysonWillyum。
Yereafter，whenhecallsyou"Pop，"itgoes，an\'thesamewillnotbetookinvidious。\'
"\'\'Doby，\'repliesBilly，takin\'himbythehand，\'thisyereday\'lustratestheprophetwhenhesays:"Inthemidstoflifewe\'reinluck。"Ifyou-allnotestearsinmyeyesI\'mresponsiblefor\'em。
Willyum\'smine。AsIr\'arshimitwillbewithyouasamodel。Nowyougobackwheredootycallsyou。Whenyouceasestoneedmywife，Marie，sendherbacktocamp，an\'notifymetharof。Pendin\'ofwhichsaidnotice，however，\'concloodsBilly，turnin\'tousafter\'Dobystartsback，\'Willyuman\'meentertains。\'"
CHAPTERXIX。
MACEBOWMAN，SHERIFF。
"Andsoyouthinkthetroublelieswiththemanandnotwiththewhiskey？"Isaid。
TheOldCattlemanandIwerediscussing"temperance。"
"Rightyoube。Thisyerewhiskey-drinkin\'，"continuedtheoldgentlemanashetoyedwithhisemptyglass，"isamightycur\'ousplay。Iknowsgentsascantamperwiththeirlittleoldfortydropsfrequentan\'reg\'lar。Asfarashurtin\'of\'emisconcerned，itdon\'tcometothrowin\'wateronadrownedrat。Then，ag\'in，I\'vecutgents\'strailsasdrinkin\'whiskeyislikeplayin\'aharpwithahammer。Whichwe-allsain\'tallupholsteredalike；that\'swhatever。
Wedon\'tallshowthesamebrandsan\'y\'earmarksnohow:What\'smed\'cineforoneisp\'isenfort\'other；an\'tharyoube。
"Bein\'areg\'lar，reliabledrunkardthata-waycomesmightynearbein\'adisease。Itain\'tnoquestionofnerve，neither。Somedead-
gamegentsIknows——an\'who\'sthatobstinatetheywouldn\'tmovecampforaprairie-fire——couldn\'tpesteralittlebitwithwhiskey。
