第9章

"Liesinthelumpthata-way，"saidtheOldCattleman，aproposofsomeslightdiscussioninwhichwewereengaged，"isbad——an\'makenodoubtaboutit!——thatis，lieswhichistoldmalev\'lent。

"Butthar\'sasortofranikabooliaronearth，an\'Idon\'tmindhimnorhisfabrications，nonewhatever。He\'soneoftheseyereamiablegentswho\'smerelyaimin\'toentertainyouan\'elevateyourmoods；

an\'carryin\'outsechplans，hesorto\'spreadshimse\'f，an\'getsexcursiveinconversation，castin\'loosefromfactsasvainthingsonworthyofhim。Tharusedtobejestsechamendaciouspartywhocamps\'roundWolfvilleforawhile——ifIdon\'tmisrecollect，hegetspluggedstandin\'upathroughstage，final——whoiswonttoliethata-way；wecallshim\'Lyin\'Amos。\'Butthey\'reonlymeanttoentertainyou；themstoriesbe。Amosisneverreallyouttoputyouonawrongtrailtoyourondoin\'。

"We-alllikesAmosexcellent；but，ofcourse，whenhetakestothehillsasahold-up，somebodyhastodownhim；an\'mymem\'ryonthatp\'intis，theyshorelydo。WhatforlieswouldthisyereAmostell？

Well，forinstance，Amosonceregalesmewithavividpictureofhowhebacksintoacorneran\'pullshislonelygunontwentygents，all\'bad。\'ThisyereisoverinDeming。An\'hegoesondilatin\'totheeffectthathestopssixof\'emforgoodwiththesixloadsinhisweepon，an\'thenmakesitastand-offontheremainin\'fourteenwiththeemptygun。

"\'Itistheslumberin\'terrorsofmyeye，Ireckons，\'saysthisLyin\'Amos。

"Whichit\'sreason，an\'likewisefact，thatsechtalesismerestfigmentsontheirfaces；tosaynothin\'ofthehist\'ryofthatcampofDeming，whichdon\'tspeakofnosechblood。

"But，asIsays，whatofit？PoreLyin\'Amos!——he\'scashedinan\'

settledlongago，likeImentions，goin\'fortheWells-Fargoboxesoncttoofrequent!Whichthepitchergoestoooftentothewell，thata-way，an\'Amosfindsitout!Still，Amosisonlyouttoentertainmewhenheonfurlshowluckyan\'howferociousheisthattimeatDeming。Amosissimplywhilin\'thehoursawaywhenheconcoctsthemromances；an\'sofarfrombein\'distrustfulofhimonaccounttharof，orholdin\'ofhimlowbecauseheletshisfancystampedean\'getawaywithhim，oncewesaveyshislittlegameinallitsharmlessness，itmakesAmospop\'lar。WeencouragesAmosinthemexpansions。

"Speakin\'oflyin\'，an\'bein\'we\'reonthesubject，itain\'ttoomuchtostatethatthar\'splentyo\'casionswhenlyin\'isnotonlyproperbutgood。It\'sthethingtodo。

"Comin\'tocases，theworld\'sbeenforeverbasin\'itsgameontheliesthat\'stold；an\'Ireckonsnowifeverygentwastoturninan\'

tellnothin\'butthetroothforthenextfewhours，tharwouldbeaheapoffolkssomehardtofindatthecloseofthemmootualconfidences。Whichplacesnowflourishin\'likeagreenbay-treewouldbedesertedwastesan\'solitoodes。Yes，asIsays，nowIgetsplumbcog\'tativeaboutit，sechattemptstoputdownfictionmightresultinonpreecedenteddisaster。Tharbetimeswhentroothshouldshorelyhaveacopperonit；butweletsthatpassasspec\'lative。

"Asmymindisledbackalongthetrail，tharloomsbeforethemirrorofmem\'ryahourwhenthewholeWolfvilleoutfitquitseveryothergametoturnitse\'floosean\'lie。Whichforoncewetakesthelimitoff。Notonlydowetalklies，weacts\'em；an\'Enrightan\'

DocPeetsan\'TexasThompson，aswellasMoorean\'Tuttan\'Boggs，tosaynothin\'ofmyse\'fan\'CherokeeHall，an\'therestoftheround-up，getsinontheplay。Whicheverygentstandspatontheminventionstothisyereday，disdainin\'excoosesan\'declinin\'

forgivenesstharfor。Moreover，weplaysthesamesystemag\'in，layoutan\'dealboxbein\'sim\'lar。Thefactis，ifeveraoutfit\'shandgetscrowded，it\'sours。

"Thedemandsfortheseyerefalsehoodshasitsfirstseedsoneevenin\'whenadrunkenpartycomesstaggerin\'intocampfromRedDog。It\'sstrange；butitlookslikeWolfvillehasafasc\'nationforthemRedDogsots；whichthey\'reallerscomin\'over。Thisvictimofalcoholisnotastrangertous，notbynomeans；thoughmostlyheholdshisrevelsinhisRedDoghome。HisnameIdisremembers，buthegoeswhenhe\'sinWolfvillebythenameof\'WhiskeyBilly。\'Ifhehasalastname，whichit\'slikelysomehehas，eitherweneverhearsitoritdon\'tabidewithus。Mebbyheneverdeclar\'shimse\'f。

Anyhow，whenhegetshisnose-paintan\'weariesfolksinWolfville，sechproceedin\'sishadonderthenomdeploomeof\'WhiskeyBilly，\'

withnothin\'addedbywayoffurtherbrandsory\'ear-markstharonto。

"Thispartic\'lardatewhenheonloadsonushiscompanionship，WhiskeyBillyisshorethedrunkestan\'mostedioticIeversees。

Troo，hesaveysenoughtopullhisfreightfromRedDog；butI

allersallowsthat\'smerelytheworkofaloocidinterval。

"WhiskeyBillyain\'tbrightenedWolfvillewithhissocietymore\'nanhour——heonlygetsonedrinkwithus——whenhelapsesintothemtreemors。An\'，youhearme，son，heshorelyhas\'embad；Huggins\'

attacksthata-wayispooerileto\'em。

"ItlookslikethatRedDogwhiskeyisspeshulmalignant。I\'vebeheldgentswhohasvisionsbeforeeverWhiskeyBillyemitsthatpreelim\'naryyelpintheRedLight，an\'allowsthatBlackJackispawin\'\'roundtoskelphim；butI\'myeretoremark，an\'readytoenforcemystatementswithmoney，argymentsorguns，Ineverwitnessesnocasewhichisafour-spottoWhiskeyBilly\'s。

"Why，itgetssobeforehequitsout——whichhedoesafterfrothin\'

atthemouthfordays，an\'Boggs，an\'Tutt，an\'JackMoore，withDocPeetssoopervisin\'，ridin\'herdontohiman\'holdin\'himdowninhisblanketsallthetime——thatifWhiskeyBillygoestotakeadrinkofwater，hethinksthebeverageturnstoblood。Ifheseesanythin\'toeat，itchangesintoaGilamonster，orsomesechcreepin\'an\'

disrepootablereptile；an\'Billyjestsimplyr\'arsbackan\'yells。

"AsIintimates，heyieldstothemerrorstouchin\'hisgruban\'

drinkfordays；followin\'which，Billynacherallygiveswaytodeath，tothereliefofallconcerned。

"\'YoucangambleI\'mneversopleasedtoseeagentdieinmylife!\'

saysDanBoggs。

"It\'smostlikelytheseconddayafterBilly\'sbeenseein\'things，an\'we\'vecorraledhiminawickeyupoutbackofthedancehall，whenDocPeetsisintheRedLightthoughtfullyabsorbin\'hiswhiskey。

"\'Thisyereriotouspatientofmine，\'saysPeets，asheleansonthebaran\'talksgeneralan\'freetoall，\'thisnoisypartywhomyounowhearscallin\'DanBoggsarattlesnake，bein\'misledtothatextentbyRedDoglicker，hasaca\'mmomentaboutfirstdrinktimethismornin\'，an\'beseechesmetosendforhismother。Asasickgenthasarighttodictatetermsthata-way，Idispatchesatelegramtotheladyhenames，sendin\'ofthesamebyOldMontetobeslammedthroughfromTucson。Ireckonsshegetsitbynow。OldMontean\'thestagehasbeeninTucsonformore\'nanhour，an\'as\'lectricityisplentysuddenasameans，ItakesitWhiskeyBilly\'smotherisinformedthathe\'saskin\'forherpresence。\'

"\'Whichifhe\'scallin\'an\'honin\'forhismother，\'saysTexasThompson，who\'satthebarwithPeets，\'it\'scattletosheephe\'sagoner。Youcanallerstellwhenasportisdowntohislastchip；heneveromitstowanttoseehismother。\'

"\'That\'swhatever!\'saysEnright。\'LikeTexas，IholdssechdesiresonthepartofthisyereRedDogmartyrasmarkin\'thebeginnin\'oftheend。\'

"\'Bein\'he\'splumblocoed，\'remarksPests，afterTexasan\'Enrightexpressesthemse\'fs，\'ItakesthelibertytorustlethemclothesofBilly\'sforsigns。Idevelopedlettersfromthisnearrelatifhe\'sclamorin\'for；alsoapictureasshowsshe\'sasfineaoldladyasevermakesaflapjack。Fromthewayshewrites，it\'sallplainan\'

easyhe\'sbeensendin\'hersomerainbowsabouthowhe\'sloomin\'up，likeSlimJimdoeshissisterthata-way。He\'sjestnowindustriouslytrackin\'\'round，lookin\'tolocatehimse\'fasalawyer。Idon\'treckonthisyeremotherhastheslightestideehe\'snothin\'more\'naragged，bustedvictimofRedDog。Lookin\'atitthata-way，\'concloodesPests，\'I\'mwonderin\'whetherIdon\'tmakeacrazy-bossplaysendin\'thisladythemsummons。\'

"\'Whenshegetshere，ifshecomes，\'saysEnright，an\'hisvoiceshowsaheapofsympatheticinterest；\'whenshefindsoutaboutWhiskeyBilly，it\'sgoin\'tobreakherheart。Thatsheain\'tgametomakethetripisshorelytobehoped。\'

"\'Youcangambleaponyshecomes，\'saysTexas。\'Ifit\'sawife，now，likemine——whichgoesropin\'\'roundforadivorceoverinLaredorecent；an\'，asyou-allisaware，sheshorelytiesitdown——

tharmightbeachanceoutag\'inheradvent。Butbein\'she\'shismother，Wolfvillemayaswellbraceitse\'ffortheshock。\'

"\'Idon\'treckonthar\'snodoubtofit，neither，\'repliesEnright，drawin\'asigh；\'whichbein\'thecase，we\'vegottoorganize。Thiscampmustturninwhenshegetsherean\'deloodethatporeoldmotherintothebeliefthathersonBilly\'sbeenthepropan\'stayofArizona，an\'thathisontimelycuttin\'offquenchesthemostshinin\'lightthata-wayoftheagewhereinwelives。\'

"\'Mightylikely，\'saysPeets，\'wegetsamessagefromherto-morry，whenOldMontetrailsin。That\'lltelluswhattoexpect。I\'mlikeyou-all，however；Idon\'tallowthar\'samorselofdoubtaboutthatmothercomin\'。\'

"\'WhichIshorelyhopesshedoes，\'saysTexas\'an\'Iyerebydrinkstoit，an\'urgeseverygentlikewise。Ifthar\'sathingonearththatmeltsme，it\'soneo\'themgray-ha\'redoldladies。Youngfemalesthata-wayisallright，an\'it\'splentynacheralforagenttobecur\'ousan\'pleasedtharwith；butIneverdoestrackupwithanoldlady，white-ha\'redan\'motherlymindyou，butItakesoffmysombreroan\'says:"You\'llexcuseme，marm，butIwantstotrespassonyourtimelongenoughtoaskyourpardonforlivin\'。"That\'sright；that\'sthewayIfeels；plumbreligiousatthemeresightof\'em。IfIwastomeetasmanyastwoof\'ematonct，I\'dj\'inethechurch。Thesamebein\'troo，I\'msayin\'thatthisyereWhiskeyBilly\'smothercan\'tstrikecamptoosoonnorstoptoolongforTexasThompson。\'

"\'EverygentIreckonsfeelsallsim\'lar，\'saysCherokeeHall。\'A

oldladyistheonesplendidthingtheLordevermakes。IknowsagentoverbackofPrescott，an\'thesightofagoodoldwomanwouldstophisnose-paintforaweek。Wouldn\'tdrinkadropnorplayakyard，thispartywouldn\'t，foraweekafterhecutsthetrailofsomebody\'soldmother。Heallowsitrevivesmem\'riesofhisown，an\'

thatheain\'touttomixnosechvisionswithfaro-bankan\'whiskeybottles。\'

"\'An\'IapplaudsthisyerePrescottperson\'sviews，\'saysTexasThompson，\'an\'wouldbeproudtoknowthegent。\'

"\'Howlong，Peets，\'saysEnright，who\'sbeenthinkin\'hardan\'

serious，\'howlong——an\'startatonct——beforeeverthisyereWhiskeyBilly\'sparentisgoin\'tostrikethecamp？\'

"\'It\'llbefivedaysshore，\'answersPeets。\'She\'s\'waybackyondertheothersideoftheMissouri。\'

"WhenOldMontecomesrumblin\'alonginnextday，thar\'sthemessagefromWhiskeyBilly\'smother。She\'sshorea-comin\'。ThisyereBillyissoplumbintheair，mental，heneverdoesknowit，an\'hediestenhoursbeforetheoldladydrivesin。ButWolfville\'sready。

That\'sthetimewhenthewholebandsimplysuspendseverythin\'tolie。

"WhiskeyBillyisarrayedinDocPeets\'bestraiment，so，asPeetssays，helooksprofessionallikealawsharpshould。An\'bein\'aswedevotestoBillyallthewaterthewindmillcandrawinahour，heisapatternofpersonalneatnessthata-way。

"Enright——an\'tharneveristhegentwhogetsaheadofthatoldsilvertip——takin\'thewordfromPeetsinadvance，sendsovertoTucsonforacoffinasfineasthedance-hallpiano，an\'itcomesalonginthestageaheadofBilly\'smother。Whenshedoesgetthar，Billy\'salllaidouthandsomean\'tranquilinthedinin\'-roomoftheO。K。Restauraw，an\'therestofusiseatin\'supperinthestreet。

Itlooksselfishtogocrowdin\'ahe\'plessremainderthata-way，an\'

himgettin\'readytoquittheearthforgood；sothedinin\'-roombein\'small，an\'thecoffinneedin\'thespace，therestofusvamosesintothecauseway，an\'MissisRuckerisdealin\'usourchuckwhenthestagearrives。

"Thar\'saadjournmentprompt，however，an\'we-allgoesovertocheerupWhiskeyBilly\'smotherwhenshegetsout。Enrightleadsoff，an\'

theresttrailsinan\'followshisplay，shakin\'theoldlady\'shandan\'givin\'herthewordwhatasuccessherboyiswhilehelives，an\'whatablowitiswhenhepeters。Itcomesplumbeasy，thatmendacitydoes，for，asTexasThompsonsurmises，sheisshorelythebeautifulestoldladyIeverseesputahandkerchieftohereyes。

"\'Don\'tweep，marm，\'saysEnright。\'ThisyerecampofWolfville，knowin\'Willyuman\'hisvirchooswell，byfeelin\'itsownonmeasuredloss，putsnobound\'riesonitssympathyforyou。\'

"\'Deathlovesashinin\'mark，marm，\'saysDocPeets，ashepressestheoldlady\'shandan\'takesoffhishat，\'an\'thesamebein\'troo，it\'snomarvelthedestroyerexperiments\'roundontilhegetsyoursonWillyum\'srange。We\'relikebrothers，Willyuman\'me，an\'fromaclose，admirin\'friendshipwhichextendsovertheyearan\'ahalfsinceheleavesyouintheStates，I\'mshorequalifiedtostatehowWillyumisthebrightest，bravestgentinArizona。\'

"An\'doyouknow，son，thisyere，whichseemsamockerywhileI

repeatsitnow，isliketherealthingatthetime!I\'macoyote!ifitdon\'taffectTexasThompsonsoheshedstears；an\'DanBoggsan\'

Tuttan\'Moorean\'CherokeeHallislookin\'farfrombrightabouttheeyesthemse\'fs。

"We-allgoesovertotheO。K。House，followin\'thecomin\'ofthestage，an\'leadstheoldgraymotherintothesideofherson，an\'

leavesherthar。Enrighttellsher，asweturnscat-foottotrailoutsoshewon\'tbepesteredbythepresenceofus，ashowPeets\'llcomebackinahourtoseeher，an\'thatasallofus\'llbejestacrossthestreet，it\'llbeplentyeasytofetchusifshefeelslikecompany。AswestartsfortheRedLighttogetsomethin\'tocheerusup，Iseesherwhereshe\'ssettin\'withherarman\'faceonthecoffin。

"It\'sgreatwork，though，themlieswetells；an\'Inoteshowthemother\'sprideoverwhatagoodan\'risin\'sporthersonhasbeen，half-waybreaksevenwithhergrief。

"Tharisonlyonethingwhichhappenstodisturban\'marthehour，an\'notawhisperofthiseverdriftstoWhiskeyBilly\'smother。

She\'sbusywithhersorrowwhereweleavesher，an\'sheneverhearsasoundbutherownsobs。It\'swhilewe\'rewaitin\'，allquietan\'

pensif，campedabouttheRedLight。AnotheroutlawfromRedDogcomescavortin\'in。Ofcourse，heisignorantofourbein\'bereavedthata-way，buthe\'dnoneedtobe。

"\'Whatever\'sthematterwithyou-allwolvesyere？\'hedemands，ashecomesbulgin\'alongintotheRedLight。\'Where\'sallyourhowls？\'

"Texasarisesfromwherehe\'ssettin\'withhisfaceinhishands，an\'wipin\'theemotionoutenhiseyes，softlyan\'reverentiallybeatshisgunoverthisyereparty\'shead；whereuponhec\'llapsesintothecornertillcalledfor。Thenwe-allsetsdownsilentan\'

sympatheticag\'in。

"It\'sthenextdaywhenWhiskeyBillytakeshislastrideovertoTucsononabuckboard。Adozenofusgoesalong，makin\'goodthembluffsaboutBilly\'sworth；Enrightan\'Peetsisinthestagewiththeoldmother，an\'therestofusonourponiesasabodygyardofhonor。

"\'An\'itiswell，marm，\'saysEnright，aswe-allshakeshands，asBillyan\'hismotherisabouttoleaveTucson，an\'westandsb\'ar-

headedtosayadios；\'an\'deathquitsloserhalfitsgloomwhenonereflectsthatwhileWillyumdies，heleavestheworldan\'allofusbetterforthemexamplesheexertsamongus。Willyummaydie，buthismem\'rywilllivelongtoleadan\'guideus。\'

"Icouldseetheoldmother\'seyesshinewithpridethroughhertearswhenEnrightsaysthis；an\'asshecomes\'roundan\'shakesan\'

thanksusallspeshul，I\'mshorelyproudofWolfville\'schief。Soiseverybody，Ireckons；forwhenwe\'reaboutamileoutonthetrailback，an\'allridin\'silentan\'quiet，Texasupsan\'shakesEnrightbythehandaheapsudden，an\'says:

"\'SamEnright，Iain\'treportedasnoneemotional，butI\'myourstocommandfromnowtilldeath，an\'yere\'sthehandan\'wordofTexasThompsononit。\'"

CHAPTERXIX。

WhentheStageWasStopped。

"Campdownintothatcharthar，son，"saidtheOldCattlemanwithmuchheartiness。"WhichI\'mwaitin\'forthatblackboyTomtocomeback；Isendshimformywar-bags。No，Idon\'tneed\'emnone，onlyI\'vegottogivethisyereimbecileTommoney。ThemSenegambiansisshoreapecooliarpeople。Theygetsanewreligionsameasyou-allgetsanewhat，an\'theychangestheirnameslikesomefolksdoestheirshirt。Whichthey\'rethatloosean\'liableaboutchurchesan\'

cognomens!

"Asformoney，takethisboyTom。Heactooallytransactshislifeonthetheerythathehaspriorclaimsoneverysplinterofmybank-

roll。Jestnowhedescendsontomean\'e\'labe\'ratelystateshistitletotenpesos。Sayshe\'sdonej\'inedanewchurch，an\'hasbeenmaderound-upbossorsomethin\'toaoutfitcalled，\'TheAfro-

AmericanWidows\'ReadyReliefSociety，\'an\'thathisdoosistenchips。Ofcourse，hehastohavethedinero，soIdismisseshimformywalletlikeIsays。

"Doesthemfolkschangetheirnames？Theychanges\'emasread\'lyasaInjunbreakscamp；doesitatthedropofthehat。ThisyereGuineaofmine，hisname\'sTom。Yetatvar\'oustimes，heinformsmeofthemmootationshe\'sinstitooted，He\'sbeen\'Jim\'an\'\'Sam\'an\'

\'WillyumHenry，\'an\'allintwomonths。Shore，Idon\'tpaynoheedtosechvagaries，butgoesoncallin\'him\'Tom，\'jestthesame。An\'

hekeepscomin\'whenIcalls，too，orI\'dshoreburntheground\'roundhimtoacinder。I\'dbeadisgracetooldTennesseetoletmyboyTomgopreescribin\'whatI\'mtocallhim。Buttheybecur\'ousfolks!Thelasttimethishirelin\'changeshisname，Iasksthereason。

"\'Tom，\'Isays，\'thisyereisthe\'leventhtimeyoucinchesonanewname。Now，tellme，whybeyou-allattemptin\'toshiftto"WillyumHenry？"\'

"\'Why，Marse，\'hesays，afterthinkin\'hardawholelot，\'Idon\'tknow，onlymysistergetsmarriedag\'inlastnight，an\'Ican\'tthinkofnothin\'elsetodo，soIsorto\'allowsI\'llchangemyname。\'"

Amomentlatertheexuberantandmany-titledTomappearedwiththepocket-book。Myoldfriendselectedaten-dollarbillandwithanairofseveritygaveittohisexpectantservitor。

"Tharyoube，"heobserved。"Now，gopaythemdoos，an\'don\'thanker\'roundmeformoneynomoreforamonth。Youcan\'twillfrommeag\'inbeforeChristmas，nomatterhowoftenyouchangesyourname，orhowmanynewchurchesyouplaysinwith。Foranigger，you-allisamightysighttoovol\'tile。Yoursperitsistootireless，an\'staystoolongonthewing。Which，onlessyoucultivatesaplacidermoodan\'studiesreeposeawholelot，I\'llgoforagin\'aboutinmyplunderan\'searchforthaquirt，ormebbysomesechstinsin\'trifleasatrace-chain，an\'warpyouintoquietoodan\'peace。Ireckonsnowsechceremonieswouldgosomewaystowardsbeddin\'youdownan\'

inculcatin\'lessonsofpatienceaheap。"

TheundauntedTomlistenedtohismaster\'sgloomythreatswithanairofcheer。Therewasahappygrinonhisfaceasheacceptedthemoneyandscrapeda"Thanky，sah!"ToleaveareligiousimpressionwhichseemedmostconsistentwiththebasisofTom\'sappeal，thatduskyclaimantoftendollars，ashewithdrew，hummedsoftlyacamp-

meetingsong:

"Tu\'naroundan\'tu\'nyo\'face，Untoethemsweethillso\'grace。

(D\'pow\'rsofSinyo\'emscornin\'!)

Lookaboutan\'lookaroun\'，Flingyo\'sin-packond\'groun\'。

(Yo\'willmeetwidd\'Lordind\'mornin\'。)"

"Speakin\'aboutthisyerevacillatin\'Tom，"saidtheoldgentleman，ashewatchedthatpersondisappear，"shiftin\'hisreligiousgrazin\'

groundthata-way，letmetellyou。Themcoloredfolkspullsonan\'

pullsofftheirbeliefsaseasyasaMexican。An\'theirfaithnevergetsintheirway；themtenetsneverseemstogetbetweentheirhocksan\'trip\'emupinanythin\'theywantstodo。Theygoesrangin\'\'round，draggin\'themreligiouslariatsoftheirs，an\'I

neveryetbeholdsthatchurchwhichcandriveanypicketpinofdoctrines，orprodooceanyhobblesofacreed，that\'llholdaMexicanoranigger，orkeephimfromprancin\'outafterthefirstnotionthatnodsorbeckonstohim。Thar\'snowhiman\'nofancywhichcanmakesolightawagon-trackhewon\'tfollowitoff。

"Speakin\'ofchurchesthata-way:ThisyereTom\'sbeenwithmeyears。Onedayabouttwomonthsago，hefrontsuptomean\'says:

"\'I\'segottobemightycarefulwhatIdoesnow；I\'sedonej\'ined。I

givesmysoultoheavenonhighlastnight，an\'wropsmyse\'ftightan\'fastinbondsofsavin\'gracewidd\'Presbyter\'anchu\'ch。Yes，sah，I\'machristian，an\'Idon\'twantnoone，incloodin\'mysc\'f，togoforgettin\'it。\'

"Thisyerenewsdon\'tweighonmepartic\'lar，an\'Imakesnocomments。It\'sthreeweekslaterwhenTomcutslooseanothercommoonication。

"\'Yourec\'llects，\'hesays，\'aboutmebein\'aj\'ineran\'hookin\'upwidd\'Presbyter\'ans？Well，I\'sedoneshook\'em；Iquitthatsanchooaryford\'Mefodis。\'D\'Presbyter\'anisaheaptoogloomyareligionforaniggah，sah。Deylamslooseatmewidforeord\'nationan\'preedest\'nation，an\'howd\'badplaceispavedwidchil\'ensskulls，an\'howsomanyiscalled，an\'onlyoneinabillionbeatsd\'gate；an\'fin\'lly，las\'Sunday，B\'rerPeters，he\'sd\'preacher，heupsan\'p\'intsatmeinspeshulan\'saysheseesinadreamhowI\'mb\'ar-hungan\'breeze-shakenoverhell；an\'，sah，hesimplyscaredisniggahtowhereIjestlaydownind\'pewan\'howl。AfterI\'sedonelamentedtillmyheart\'sbroke，Ipassesinmyresignation，an\'

nowI\'segonean\'doneattachmyse\'ftod\'Mefodis\'。Thar\'sadealmo\'sunshineamongd\'Mefodis\'folks，an\'d\'game\'samightysighteasier。Allyoudoesisgetsprunkled，an\'tharyoube，inwidd\'

sheep，kerzip!\'

"Inless\'namonthTomopensuponthemreligioustopicsoncemore。

Iallersallowshimtotalkaslongan\'asmuchaseverhelikes，asyou-allcouldn\'tstophimnonewithoutbuckin\'an\'gaggin\'him，sowhat\'stheuse？

"\'Iaimstoexcusemyse\'ftoyou，sah，\'saysTomthislasttime，\'forthemmisstatementsaboutmeleavin\'d\'Presbyter\'ansford\'

Mefodis。\'Idoesdoitfortroo，butnowI\'segoneover，woolan\'

weskit，tod\'Baptis\'。An\'，sah，Ifeelsmightypenitentan\'

promisin\'，Idoes；I\'mgwinetomakeastickofitdistime。It\'sreskytogochangin\'aboutfromonefoldtotheotherlikeI\'sebeendoin\'；amanmightdiebetween，an\'thenwhereishe？\'

"\'ButhowaboutthisswaptotheBaptistchurch？\'Iasks。\'IthoughtyoutellsmehowtheMethodistreligionisfullofsunshinethata-

way。\'

"\'SoIdoes，sah，\'saysTom；\'soIdoes，wordforword，likeyouremembersit。ButIdon\'tknowd\'entirestorythen。TheobjectionsIhastod\'Mefodis\'isthem\'speriencemeetin\'stheyholds。They\'spectsyoutostan\'upan\'tell\'emaboutallyo\'sins，an\'fessallyou\'vebeenguiltyofendoorin\'yo\'life!Now，sechdoin\'stu\'nsoutmightyembarrassin\'foraboylikeTom，who\'sbeena-livin\'sorto\'loosean\'livelyforalikelynumbahofyears，sah，an\'I

couldn\'tstan\'it，sah!I\'mtoomodes\'tobeaMefodis\'。SoI

explainsan\'\'pologizestod\'elders，thenIshinsoutford\'

Baptis\'folksnextdoor。An\'it\'sallright。I\'matpeacenow:I\'mind\'Baptis\'chu\'ch，sah。Yougointerd\'watah，kersause!an\'thatsetsyo\'safeind\'loveofd\'Lamb。\'"

Followingtheserevelationsofmyfriendconcerningthejauntyfashioninwhichthe"boyTom"worehisreligionaswellashisname，Imaintainedarespectfulsilenceforperhapsaminute，andthenventuredtoseekanewsubject。IhadbeengoingoverthevigorousdetailsofaWesternrobberyinthepapers。AfterbrieflytellingthestoryasIrememberedit，initsbroaderlinesatleast，Icarriedmycuriositytothatinterestingbodypolitic，thetownofWolfville。

"Intheolddays，"Iasked，"didWolfvilleeversufferfromstagerobberies，ortheoperationsofbandittiofthetrail？"

"Wolfville，"respondedmyfriend，"goesag\'instthehold-upgamesooftenwelosethecount。Mostly，itdon\'tcausemore\'napassin\'

irr\'tation。Themrobberiesan\'rustlin\'sdon\'t，speakin\'general，meanmuchtothepublicatlarge。Theexpresscompanymaygnashitsteethsome，butcomin\'downtocases，whatisaWells-Fargogrieftous？Personal，we\'reoutlettersan\'missifsfromhome，an\'I\'vebeheldindividooalswhogetsthatheatedaboutityoudon\'tdar\'ask\'emtolibateontiltheycools，butas\'acommonthing，we-alldon\'tsuffernopracticalset-backs。We\'reshyletters，butsechwoundsishealedbytimean\'othermailstocome。Wegainswhatcomfortwecanfromsw\'arin\'alot，an\'turnstothehopefulfooturefortherest。

Thar\'sonetime，however，whenWolfvillegetswroughtup。

"WhichtheWolfvilletemper，usual，isca\'man\'onperturbedthata-

way。Thar\'sasteadinesstoWolfvillethatshowsthecamphasdepth；

itcanlosewithoutthinkin\'ofsooicide，itcanwinan\'notgetdrunk。TheWolfvilleemotionssetssquar\'an\'steadyinthesaddle，an\'ittakesmorethanmerecommonplacebuckin\'tosomuchasthrowitsfootloosefromastirrup，letalonesenditflyin\'fromitsseat。

"Onthisyereo\'caslon，however，Wolfvillegetsstirredawholelot。

Forthatmatter，thebalanceofSoutheastArizonagiveswaylikewise，an\'excitementisgenialan\'shorelymountsplumbhigh。I

remembersplain，nowmymindisonthemtopics，howRedDoggoeshystericalcomplete，an\'setsupnightsan\'screams。Whichthevocalcarryin\'sonofthatpridelessvillageisashametocoyotes!

"It\'shold-upsthatsowringsthepublic\'sfeelin\'s。Stagesisstoodup；passengers，mail-bagsan\'expressboxesgetscleanedoutfortheirlastsplinter。An\'itain\'tconfinedtojestonetrail。Thisfestivalofcrimeincloodesawholeregion；an\'twentystages，inasmanydifferentplacesan\'almostasmanydays，yieldsuptotheseyerebandits。OldMonte，lookslike，isaspeshulfav\'rite；theygoesthroughthatolddrunkardtwiceforalltharisinthevehicle。

Thelasttimethegyardgetsdowned。

"No，thestagedriverain\'tinnoperilofbein\'plugged。Thar\'sroolesaboutstagerobbin\'，sameastharistofaro-bankan\'poker。

It\'sonderstoodbyallwho\'sinterested，fromthemanagerofthestagecompanytothegentinthemaskwho\'sholdin\'theWinchesterontheoutfit，thatthedriverdon\'tfight。He\'sthartodrive，notshoot；an\'sowhenhehearsthesu\'gestion，\'Handsup!\'thata-way，hestopstheteam，setsthebrake，hookshisfingerstogetheroverhishead，an\'nacherallyletsthemroadagentsan\'passengersan\'

gyards，settleeventsintheirownonfetteredway。Thedriver，usual，cussesoutthebrigandsfrightful。Thelawsofthetrailaccordshimthemprivileges，imposin\'noreestrictionsonhismouth。

He\'splumbfreetomakewhatinsultin\'observationshewill，solongashekeepshishandsupan\'don\'tstarttheteamnoneontilhe\'sgiventheproperword，thesamecomin\'fromthehold-upsorthegyards，whoeveremergeswinnerfromsaidemeutes。

"AsIstates，thelasttimeOldMonteismadetofronttheiron，theWells-Fargogyardgetspluggedasfullofleadasabagofbullets。

An\'astothatbusinessoflootan\'plunder，themmiscreantsshorelyharvestsabackload!ItcatchesEnrightaheaphard，thissecondbreakwhichtheseyerefelonsmakes。

"CherokeeHallan\'meissettin\'intheRedLight，whilin\'awaytimebetweenbev\'rageswithargyments，whenEnrightcomesploddin\'alonginwiththetidin\'s。Cherokeean\'me，byasing\'larcoincidence，isdiscussin\'thetopicof\'probity\'thata-way，althoughourloocubrationsdon\'tflourishnoneconcernin\'stagerustlin\'。

Cherokeeissayin\':

"\'Now，Iholdsthattrade——whatyou-allmightcallcommerce，isplentysappenin\'totheintegrityoffolks。Meanin\'noaspersionsonanygentincamp，shorelynotontheproprietorsoftheNewYorkStore，whatIreiteratesisthatInevermeetsupwiththepartywhomakeshislivin\'weighin\'things，orwhoownsapa\'rofscales，who\'sonthelevelthata-way。Whichthembalances，lookslike，weavesaspellonagent\'smoralprinc\'ples。He\'snolongeronthesquar\'。\'

"I\'mr\'aredbackonmyhocksorganizin\'tocombatthefal\'ciesofCherokee，whenEnrightpullsupacha\'r。Bythecloudsonhisface，bothmean\'Cherokeeseesthar\'ssomethin\'ontheoldchief\'smindalot，whereforewelaysasideourowndispootes——whichafterall，hasnorealmeanin\'，an\'iswhatColonelWilliamGreeneSterettcalls\'ac\'demic\'——an\'turnstoEnrighttodiscoverwhateverisup。BlackJackfeelsthar\'snewsintheairan\'promotesthenose-paintwithouts\'licitation。Enrightfreightshisglassan\'thensays:

"\'You-allhearsofthenoomerousstagerobberies？Well，Wolfvilleloseag\'in。I，myse\'f，thistripamputintheholepartic\'lar。IfI

onderstandsthedriftofmyownprivateaffairs，thar\'soverfortythousanddollarsofmineonthestage，bein\'whatbalanceisdoomefromthatlastbunchofcattle。It\'smightylikelythoughshe\'sindraftsthata-way:an\'IjestdispatchesoneofmybestriderswithaleadhosstoscatterovertoTucsonan\'wireinformationseast，tofreezeontothatmoneyontilfurthertidin\'s；saiddrafts，ifsechtharbe，havin\'gotintothehandsoftheseyerediligenthold-upsaforesaid。\'

"\'Fortythousanddollars!\'remarksCherokee。\'Whichthatisajoltforshore!\'

"\'Itshorelyshowstheoncertaintiesofthings，\'saysEnright，ag\'inreferrin\'tohisglass。\'I\'mintheveryactofcongratulatin\'

myse\'f，mental，thatthisyereisthebestseasonIeversees，whenapartyridesinfromthefirststagestationtowardsTucson，withthetale。It\'sshoreaparadox；it\'sacasewherethemoreIwin，themoreIlose。However，I\'monthetrailofJackMoore；aconferencewithJackiswhatIneedsrightnow。I\'llbebackbynextdrinktime；\'an\'withthatEnrightgoessurgin\'offtolocateJack。

"Cherokeean\'me，asmightbeexpected，turnsourpowersofconversationloosewiththisnewlasteepisodeofthetrail。

"\'An\'I\'mstruckspeshul，\'saysCherokee，\'aboutwhatEnrightobservesatthefinish，thatit\'sainstancewherethemorehewins，themoreheloses；an\'howthis，hisbestseason，isgoin\'tobehisworst。Ihasexperiencessim\'larmyse\'fonct。Whichthecasesisplumbparallel!

"\'Thistimewhenmyownindividooalgamestrikessomethin\'an\'

glancesoff，is\'wayback。IgetsoffaboatontheupperriveratacampcalledRockIsland。Youneveristhar？Idon\'taimtoencourageyou-allondooly，stillyourfailuretoseeRockIslandneedn\'tpreyonyouastherooinofyourc\'reer。IgoesashoreasIrelates，an\'

thefirstgentIencountersisoldPeg-laigJones。ThisyerePeg-

laigisamadmantospec\'lateatkyards，an\'theinstantheseesme，hepullsmeoneside，plentybreathlesswithaplanhe\'sevolved。

"Son，"saysthisyerePeg-lalg，"howmuchmoneyhasyou？"

"\'ItellshimIain\'toverstrong；somethin\'liketwohundreddollars，mebby。

"\'"That\'senough，"saysPeg-lalg。"Son，giveittome。I\'llputthreehundredwithit，an\'that\'llmakearolloffivehundreddollars。Withacarefulmanlikemetodeal，sheshorelyoughterbeenough。"

"\'"Whateverdoestheseyerefiscalbluffsofyoursportend？"Iasks。

"\'"Theyportendsasfollows，"saysPeg-laig。"ThisyereRockIslandoutfitisplumblocoedtoplayfaro-bank。I\'vegotadeckofkyardsan\'adealboxinmypocket。Son，we\'lllayoveradaya\'breakthevillage。"

"\'Thar\'snousetryin\'toheadoffoldPeg-laid。He\'sthemostinvet\'ratesportthata-way，an\'farobankishisleadin\'weakness。

TheyeventellsoncthowthisPeg-laigisinasmallcampinIowaan\'isbuckin\'acrookedgame。Apardseeshiman\'takesPeg-laigtotask。

"\'"Can\'tyou-allseethemsharpsisskinnin\'you？"saysthisfriend，an\'histonesisloadedwithdisgust。"Ain\'tyouwiseenoughtoknowthisgameain\'tonthesquar\'，an\'themoutlawshasaend-squeezeboxan\'isdealin\'twokyardsataclatteran\'puttin\'backrightonderyourignorantnose？Whichyouconductsyourse\'flikeyouwasbornlastweek!"

"\'"Ofcourse，Iknowsthegameiscrooked，"saysPeg-laig，plentydoleful，"an\'Iregretsitasmuchasyou。ButwhatevercanIdo？"

"\'"Do!"sayshisfriend；"do!You-allcanquitgoin\'ag\'instit，can\'tyou？"

"\'"Butyoudon\'tonderstand，"saysPeg-laig，eageran\'warm。"It\'sallplumbeasyforyoutostandtharan\'sayIdon\'thavetogoag\'instit。ItmaychangeyournotionawholelotwhenIinformsyouthatthisyereistheonlygameintown，"an\'withthatthisreedic\'lousPeg-laighurriesbacktohisseat。

"\'AsIassertsformer，it\'snousemetryin\'tomakeoldPeg-laigstopwhenoncehe\'sstartedwiththemschemesofhis，soIturnsovermytwohundreddollars，an\'leansbacktoseewhateverPeg-

laig\'sgoin\'toa\'complishnext。Ashesays，he\'sgotaboxan\'adecktodealwith。Sohefakesalayoutwithasuiteofjimcrowkyardshebuys，local，an\'aoil-clothtable-cover，an\'tharheisorganizedtobegin。Forchips，hegoesovertoastorean\'buystwentystacksofbigwoodenbuttonmolds，sameastheysewstheclothontoforovercoatbuttons。WhenPeg-laigisready，youshouldhavebeheldtheenthoosiasmofthemRockIslandfolks。Theygoesag\'instthatbraceofPeg-laig\'slikeaavalanche。

"\'Peg-laigdealsformightylikelyit\'sanhour。Jestasheputsitup，he\'sacarefuldealer，an\'theresultiswewinallthebigbetsan\'mostallthelittleones，an\'I\'msorto\'estimatin\'inmymindthatwe\'reaheadaboutfourhundredsimoleons。Ofa-sudden，Peg-laigstopsdealin\'，up-endshisboxandturnstomewithalookwhichshowshe\'splumbdismayed。P\'intin\'atthecheck-rack，Peg-laigsays:

"\'"Son，lookthar!"

"\'Nacherally，Ilooks，an\'IatoncerealizestherootsofthatconsternationofPeg-laig\'s。It\'sthis:Whilethar\'smoreofthembuttonmoldsinfrontofPeg-laig\'srightelbowthanweembarkswithorig\'nal，thar\'sstilltwenty-twohundreddollars\'worthinthehandsoftheRockIslandpop\'lacewaitin\'tobecashed。Howeverdotheydoit？Theygoesstampedin\'overtothisyerestorekeepan\'

purchases\'emforfourbitsagross。Theybuysthatvagrantoutthata-way。Theyevenbuysnewkindsonus，an\'it\'sapartytryin\'tobetastackofpantsbuttonsonthehighkyardthatcallsPeg-laig\'sattentiontothemfrauds。

"\'Thar\'snohe\'pforit，however；themvillagersisstonyan\'

adamantine，an\'sofaraswehasmoneytheyshorelymakesuspay。WewalksoutofRockIsland。Aboutamilefreeofthecamp，Peg-laigstopsan\'surveysmeaheapmournful。

"\'"Son，"hesays，"wewaswinnin\'，wasn\'twe？

"\'"Whichweshorewas，"Ireplies。

"\'"Exactly，"saysPeg-laig，shakin\'hishead，"wewasshorelywinners。An\'Iwanttoadd，son，thatifwe-allcouldhavekeptonwinnin\'fortwohoursmore，we\'da-losteightthousanddollars。"

"\'It\'slikethisyerestagehold-uponEnright，\'concloodesCherokee；\'it\'saharassin\'instanceofwherethemoreyouwins，themoreyoulose。\'

"Aboutthistime，Enrightan\'JackMoorecomesin。ColonelSterettan\'DanBoggsj\'inesusaccidental，an\'we-allsixholdsapowwowinlowtones。

"\'WhichJack，\'observesEnright，likehe\'sexperimentin\'an\'ropin\'

forourviews，\'allowsit\'shisbeliefsthatthisyereguilelesstenderfoot，Davis，whosayshe\'sfromBuffalo，an\'who\'sbeenprancin\'abouttownforthelasttwodays，isinvolvedinthemfelonies。\'

"\'Itain\'tnoneonlikely，\'saysBoggs；\'speshullysincehe\'sfromBuffalo。Ineverdoesknowbutonesquar\'gentwhocomesfromBuffalo；he\'soldJenks。An\'atthat，oldJenksgetsdowned，final，bythesheriffoveronSandCreekforstealin\'ahoss。\'

"\'You-allwantstoonderstand，\'saysJackMoore，cuttin\'inafterBoggs，\'Idon\'tpretendnonetonoproofs。Ijestreckonsit\'sso。

It\'sacommonscandalhowdeadinnocentthisyereshorthornDavisassoomestobe；howhewantsCherokeetoexplainfaro-banktohim；

an\'howhecan\'tonderstandnonewhyBlackJackan\'thedance-hallwon\'tmixnodrinks。WhichImight，inthehurryofmydooties，havepassedbythemchildishbluffsonchallengedan\'withnothin\'morethanpityin\'thoughtsoftheignoranceofthisyeremaverick，butgents，thispartyoverplayshishand。Lastevenin\'heasksmetolethimtakemygun，sayshe\'scur\'oustoseeone。Thatsettlesitwithme；thisDavishasbeenaobjectofsuspicioneversince。No，itain\'tthatIallowshe\'souttoqueermyweeponnone，butthinkofsechapretenceofinnocence!Ileavesittoyou-all，collectifan\'

individooal，doyoureckonnowthar\'sanybody，howevertender，who\'sthatguilelessastogoaskin\'aperfectstrangerthata-waytopasshimouthisgun？Isaysno，thisgentisoverdoin\'themroles。Heain\'tsotenderasheassoomes。An\'fromthemomentIhearsofthislaststand-upofthestagebackinthecanyon，Ifeelsthatthisyerepartyissomehowintheplay。Thar\'sfourinthisbandwho\'sbeenspreadin\'woeamongthestagecompanieslately，an\'thar\'sonlytwoof\'emshowsinthislatestracketwhichtheygivesOldMonte，an\'thatexpressgyardtheyshotup。Themothertwosportswhoain\'tpresentisshoresome\'ers，an\'Igivesitasmyopinionsoneof\'em\'srightyereinouronthinkin\'center，actin\'silly，askin\'

egreegiousquestions，an\'allowin\'hisnameisDavisan\'thathehailsfromBuffalo。\'

"WhileJackisevolvin\'thislongtalk，we-allisthinkin\'；an\'，son，somehowitstrikesusthatthar\'smightylikelysomethin\'inthisnotionofJack\'s。We-allagrees，however，tharbein\'nothin\'

def\'nitetogoon，wecan\'tdonothin\'butwait。Still，proan\'conlike，wepushesforthindiscussionofthisperson。

"\'ItdoeslooklikethisDavis，\'saysColonelSterett，\'nowJackbringsitup，isshorelyplayin\'apart；whichhe\'sovereasyan\'

ontaught，evenfortheEast。Thismornin\'，jesttogiveyou-allasample，hecomessidlin\'uptome。"Istharanygoodfishin\'aboutyere？"heasks。"WhichIshoreyearnstofishsome。"

"\'"Doesthisyerelandscape，"Isays，wavin\'myarmaboutthehor\'zon，"remindyoumuchoffish？Stranger，"Isays，"fishan\'

christiansispartic\'larsparseinArizona。"

"\'ThenthispersonDavisla\'nchesoutintotalesdeescriptifofhowhegoesanglin\'backintheStates。"Whichtheeelisthegamestfish，"saysthisDavis。"WhenI\'mvisitin\'inVirginny，Iusedtogofishin\'。Idon\'tfishwithareel，an\'oneofthemlimberpoles，an\'

letafishgoswarmin\'upan\'downastream，a-breedin\'falsehopesinhisbosoman\'lettin\'himthinkhe\'sloose。Notme；Iwouldn\'tsodeloode——wouldn\'tplayitthatlowonafish。Igoesanglin\'inaformal，se\'f-respectin\'way。Iusesashortlinean\'apolewhichisstiffan\'strong。WhenIgetsabite，Iyankshimoutan\'letshimknowhisfaterightthar。"

"\'"Buteelsain\'tnogamefish，"Isays。"Bassisgame，butnoteels。"

"\'"Eelsain\'tgamenone，ain\'tthey？"saysthisyereDavis，lettin\'

onhe\'saheapinterested。"You-alllistentome；letmetellyouofaeelIsnagsontodownbyCulpepper。WhenhebitesthattimeI

giveshimbothhands。Thateelcomesthroughtheairjestwhistlin\'

an\'w\'irlin\'。Islamshimag\'instthegreatstateofVirginny。

Supposeoneofthembassyouboastsoftakessechajolt。Whateverwouldhehavedone？He\'dlaytharpantin\'an\'rollin\'hiseyes；

mebbyhecurlshistailalittle。Thatwouldbetheutmostofthemresentmentsofhis。Whatdoesmyeeldo？Stranger，hestandsuponhistailan\'fightsme。Game!thateel\'sgameasscorpions!MydogFido\'swithme。Fidowadesintotheeel，an\'thecommotionisawful。

ThateelwhipsFidointwominutes，Washin\'tontime。Howmuchdoesheweigh？WhateverdoIknowaboutit？Whenhe\'sdoneputthegaffsintoFido，henacherallysa\'ntersbackintothebranchwherehelivesat。Idon\'tgethimnone；IdeemsI\'mplumbluckywhenhedon\'tgetme。Still，ifanygenttalksofgamefishthata-way，I

wantsitonderstood，IstringsmymoneyonthatCulpeppereel。"\'

"\'Thar，it\'sjestasItellsyou-all，gents!\'saysJackMooreaheapdisgusted，whenColonelSterettgetsthrough。\'ThisyereDavisisaimposter。Whichthar\'snomortalsportcouldknowaslittleasheletsonan\'livetoreachhisage。\'

"Wesetstharan\'laysplans。Atlastinpursooanceofthemdevices，itgetsroomoredaboutcampthatthenextdaybutone，bothEnrightan\'theNewYorkStoreaimstosendovertoTucsonarollofmoneythesizeofawagonhub。

"\'Thar\'snodangerofthemhold-ups，\'saysEnrighttothisDavis，lettin\'onhe\'saheapconfidenshul。\'Theywon\'tbelookin\'fornosechrichesbein\'freightedoverslapontheheelsofthisyererobbery。An\'wedon\'taimtoputupnogyardsalongsideofOldMonteneither。Gyardsisnogood；theygetsbeefedthefirstvolley，an\'

theirpresenceonacoachthata-wayisnoticethatthar\'splentyoftreasureaboard。\'

"It\'sinthiswayEnrightfillsthatDavisasfullofmisinformationasabottleofrum。Also，wedeemsitsomesignif\'cantwhensaidshorthornsaddleshishossovertothecorralan\'goesskally-

hootin\'forTucsonaboutfirstdrinktimeinthemornin\'。

"\'I\'veaengagementintheOrientalS\'loon，\'hesays，biddin\'usgood-byeplentycheerful，\'butI\'llbebackamongyou-allsportsinaweek。Ilikesyourwaysawholelot，an\'Iwantstolearn\'emsome。\'

"\'WhichIoffersfourtoone，\'saysJackMoore，lookin\'afterhimasheridesaway，\'you\'llbebackyeresoonerthanthat，an\'you-allwon\'tknowitnone，atthat。\'

"It\'sthenextdaywhenthestagestarts；OldMonteiscrackin\'hiswhipinahardenedway，carin\'nothin\'forroadagentsaslongastheydon\'tinterferewiththelickertraffic。Thar\'sonlyonepassenger。

"Shoreenough，jestasit\'sclosin\'insomedarkinApacheCanyon，an\'thestageisgroanin\'an\'creakin\'alongonaupgrade，thar\'satrioofhold-upsshowsonthetrail，an\'theprocessioncomestoahalt。OldMontesetsthebrake，wropsthereinsaboutit，lockshishandsoverhishead，an\'turnsintocuss。Thehold-upstakesnonotice。TheyyanksdowntheWells-Fargochest，pullsofftheletterbag，acceptsawatchan\'apocket-bookfromthegentinside，who\'sscaredan\'shiverin\'an\'scroogin\'backinthedarkestcorner，he\'sthatterror-bit，an\'thentheyappliesafewepithetstoOldMontean\'commandshimtopullhisfreight。An\'OldMonteshorelyobeysthemmandates，an\'goescrashin\'offupthecanyonontherun。

"Themoutlawshaulstheplundertoonesideofthetrailan\'laysforthemail-bagwithabowie。Allthreeisasbusyasprairydogsafterarain，rippin\'openlettersan\'lookin\'forchecksan\'

drafts。Latertheyaimsatsomeop\'rationsontheexpresscompany\'sbox。

"Buttheynevergetstothebox。Thar\'sthelivelytonesofaWinchesterwhichstartsthecanyon\'sechoestotalkin\'。Thatrifleain\'tfortyfootaway，an\'itspeaksthreetimesbeforeeveryou-

all，son，couldsnapyourfingers。An\'thatweepondon\'tmakethemobservationsinvain。Itain\'tfirin\'nosalootes。Quickasisthework，thesightsshiftstoanewtargeteverytime。Atthelast，allthreehold-upslayskickin\'an\'jumpin\'likechickensthata-way，twoisdeadan\'theotheristoohardhittorespond。

"Whoeverdoesit？JackMoore，he\'sthatoneshiverin\'passengerthattime。Heslidesoutenthestageassoonaseveritturnstheangleofthecanyon，an\'comesscoutin\'an\'crawlin\'backonhisprey。An\'

Imightadd，itshoresoothesJack\'svanityalot，whenthefirstremaindershowsdownasthatartlessmaverick，Davis。Jacklightsapinesplinteran\'lookshimover-palean\'deadan\'done。

"\'Whichyou-allisthevictimofover-play，\'saysJacktothisyereDavis，sameasifhehearshim，\'Ifyouneveraskstoseemygunthattime，it\'sevenmoneymysuspicionsconcernin\'youmightbesleepin\'yet。\'"