第3章

An\'it\'sallerssim\'lar；Ineveryetholdsbetterthanace-highwhenthestake\'salady。 \"It\'stroo，\"hecontinued，reflectivelypuffinghispipe。\"Iwasdisp\'sitionedforawifethata-waywhenI\'macolt。Butthat\'salongtimeago；Iain\'tinlinefornosechgymnasticsnomore；myyearsis\'wayag\'init。 \"You\'vegottoketchfolksyoungtomarry\'em。Aftertheygetstobethirtyyearstheygoesslowlytothealtar。Ifyouaimstomarryagentafterhe\'sthirtyyouhastoblindfoldhiman\'backhimin。 Females，ofcourse，ain\'tsoobdurate。No；Is\'posethisyerebein\' marriedisaheaphabit，sameastobaccoan\'jig-juice。Ifagenttakesahandearly，it\'sagoodgame，Imakesnosortofdoubt。Butlethimgettomillin\'\'roundinthethirtiesorlater，an\'himnotbegunnoneasyet；youbethedon\'tmarrynothin\'。 \"Baranonexplainabledifferencewiththegirl\'soldman，\"hewentonwithanairofthought，\"Is\'poseI\'dbeallmarriedrightnow。I wastwenty，themtimes。It\'s\'waybackinTennessee。Herfolkslivesabout\'levenmilesfrommeoutonthePineKnotPike，an\'onceintwoweeksIsaddlesupan\'sortersidlesover。Thar\'sjestheroldpapan\'hermotheran\'herinthefam\'ly，an\'it\'sthatfarIallersmadetostayallnight。Thar\'sonlytwobeds，an\'soI\'mputtocampalongoftheoldmanthetimesIstays。 \"ThemdaysI\'m\'waybashfulan\'behindonallsocialplays，an\'amplentyawe-struckabouttheoldfoiks。Ineverfeelshappyaminutewheretheybe。Theoldladydoesherbesttomakemeeasyan\'free，too。ComesoutwhenIridesup，an\'letsdownthebarsformyhoss，an\'asksmetorestmyhatthesecondI\'minthedoor。 \"Whichmattersgoesongoodenoughontilmebbyit\'stheeighthtimeI\'mthar。Iremembersthenightallperfect。Mean\'thegirlsetsupawhile，an\'thenIquitsheran\'turnsin。Igetstosleepa-layin\' alongtheaigeofthebed，aimin\'tokeep\'wayfromtheoldman，who\'ssnorln\'an\'thrashin\'\'roundan\'takin\'onoverinthemiddle。 \"Idon\'trecallmuchofnothin\'ontilIcomesto，a-holdin\'totheoldman\'sy\'earwithonehandan\'a-hammerin\'ofhisfeatureswitht\'other。Idon\'tknowyet，why。Is\'poseI\'mlocoedan\'dreamin\'，anallowshe\'sab\'arorsomethin\'inmysleepthata-way，an\'triestokillhim。\"Son，it\'s\'waybackalongtime，butIshuddersyetwhenIreflectsonthatoldman\'slanguage。IjumpsupwhenIrealizesthings，grabsmyraiment，an\'，gettin\'myhossoutenthecorral，goesp\'intin\'downthepikemore\'namile\'foreIevenstopstodress。ThelastIseesoftheoldmanlie\'sbuckin\'an\'pitchin\'an\' tossin\'，an\'thefemalesa-holdin\'ofhim，an\'hereachin\'togetaHawkins\'srifleashangsoverthedoor。Inevergoesbacknomore，\'causehe\'smightytindictiveaboutit。Hetriestomakeitagrandjurymatternextco\'t-time。 \"Speakin\'ofnuptials，however，youcan\'ttellmuchaboutwomen。 Thar\'sagirlwhoshorelys\'prisesusonceinawayoutinWolfville。MissisRucker，whorunstheO。K。Restauraw，getsthisfemalefromTucsontofryflap-jacksan\'salthoss，an\'he\'pherdealherlittlegastronomicgame。Thisyeregirl\'snameisJennie- TucsonJennie。Shelookslikeshe\'sanice，goodgirl，too；oneofthemwhichit\'seasytolove，an\'inless\'ntwoweeksthar\'shalfthecampgetssmitten。\"Itaffectsbusiness，it\'sthatbad。CherokeeHalltellsmetharain\'thalfthemoneygetschangedinatfaroasusual，an\'theNewYorkStorereportsgentsgoin\'brokeag\'inbiledshirts，an\'sim\'lardeadfallsdaily。Ofcoursethisyerefirstfrenzysubsidesawholelotafteramonth。\"AllthistimeJennieain\'tsayin\'aword。Shejestshovesthemfoolishyoothstheirenchiladasan\'ckileconcarne，an\'ignoresallwinksan\'lookscomplete。 \"Thar\'sapartynamedJimBaxterincamp，an\'hesetsintowinJenniehard。Jimtriestocrowdthegamean\'getaction。Itlookslikehe\'sduetomakethetriptoo。MissisRuckerisbackin\'hisplay，an\'Jennieherse\'fsorterletshimset\'roundinthekitchenan\'watchherwork；whichthisyoreislicensean\'riotitse\'fcomparedwithhowshetreatsothers。OccasionallysomeofussortertriestostackupforJiman\'figgeroutwherehestandswiththethegame。 \"\'How\'sitgoin\'，Baxter？\'Enrightasksoneday。 \"\'It\'stoomanyforme，\'saysJim。\'Some-timesIthinksIcorralsher，an\'thenag\'initlookslikeIain\'tinit。JestnowI\'mfeelin\'somedejected。\' \"\'Somethin\'oughterbeschemedtosettlethisyere，\'saysEnright。 \'Itkeepsthecampinafever，an\'mebbygetsseriousan\'spreads。\' \"\'Ifsomebodywouldonlyprancein，\'saysDocPeets，\'an\'shootJimupsome，you\'dhavehereasy。Femalesislikearabbitinabush- pile；youhastoshakethingsupalottomake\'emcomeout。Now，ifJimisdyin\'an\'shecaresforhim，she\'sshorelygoin\'toshowherhand。\' \"IwantstopauserightyeretoobservethatDocPeetsisthebest- eddicatedsharpIeverencountersinmylife。An\'whathedon\'tknowaboutsquawsisvaluelessasinformation。Buttogoonwiththedeal。 \"\'That\'sright，\'saysCherokeeHall，\'butofcourseitain\'tgoin\' todotoshootJimupnone。\' \"\'Idon\'tknow，\'saysJim；\'IstandsquitearacketifI\'mshoreitfetchesher。\' \"\'Whatforagame，\'saysCherokee，\'woulditbetoplaylikeJim\'sshot？Wouldn\'tthatmakehercomea-runnin\'sameasifit\'sshore\'nough？\' \"\'Idon\'tseewhynot，\'saysEnright。 \"Well，theideegainsgroundlikeanantelope，an\'atlastgetstobequiteaconspir\'cy。It\'ssettledweplaysit，withDaveTutttodotheshootin\'。 \"\'An\'wemakesthegamecomplete，\'saysJackMoore，\'bygrabbin\' Daveimmediatean\'bringin\'ofhimbeforethecommittee，whichconvenesallreg\'laran\'deecorousintheRedLightforsaidpurpose。We-allsmustlineoutlikewe\'regoin\'tohangDaveforthekillin\'；otherwiseitdon\'tlooknacheralnohow，an\'theladydetectsit\'sabluff。\' \"Wegetsthingsallready，an\'inthemiddleoftheafternoon，whenJennieisdraggin\'herlariat\'roundloosean\'nothin\'muchtodo—— \'causeweain\'taimin\'todisturbhernoneinherdootiestouchin\' themflapjacksan\'salthoss——we-allsassemblesoverintheNewYorkStore。AsapreliminarystepwelaysJimonsomeboxes，withawagon-coveroverhim，likehe\'sdeceased。 \"\'Cl\'arthingsoutofthewayalongbyJim\'shead，\'saysJackMoore，whoistakin\'abiginterest。\'WewantstofixthingssoJencanswarminathimeasy。Youhearme!she\'sgoin\'tocomestampedin\'inyerelikewildcattlewhenshegetsthenews。\' \"Wheneverythin\'sready，Tuttan\'Jack，whoconcloodsit\'swelltohaveagooddealofshootin\'，bangsawaywiththeirgunsaboutfourtimesapiece。 \"\'Jestshootin\'onceortwice，\'saysJack，\'mightarousehers\'picions。Itwouldbeaheaptoobrieffortherealthing。\' \"Theminutetheshootin\'isceasedwe-allstakesTuttan\'surgesovertotheRedLighttotryhim；a-pendin\'ofwhichDanBoggssa\'ntersacrosstotheO。K。Restaurawan\'remarks，allcasooalan\' carelesslike: \"\'DaveTuttdownsJimBaxteraminuteback；goodcleangun-playaseverIsees，too。Mightybigcredittobothboysthisyereis。Noshootin\'upthesceneryan\'thebystanders；nosechslobberin\'work； buteverythin\'carriesstraighttocenters。\' \"\'Whereishe？\'saysJennie，lookin\'breathlessan\'sick。 \"\'Jim\'sremainderisintheNewYorkStore，\'saysDan。 \"\'Ishehurt？\'shegasps。 \"\'Idon\'treckonhehurtsnonenow，\'saysDan，\'\'causehe\'sdonecashedinhisstack。Why!girl，he\'sdead；eighteenbullets，caliberforty-five，plumbthroughhim。\' \"\'No，butDave!IsDaveshot？\'TucsonJenniesays，a-wringin\'ofhersmallpaws。 \"\'Nowdon\'tyougotofeelin\'discouragednone，\'saysDan，beginnin\' tofeelsorryforher。\'Wefixesthewretchsohismurderin\'speritwon\'tbeanhourbehindJim\'sgettin\'in。TheStranglershashimintheRedLight，makin\'planstostretchhimrightnow。\' \"We-allshasconsoomeddrinksall\'round，an\'Enrightisinthechair，an\'we\'rebusysettin\'upabigfrontabouthearin\'thecase，whenTucsonJennie，withascreamasscaresupsurroundin\'thingstosechalimitthatfiveponieshopsoutofthecorralan\'flies，comeschargin\'intotheRedLight，an\'thenextinstantshedrifts\'roundTutt\'snecklikesomuchsnow。 \"\'Whatforagamedoyoucallthis，anyhow？\'saysJackMoore，who\'saheapscand\'lized。\'Isthisyeremaidenplayin\'anythin\'onthiscamp？\' \"\'She\'splumblocoedwithgrief，\'saysDanBoggs，whofollersherin，\'an\'she\'sdonegot\'emmixedinhermind。ShethinksDaveisBaxter。\' \"\'That\'sit，\'saysCherokee。\'Hermind\'sstampededwiththeshock。 Mean\'JacktakesherovertoJim\'scorpse，an\'that\'sshoretoreviveher。\'An\'withthatCherokeean\'Jackgoesuptoleadheraway。 \"\'Savehim，MisterEnright；savehim!\'shepleads，stillclingin\'toTutt\'sneckliketheloopofalariat。\'Don\'tlet\'emhanghim!Savehimformysake!\' \"\'Holdon，Jack，\'saysEnright，whobynowislookin\'somethoughtful。\'JesteverybodystandtheirhandsyeretillIcountsthepotan\'noteswho\'sshy。Itlookslikewe\'recinchin\'thehullontothewrongbronco。Letmeaskthisfemaleaquestion。Youngwoman，\' hesaystoTucsonJennie，\'beyoufullyinformedastowhoseneckyou\'rehangin\'to？\' \"\'It\'sDave\'s，ain\'tit？\'shesays，lookin\'alltearfulinhisfacetomakeshore。 \"Enrightan\'therestofusdon\'tsaynothin\'，butgazesateachother。Tuttflushesupan\'showspleasedbothatonce。Butallthesameheputshisarms\'roundherlikethedead-gamegentheis。 \"\'What\'llyou-allshave，gents？\"Enrightsaysatlast，quietan\' thoughtful。\'Thedrinksisonme，barkeep。\' \"\'Excuseme，\'saysDocPeets，\'butastheauthorofthisyereplot，Itakesitthep\'isonisonme。Barkeep，setoutallyourbottles。\' \"\'Gents，\'saysJackMoore，\'I\'maspeacefulapersonaseverjingledaspurorpulledaguninWolfville；butasIreflectsontheactivepartItakesintheseyereceremonies，Iwon\'tberesponsibleforresultsifanycitizencomesbetweenmean\'payin\'forthedrinks。 Barkeep，I\'mdoin\'thismyse\'f。\' \"Well，it\'shardenoomeratin\'howmanydrinkswedohave。JimBaxterthrowsawaythewagoncoveran\'comesoverfromtheNewYorkStorean\'standsinwithus。Itgetstobeaorgy。 \"\'Ofcourseit\'sallright，\'saysEnright，\'thecampwinswithTuttinsteadofBaxter；that\'sall。It\'lustratesoneofthembeautifulcharacteristicsofthegentlersex，too。Yere\'sBaxter，tosaynothin\'oftwentyothers，asbesiegesan\'beleaguersthisyerefemaleforsixweeks，an\'shescorns\'em。Yere\'sTutt，whoain\'tmakin\'amove，an\'shegrabshim。Itissechoncertainties，gents，asmakestheloveofwomanvaluable。\'\"\'You-allsshouldhaveaskedme，\'saysFaroNell，whocomesinrightthenan\'roundsupclosetoCherokee。 \'IcouldtellyoutwoweeksagoJennie\'sinlovewithTutt。Anybodycouldseeit。Why!she\'sbeenfeedin\'ofhimtwiceasgoodgrubasshedoesanybodyelse。\'\" CHAPTERVII。 TUCSONJENNIE\'SJEALOUSY。 \"No；Davean\'hiswifeprospersalongallright。Thatis，theyprospersallbutonce；that\'swhenJenniegetsjealous。\" TheOldCattlemanwasrespondingtomyquestion。IwasfullofanidleinterestanddisposedtogofurtherintotheaffairsofTuttandTucsonJennie。 \"DocPeets，\"continuedtheoldgentleman，\"allerstellsmeonthesidethar\'snothin\'inDave\'sconductonbecomin\'afam\'lymanthata-way，an\'thatJen\'ssimplybarkin\'ataknot。But，howeverthatis，Davedon\'tseemtogainnocomfortofitatthetime。Icanseemyse\'fshegetsDaveplumbtreedan\'outonalimbbythemaccusationswhenshemakes\'em。Heshorelylooksguilty；an\'yet，whileIstandsovertheplayfromthefirst，Ican\'tseewhereDavedoeswrong。 \"However，Idon\'tputmyse\'ffor\'ardasnogoodjedgeindomesticaffairs。Bein\'singlemyse\'fthata-way，femalesisondoubtedwhatDocPeetscallsa\'theery\'withme。Butnevertheless，inanonpresoomin\'，lowlyway，Igivesitasmymeagerjedgement，an\'I givesitcold，ashowajealouswomanisworsethant\'rant\'lers。 She\'splumblocoedforonething；an\'thar\'snosechthingasorganizin\'tomeethergame。Formyse\'f，Idon\'twantnotransactionswith\'em；nonewhatever。 \"Thisyeredomesticuprisin\'ofDave\'swifebreaksonWolfvilleasonexpectedasafifthaceinapokerdeck；itleavesthecampallspraddledout。TucsonJenniean\'Dave\'sbeenweddedgoin\'onsixmonths。Thecamp，asIrelates，attendsthenuptialsinabody，an\'，followin\'ofthefestivities，TucsonJenniean\'Davetumblesintohousekeepin\'peacefulastwopupsinabasket。 \"Wolfville\'sproudof\'em，an\'everytimesomeign\'rantbein\'asksaboutWolfvillean\'thesocialfeaturesofthecamp，weallersmentionsTuttan\'hiswife，an\'tellshowtheykeepshouse，sorterupholsterin\'ourbluff。 \"That\'showthedealstands，whenonedayupjumpsthisTucsonJennie，putsonhersunbunnit，an\'goesstampedin\'downtotheU。K。 House，an\'allowstoMissisRuckerthatshe\'sdonelivedwithDaveallsheaimsto，an\'hasshorepulledherpicketpinforgood。SheputsitupDaveisabase，deceitfulsharpthata-way，an\'informsMissisRucker，allmixedupwithtears，ashowshenowdesirestogobackinthekitchenan\'cook，sameaswhenDaveroundsherupforhiswife。 \"Yere\'sthewholestory，an\'whileInursescertainviewstharon，I leavesittoyouentiretosayhowmuchTucsonJennieisjestified。 Iknowsallaboutit，forI\'mobleegedtobeinonthedealfromsodatohock。 \"It\'smightylikelyamonthbeforethetimeTucsonJenniebreaksthroughDave\'slinesthisa-way。Davean\'me\'sduetogoovertowardstheTresHermanasaboutsomecattle。Likewisethar\'sanEnglishoutfitallowin\'they\'llgoalongsome，toseewherethey\'vebeenstackin\'inheavyonsomeranchlands。TheywaseagerforDavean\'metotrailalongwith\'em，an\'sorterrideherdon\'em，an\' keep\'emfromgettin\'mixedupwiththescenery——whichthesameisshorelycomplicatedinthefoot-hillsoftheTresHermanas——an\' losin\'themse\'fsaheap。 \"\'Whichyou\'dbetterdoit，boys，\'saysEnright。\'S\'posethemfolksbesometrouble。It\'samightysightbetterthanhavin\'\'emgop\'intin\'offalonethata-way。Theywouldshoremissthewayiftheydoes；an\'thefirstwe-allsknows，theseyereBritonswouldberunnin\'cimmaroninthehills，scarin\'upthingsalot，an\'a- stampedin\'thecattleplumbofftherange。It\'seasiertogoalongcarefulwith\'eman\'bring\'emback。\' \"Itcomes，then，thatonemornin\'Davean\'mean\'theseyerealienslinesoutforthehills。They\'vegotponies，an\'wagons，an\'camp- outfittothatextentacasooalonlookermightthinktheyaimstobeawayforyears。 \"Aswep\'intsoutfromtheO。K。House，wherethemBritonshasbeenwrastlin\'theirchuckpendin\'thestart，TucsonJennieistharsayin\'\'goodby\'toDave。Inotesthensheain\'ttickledtodeathnoneaboutsomethin\'，butdon\'tdeemnothin\'speshulofit。 \"TheBritonsismadeupoftwogents，mebbyasoldasEnright—— brothersiswhattheybe——an\'afemalewho\'sthedaughterofoneof\'em。Whichthar\'snothin\'recentaboutthisyerelady，though；an\'I reckonsshe\'smightylikelyfortyyearsold。Ilearnslater，however，it\'sthisfemalewhichTucsonJennieresentswhenshesays\"adios\"toDave。 \"Itshorestrikesmenow，whenyearsispassed，assomemarv\'loushowahan\'some，corn-fedfemalelikeTucsonJenniemanagestofoundafightwithDaveoverthisyeretoweristwoman。I\'mnacherallyslowtogodecidin\'betsag\'inalady\'slooks，butwhateverTucsonJennieseesintheappearanceofthispersonwhichislikelytoinviggleDaveistoomanyforme。IsoftensthestatementaheapwhenIsaysshe\'suglierthanaMexicansheep。 \"However，thatdon\'tseemtooccurtoTucsonJennie；an\'DocPeets—— who\'sthewisestsharpinArizona——allowstomeafterwardsashowTucsonJennieiscuttin\'thekyardswithherse\'fdesp\'ratetoseewhethershedeclar\'swarattheverytimewemakesourstart。Ifshedoes，sheturnsthelowkyard，forshedon\'tsaynothin\'，an\'wegetsaway，an\'allisprofoundpeace。 \"Fourdayslaterwe\'reincampbyawater-holeinthefrillofthefoot-hills。TheBritonshasgotupawalltentan\'isshorelyhavin\' ahighan\'lavishtime。Davean\'meain\'tpayin\'noattentionto\'emspeshul，aswedon\'tseehownoneisneeded。Besides，wehassomehardridin\'todolookin\'upplacesforalineofsigncamps。 \"It\'stheseconddaywhenwenoticesanoutfitofInjunscampeddownthevalleyfromus。They\'sallserenean\'peacefulenough；withsquaws，papooses，an\'dogs；an\'ain\'tthinkin\'nomoreofbein\' hostilethanwebe。 \"Ofcourse，nosoonerdoestheseyereBritonsofoursbeholdthisbandofsavagesthantheyhastogoprojectin\'round\'em。That\'stheworstthingaboutatowerist；he\'sthatloadedwithcur\'osity，an\' thatgregar\'ousan\'amiable，hehastogofoolin\'\'roundeverystrangerlietracksupwith。Intheirign\'rancetheyevengetsthatroodean\'insultin\'attimes，thatIknows\'emwho\'sthatregardlessan\'imp\'liteastoupan\'askarankstrangerthata-waytopass\'emhisguntolookat。 \"An\'so，asIsays，nosoonerdoesthemInjunsgetnearus，thanthemthreeblessedforeignersisoverafter\'em；ropin\'atem\'withquestionsan\'invadin\'of\'em，an\'examinin\'of\'emlikethewholetribe\'sforsalean\'theyaimstoacquire\'emiffiggersisreasonable。 \"Ineverdoesknowwhatthefemaletoweristsaysordoestothatpartic\'laraborigine-nothin\'mostlikely；butitain\'tadaywhenoneofthemInjunssettlesitwithhimse\'fhewantstowedher。Thetoweristsisinign\'ranceoftheviewsofthissavage，whogoesaboutdealin\'hisgameInjunfashion。 \"It\'sthisa-way:Davean\'metrailsinoneevenin\'somewearyan\' played；it\'sbeenahardridethatday。Whichthefirstthingwelayseyesonatthecampshorelylivensusupalot。Thar，tiedtothewagon-wheels，isnineponies，whichthesamebelongstotheInjuns。 \"\'Whateverbetheseyerebroncosdoin\'yere？\'saysDave，forweallows，thefirstdashoutenthebox，mebbytheBritonsmakesapurchase。 \"Oneofthetoweriststellsalongan\'delightedstoryaboutthegen\'rosityoftheInjuns。 \"\'Actooally，\'saysthistowerist，\"themgen\'roussavagesleadsuptheseyerenineponiesan\'donates\'em。\' \"Davean\'measksquestions；andalltharistothedeal——whichit\'sshoreenoughtobustDave\'sfam\'lybeforeit\'sover——themInjunsbringsupthenineponiesallrespectful，an\'leaves\'emhobbledout，mebbyit\'sahundredyardsfromtheBritons，an\'ridesaway。 TheBritons，deemin\'thisbluffasinthelineofgifts，capersoveran\'possessesthemse\'fsoftheponiesan\'leads\'emin。That\'stheoutsideofthestore。 \"\'Well，stranger，\'saysDaveinreply，takin\'ofthetoweristoneside，\'Iain\'taimin\'todiscourageyounone，butyou-allshasgonean\'gotalltangledupinyourlariat。\' \"\'Whatforanontanglementisit？\'asksthetowerist。 \"\'Nothin\'，\'saysDave，sorterbreakin\'ittohimeasy，\'nothin\'，onlyyou\'vedonemarriedyourdaughtertooneofthemInjuns。\' \"WhenDaveannouncesthisyeretroothitshorelooksliketheBriton\'sgoin\'toneedwhiskeytoupholdhimse\'f。Buthereorganizes，an\'DaveexplainsthattheInjuns，whentheytrailsinwiththeponies，issimplyshufflin\'foraweddin\'；they\'sofferin\' whatthey-allscallsa\'price\'forthewoman。 \"\'An\'whenyou-allsleadsintheponies，\'saysDave，\'thatsettlesit。Youagreestodealrightthar。To-morrow，now，thisyerebuck，whoeverheis，willcomesurgin\'inwithhisrelationsplumbdowntothirdcousins；an\'heexpectsyou\'llbedeadreadytofeed\'em，an\' winduptheorgybypassin\'overthebride。\' \"YoucanbetthemreecitalsofDave\'sisplentyhorribletothetowerist。Heallowswemustkeepitfromhisdaughter；an\'thenheputshipwholeoutfitinDave\'shands，toget\'emsafeontohighgrounds。 \"\'Can\'twepullourfreightinthenight？\'saysthetowerist，an\' he\'sshorelyanxious。 \"\'Toomuchmoon，\'saysDave；\'an\'then，ag\'in，thewholeInjunoutfit\'sbelowusinthedraw，an\'wenevergetsbyonceinathousandtimes。No，\'goesonDave，\'oneshorethingwecan\'tbackoutnorcrawloff。We-allshastoplaythehandplumbthrough: \"ThenDavetellsthetoweristhiman\'metalksoverthisyereweddin\'whichhedonegoesintosoinadvertent；an\'ifthar\'sachancetosavehimfrombecomin\'afather-in-lawabrupt，we\'llplayittowin。 \"\'Thisyereistheonlywagon-trackout；saysDavetome，afterwepow-wowsanhour。\'YougodowntothemInjuns，an\'findtherightbuckthata-way，an\'tellhimthesquaw\'sgotabucknow。Tellhimhe\'sbarred。Whichatthisp\'intinyourrevelationshe\'sduetoofferafight，an\'ofcourseyoutakeshim。Tellhimatfirst-drinktimeto-morrowmornin\'hefindsmereadytofightforthesquaw。\' \"\'Thiswholebusinessmakesmetired，though，\'saysDave，aheapdisgustad。\'IftheseeediotshadletthemInjunsalone-，oreveniftheydisdainstheponieswhentheywasbroughtup，thisyerecouldbefixedeasy。Butnowit\'sfightorgiveupthewoman，soyougodown，asIsays，an\'arrangeforthedance。\' \"Ofcoursethar\'snoexplainin\'nothin\'toInjuns。Youmightaswellwastetimeexpoundin\'tocoyotesan\'jack-rabbits。Allthat\'sleftformetodoistrailoutaftermysavage，asDavesays，an\'notifyhimthatthisweddin\'hepro。posesispostponedan\'allbetsisoff。 \"Ifindshimeasyenough，an\'sawsitoffonhiminSpanishhowthegamestacksup。Butheain\'tcheerfulaboutit，an\'displaysamightybalefulsperit。JestasTuttallowshe\'souttoshootforthesquawinaminute，an\'asthar\'snogettin\'awayfromit，Itellshimtopainthimse\'fforwaran\'comea-runnin\'。 \"Ihastocarryahardface；forwe\'reshorelyinforit。YerewebefourdaysfromWolfville，an\'theInjuns——an\'Ireckonsthar\'stwentybucksintheoutfit-iscampedinbetweenusan\'he\'p。 \"ThisInjunwho\'safterthewomanisnamedBlackDog。Thenextmornin\'Tuttsaddlesupan\'ridesofftoonesideofourcamp，mebbyit\'saquarterofamile，an\'thengetsoffenhisponyan\'standsthar。We-allsdon\'tonfoldtothetoweriststhedetailsofthedeal，noteventotheInjun\'sfather-in-law。Thetoweristfemaleisthatign\'rantofwhat\'sgoing\'on，she\'spesterin\'\'roundallonconscious，makin\'bakin\'-powderbiscuitatthetime。Ilooksatherclose，an\'IwondersevenyetwhatthatBlackDog\'sthinkin\'of。 ButIdon\'tgetmuchtimetobedisgustedoverthisBlackDog\'stastebeforehecomesp\'intin\'outfromamonghispeople。 \"Thesun\'sjestgettin\'overthehillstotheeast，an\'，asitstrikeshim，he\'sshoreafash\'nablelookin\'Injun。Heain\'tgotnothin\'onbutawar-bunnitan\'acoatofpaint。TherestofhistrousseauheconfinestohisWinchesteran\'belt。He\'sonhiswar- pony，an\'thebronco\'sstrippedasbareasthisBlackDogis；notastrapfrommuzzletotail。ThisbridegroomInjun\'stieditsmanefullofribbons，an\'throwsaredblanketacrosshispony\'swithersforgeneraleffects。Takeitallover，he\'sanifty-lookin\'savage。 \"Sofarasthedooelgoes，Daveain\'trunnin\'noresk。Hestandstharonthegroundan\'keepshishossbetweenhiman\'thisyereBlackDog。It\'saplaywhichforcesthebridegroom\'shand，too。He\'sdue，bein\'Injun，togocirelin\'Davean\'dohisshootin\'onthecanter。 \"An\'that\'swhatthisweak-mindedsavagedoes。Hebreaksintoalopean\'goessailin\'\'roundDavelikeahawk。Durin\'themexerciseshelaysoverontheshoulderofhishossan\'bangsawayfromonderitsneckwithonehand，permiscus。 \"Thisismerefrivolity。Tharain\'tnowhitegentwhocouldshootnoneondersechconditions；an\'Injunscan\'tshootnohow。Theydon\'tsaveyahindsight。An\'，asIremarks，ifDave\'shitany，it\'sgoin\' toshorelybeanaccident，an\'accidentsdon\'thappennoneinArizona；leastwisenotwithguns。 \'MebbythisBlackDog\'sbangedawaythreetimes，whenDave，who\'sbeenfollowin\'ofhim，throughthesightsforthirtyseconds，onhookshisrifle，an\'thedealcomestoafullstop。Dave\'sshootin\'aSharp\'s，withahundredan\'twentygrainsofpowder，an\' thewayhesendsabulletplumbthroughthatwar-ponyan\'thisyereBlackDog，who\'shangin\'onitsoffside，don\'tbotherhimabit。 Theponyan\'theBlackDoggoesoverontheirheads。 \"Daveridesin，an\'bringstheblanketan\'war-bunnit。Eventhen，thefemaletowerist，whichistheobjectofthemeetin\'，don\'tseeminformednoneofthecourseofevents。Thefactis，sheneverdoesacquiretherightsofittillwe-allsistwodaysbackonthereturntrail。 \"Thar\'snomorebother。Injunsispartic\'larpeople，thata-way，aboutetiquetteastheysaveysit，an\'followin\'Dave\'sdownin\'thisBlackDogtheyain\'tmakin\'amoanoramove。Theytakesitplentysolemnan\'mute，an\'goestolayin\'outtheBlackDog\'sobsequieswithoutnomorenoticeofus。It\'sasquardeal；theyseesthat；an\' theyain\'tfilin\'noobjections。Asforourendofthegame，wemovesoutforWolfville，makin\'noidledelayswhatever。 \"Goin\'in，Dave，afterthinkin\'some，su\'geststomethatit\'slikelytobeaheapgoodstorynottotellTucsonJennie。 \"\'Femalesisillogical，thata-way，\'saysDave，\'an\'Iain\'tgoin\' tohavetimetoeddicateJennietoaproperviewofthisyere。SoI reckonsit\'sgoin\'tobeacraftyplaynottotellher。\' \"TheBritonshasbeengonetwoweekswhenTucsonJennielearnsthestory。ThemtoweristsisplumbwearyofArizonawhenwetrailsintoWolfville，an\'don\'tseemtotarryasecondbeforetheylinesoutforTucson。 \"\'Theyjesthitsahighplaceortwo，\'saysJackMoore，afterhehearsofthemdesignsoftheBlackDog，\'an\'they\'llbe\'wayyonderoutofthecountry。Idon\'treckonnoneof\'em\'llevercomebacksoon，neither。\' \"Butit\'sthetoweristwomanmakesthetroublefromstarttofinish。 It\'saletterfromherwhichshewritesbacktoDave，allowin\' she\'llthankhimsomemoreasherpreserver，thatbringsthenewstoJennie。TucsonJenniegetsthismissive，an\'upsan\'riflesan\' readsittoherse\'fawholelot。It\'sthenTucsonJenniegivesitoutcold，Daveisbreakin\'herheart，an\'tharuponprances\'roundforhershakeran\'goesovertoMissisRucker\'s。 \"Thewholecampknowsthestoryinanhour，an\'whilewe-ailssympathizeswithDaveofcourse，noone\'sblamin\'TucsonJennie。 She\'safemale，an\'onresponsible，foronething；an\'then，ag\'inDave\'saheaponlikelytostandanycondemnationsofhiswife。 \"\'She\'sasgoodawomanaseverwearsamoccasin，\'saysDave，whilehe\'srecoverin\'ofhissperitsattheRedLightbar。 \"An\'we-allsallowssheshorelyis；an\'theneverybodylookspensivean\'sincerethata-way，so\'snottoharrowDavenonean\'makehisburdensmore。 \"\'ButwhatevercanIdotofetchherbacktocamp？\'asksDave，appealin\'toEnrightmightywretched。\'Igoesplumblocoedifthisyerekeepson。\' \"\'Mynotionis，we-allsbetterputMissisRuckerintoplaythehand，\'saysEnright。\'MissisRucker\'safemale，an\'isshorelyduetoknowwhatkyardstodraw。Butthisoughterbealessontoyou，Dave，nottogoromancin\'\'roundwithstrangewomennomore。\' \"\'It\'saforcedplay，Itellsyou，\'saysDave。\'ThemInjunshasustreed。It\'sacaseoffightorgiveupthatshe-towerist，sowhatwasItodo？\' \"`Well，\'saysEnright，somesevere，\'youmightatleasthaveconsultedwiththisyeretoweristwomansome。Butyoudon\'t。Yousimplygetsagunan\'goestrackin\'\'roundinherdestinies，an\' shootin\'upherprospectslikeyouhasapersonalinterest。Youdon\'tknowbutshedeploresthedealcomplete。Peets，an\'me，an\' Boggs，an\'alltherestofusisyourfriends，an\'nacherallypartialonyourside。We-allsfiggersyoumeanswell。ButwhatI saysisthis:Itain\'tnos\'prisin\'thingwhenTucsonJennie，a- hearin\'ofthempronouncedattentionswhichyoupaysthistoweristlady，isfilledwithgrief。Thisshootin\'upanInjun，causehe\'splannin\'towedthisfemalesome，iswhatIshorelycallspronouncedattentions。Whatdoyouthinkyourse\'f，Peets？\' \"\'Why!IreadilyconcedeswhatDavesays，\'remarksPeets。 \'Ondoubtedlyheactsforthebestasheseesit。Butjestasyouputsit:s\'poseDaveain\'thungerin\'noneforthistoweristwomanhimse\'f，theheadlongwayhegoesafterthisyereBlackDog，settin\' ofthewar-jigthenextsun-up，an\'allwithoutevensayin\'\"Letmelookatyourhand，\"tothisfemale，jestifiestheminferencesofyours。OfcourseIdon\'tsay——an\'Idon\'treckonnone——Davethinksofthisold-maidmaverickonce；but，heseeshimse\'f，htshoregoestowaraheapprecipitatean\'onconsiderate，an\'TucsonJenniehasondoubtedgroundstobuck。 \"\'Which，whenyou-allsputsitsocl\'ar，Ithinkssotoo，\'saysDave，who\'slistenin\'toEnrightan\'Peetsamightysightdejected。 IButIain\'tbeenweddedlong——ain\'tmore\'nwhatyoumightcallanamaturehusband。Whatyou-allsoughterdonowishe\'pmetoroundherup。IfTucsonJennie\'sabunchofcattle，orabandofponiesashasstampeded，you\'dbeinthesaddletooquick。\' \"MissisRuckershoredoesallsheknowstosoftenTucsonJennie。Sheremindsherhowintheoldtimes，whenDavegetshischileconcarneattheO。K。House，andthepartyfromtheStatestakestoreprovin\' ofMissisRuckerabouttharbein\'nothin\'butcoffeean\'beanstoeat，Daveonlimbershissix-shooteran\'goestothefront。 \"\'Thegrub\'sdealtdown，\'saysDave，explainin\'tothisobnoxioustenderfoot，\'tillthar\'snothin\'leftintheboxbutbeans，coffee，an\'beans。It\'sacat-hop，butitcan\'tbehe\'pednone。\' \"\'Cat-hopornocat-hop，\'saysthistenderfoot，\'I\'mdeadag\'inbeans；an\'youcangambleIain\'touttodevournosechlowveg\'tables；nonewhatever。\' \"\'Youjestthinksyoudon\'tlikebeans，\'saysDave，an\'withthathesorterdictatesatthetenderfootwithhisgun，an\'thetenderfootthar-uponlaysforhisfrijoleslikehe\'sactooallyhonin\'tharfor。 \"\'WhichitallshowsDave\'sgotagoodheart，\'saysMissisRuckertoTucsonJennie。 \"\'That\'snothin\'todowithhismakin\'lovetotheBritishwoman，\' saysTucsonJennie，grittin\'herteethlikeshecouldeatthesightsoffenasix-shooter。 \"\'Henevermakesnolovetothisyerewoman，\'saysMissisRucker。 \"\'Whenheketchesherflirtin\'withthatInjun，\'demandsTucsonJennie，\'don\'tDaveshoothimupalot？Whatdoyou-allcallmakin\' love？HeneverdownsnoInjunsforme，an\'I\'mhislawfulwife。\'An\' yereMissisRuckerallows，whenshereportstoEnrightan\'Davean\' therestoftheoutfitintheRedLight，TucsonJennieweepslikeherheartisshorelybroke。 \"\'Whichtheporegirl\'stobepitied，\'saysEnright。\'Dave，\'hegoeson，turnin\'toTuttsomefierce，\'youdon\'tdeservenosechdevotionasthis。\' \"\'That\'swhatever，\'saysDanBoggs，lookin\'redan\'truculent，\'thisyereTucsonJennie\'saangel。\' \"Buttharwebe，upag\'instit，an\'notamanknowsathingtodotosquar\'thedealwithDave\'swife。We-alls，callsfordrinksall\'round，an\'setsaboutan\'delib\'rates。AtlastDavespeaksupinalow-speritedway。 \"\'Ireckonsshedonejumpsthegameforgood，\'hesays。\'Butifshe\'sgoin\'，Iwantshertohavealayout。Ifyou-allscarestogoovertotheNewYorkStore，IallowsI\'llplayinabluestackortwoan\'winheroutsomeduds。Iwantshertoquitthedealahead。\' \"SoDavesetsoutfortheNewYorkStore，an\'therestofussorterstragglesalong。Thar\'snothin\'gayaboutus。Davegetsashawlan\' adress；nothin\'gaudy；it\'saplainredan\'yaller。MissisRuckerpacks\'emovertoTucsonJenniean\'getsthatwrappedupinthedealsheforgetsuttertorustleusourgrub。 \"Which，it\'stheonexpeetedashappensinWolfvillesameaseverywhereelse。TheminuteTucsonJennieseestheraiment，an\' realizeshowDavelovesher，thatsettlesit。Herheartmeltsrightthar。Sheain\'tsayin\'nothin\'；jestropesontothedry-goodsan\' startssobbin\'outforthe\'dobywhereshean\'Davelivesat。 \"Dave，whenheobservesthisyerefrom\'crossthestreet，shakeshandsall\'round，butdon\'ttrusthimse\'fwithnoremarks。Hegivesourpawsasqueezelikeheknowshecanrelyonourfriendshipan\' huntshiswayacrosstoTucsonJenniewithoutaword。 \"\'It\'sallrightaboutbein\'yoothfulan\'light，thata-way，\'saysEnright，afterDavepullshisfreight，\'butTuttoughterrememberyereafter，beforehegoesmixin\'himse\'fupwithsechvainthingsastoweristsan\'Injunsan\'British，thathe\'samarriedman。\'\" CHAPTERVIII。 THEMANFROMREDDOG。 \"Letmetryoneofthemtharseegyars。\" Itwasthepleasantafter-dinnerhour，andIwasontheverandaforaquietsmoke。TheOldCattlemanhadjustthrowndownhispaper；thehalf-lightofthewaningsunwasabittoodimforhiseyesofseventyyears。 \"WheneverIbeholdsaseegyar，\"saidtheoldfellow，ashepuffedvoluminouslyattheprincipeIpassedover，\"IthinksofwhatthatwitnesssaysinthemurdertrialatSocorro。 \"\'Whatwasyou-alldoin\'incampyourse\'f，\'asksthejedgeofthisyerewitness，\'thedayofthekillin\'？\' \"\'Which，\'saysthewitness，oncrossin\'hislaigsan\'lettin\'onheain\'tmadebashfulan\'oneasybysomuchattentionsbein\'shownhire，\'whichIwasa-eatin\'ofafewsardines，a-drinkin\'ofafewdrinksofwhiskey，a-smokin\'ofafewseegyars，an\'a-romancin\' \'round。\'\" Afterthisabrupt，nottosayambiguousreminiscence，theOldCattlemanpuffedcontentedlyamoment。 \"Whatmurdertrialwasthisyouspeakof？\"Iasked。\"Whohadbeenkilled？\" \"NowIdon\'treckonIeverdoesknowwhoitisgetsdowned，\"hereplied。\"Thisyeremurdertrialitse\'fisnewstomecomplete。Theywaswaggin\'alongwithitwhenItrailsintoSocorrothattime，an\' Imerelysa\'ntersovertotheco\'tthata-waytohearwhat\'sgoin\' on。Thejedgeissortergettin\'inontheplaywhileI\'mlistenin\'。 \"\'Whatwasthelastwordsofthisyeregentwho\'skilled？\'asksthejedgeofthiswitness。 \"\'AsnearlyasIkeepstabs，jedge，\'saysthewitness，`thedyin\' statementofthispersonis:\"Fouracestobeat。\"\' \"\'WhichifdeceasedhadknowedSocorrolikeIdoes，\'saysthejedge，likehe\'scommentin\'tohimse\'f，\'he\'dshorelyrealizedthatsechremarksissimplysooicidal。\'\" AgaintheOldCattlemanrelapsedintosilenceandthesmokeoftheprincipe。 \"Howdidthetrialcomeout？\"Iqueried。\"Wastheaccusedfoundguilty？\" \"Whichthetrialitse\'f，\"hereplied，\"don\'tcomeout。Thar\'sapasseloftheboyswho\'scomeintotowntoseethatjesticeisdone，an\'bein\'theround-upisgoin\'for\'ardatthetime，theynacherallyfeelshurriedan\'pressedforleesure。Theyallsoughterbebackontherangewiththeircattle。Sothefifthday，whenthingsisloiterin\'alongatthetrialtillitlookslikethelawhashobbleson，an\'thewordgoesroundit\'sgoin\'tobeaweekyetbeforethejurygetsactiononthismiscreantwho\'sbein\'tried，theboysbecomesplumbaggravatedan\'weariedoutthata-way；an\'，kickin\'inthedoorofthecalaboose，theysearchesoutthefelon，swingshimtoacottonwoodnototherwiseengaged，an\'therightprevails。 Nacherallythetrialbogsdownrightthar。\" Afteranotherseasonofsilenceandsmoke，theOldCattlemanstruckinagain。 \"Speakn\'ofkillin\'s，whileI\'mthelastgenttogofosterin\'ideesofbloodshed，I\'msomediscouragedjestnowbywhatI\'vebeenreadin\'inthatpaperaboutadooelbetweensomeEytalians，an\'itshorelytriesmethewaythemaliensplayshoss。It\'sobviousasstarsonacl\'arnight，theynevermeansfightalittlebit。I abhorsdooels，an\'cowersfromthemereidee。But，afterall，businessisbusiness，an\'whenfolksfights\'emtheobjectsofthemeetin\'oughterbeblood。ButthewaytheseyereEuropeanshorthornsfixesit，agentshorelyrunsaheapmorereskofbecomin\'aangelabrupt，attendin\'ofaTexascake-walkinapurelysocialway。 \"DotheyeverfightdooelsintheWest？Why，yes——some。Mymem\'rycomesa-canterin\'uprightnowwiththedetailsofanencounterI oncebeholdsinWolfville。Tharain\'tnotimemuchthrowedawaywithadooelintheSouthwest。Thepeople\'smightyextemporaneous，an\' don\'tgobrowsin\'\'roundnonesendin\'challengesinwritin\'，an\' thatsortofflapdoodle。Whenagentnoticesthesignsa-gettin\' aboutrightforhimtogoonthewar-path，hepicksouthismeat，surgesup，an\'declar\'shimse\'f。Thevictim，whoismostlikelyamightyseriousan\'experiencedperson，don\'tcoppertheplaybymakin\'vainremarks，butbringshisgatlin\'intoplaysurprisin\'。 Nextit\'sbang!bang!bang!mixedupwithflashesan\'whitesmoke，an\'thedooelisovercomplete。Thegentwhostilladornsourmidsttakesadrinkonthehouse，whileSt。Peteronbarsthingsalotan\' arrangesgatean\'seatcheckswiththeotherintherealmsoflight。 That\'salltharistoit。Thetideoflifeag\'inflowsonwardtotheeternalsea，an\'naryripple。 \"Oh，thisyereWolfvilledooel!`Well，it\'sthisa-way。Thedayisblazin\'hot，an\'businesslayin\'pronean\'dead——jestblisteredtodeath。Apasselofusissorterpervadin\'\'roundthedance-hall，itbein\'thebiggestan\'cooleststoreincamp。Amontegameisstrugglin\'forbreathinafeeble，fitfulwayinthecorner，an\' someofusisa-watchin\'；an\'somea-settin\'\'roundloosea- thinkin\'；butallkeepin\'muman\'still，\'causeit\'ssohot。 \"Jestthensomegentonahossgoeswhoopin\'upthestreeta-yellin\' an\'a-whirlin\'theloopofhisrope，an\'allowin\'generallyhe\'shavin\'amightygoodtime。 \"\'Who\'sthisyeretoomultuousmanonthehoss？\'saysEnright，a- regardin\'ofhiminadispleasedwayfromthedoor。 \"\'Imeetshimupthestreetaminuteback，\'saysDanBoggs，\'an\'heallowshe\'scalled\"TheManfromRedDog。\"Hesayshe\'stookadayofftovisitus，an\'aimstolaywastethecampsomebeforehegoesback。\' \"AboutthentheRedDogmannotesoldSantaRosa，whokeepstheMexicanbailehall，an\'hisoldwoman，Marie，a-fussin\'witheachotherinfrontoftheNewYorkStore。They\'slockedhornsoveradrinkorsomethin\'，an\'ispow-wowin\'mightyonamiable。 \"\'WhateverdoesthisyereMexicanfam\'lymean，\'saystheRedDogman，a-surveyin\'of\'emplentyscornful，\'a-draggin\'oftheirdomesticbrawlsoutyeretooffendasufferin\'publicfor？Whyeverdon\'ttheystayintheirwickeyupan\'fight，an\'nottaketoputtin\' itallovertheAmericanracewhichain\'tintheplaynonean\'don\'tthirsttharfor？However，Iunitesan\'reeconcilesthisdividedhouseholdeasy。\' \"WiththistheRedDogmandropstheloopofhislariat\'roundthetwocontestantsan\'jumpshisbroncoupthestreetlikeit\'scomeoutenagun。OfcourseSantaRosaan\'Mariegoesalongontheirheadspermiscus。 \"Theygoescoastin\'alongontiltheygetspulledintoamesquite- bush，an\'theropeslipsoffenthesaddle，an\'thartheybe。We-allsgoesoverfromthedance-hall，extricatin\'of\'em，an\'finaltheyroundsupmightyhaplessan\'weak，an\'canonlywalk。Theyshorelyloseenoughhidetomakeapairofleggin\'s。 \"\'WhichIbrings\'emtogetherliketwins，\'saystheRedDogman，ridin\'backforhisrope。\'Iofferstwotoone，nolimit，theydon\'tfightnonewhateverforamonth。\' \"Which，asitshorelylookslikehe\'sright，noonetakeshim。SotheRedDogmanleaveshisbluffa-hangin\'an\'goesintothedance- hall，a-givin\'ofitoutcoldan\'clammyhemeditateslibatin\'。 \"\'Allpromenadetothebar，\'yellstheRedDogmanashegoesin。 \'I\'mawolf，an\'it\'smynighttohowl。Don\'t\'rouseme，barkeep，withthesightofmerelyonebottle；set\'emallup。I\'msomefastidiousaboutmyfire-wateran\'likesachancetoselect。\' \"Well，we-allstakesourinspiration，an\'theRedDogmantuckshisonderhisbeltan\'thenturnsroundtoEnright。 \"\'Itakesityou\'retheoldhe-coonofthisyereoutfit？\'saystheRedDogman，soopercillious-like。 \"\'Which，ifIain\'t，\'saysEnright，\'it\'splentysafeasaplaytoletyourwisdomflowthisa-waytillthehe-coongetsyere。\' \"\'Ifthar\'sanythin\'，\'saystheRedDogman，\'Iturnsfromsick，it\'svoylencean\'deevastation。ButIhearssechcomplaintsconstantofthisyerecampofWolfville，Itakesmyfirstidledaytorideoveran\'linethingsup。NowyereIbe，an\'whileIregretsit，I findsyou-allsisalawless，onregenerateset，aheapsightworsethanroomer。Inowtakesthenotion——forIseesnoothertrail——thatbynextdrinktimeIclimbsintothesaddle，throwsmyrope\'roundthisdenofsin，an\'removesitfromthemap。\' \"\'Nacherally，\'saysEnright，somesarcastic，\'inmakin\'themschemesyouain\'tlookin\'fornotroublewhateverwithabandoftarrapinslikeus。\' \"\'Nonewhatever，\'saystheRedDogman，mightyconfident。\'InthirtyminutesIdistributesthisyerehamlet\'roundinthelandscapesameasthemGreasers；whichfeatbecomin\'hist\'ry，IthencantersbacktoRedDog。\' \"\'Well，\'saysEnright，\'it\'splentyp\'litetoletusknowwhat\'scomin\'thisa-way。\' \"\'Oh!Iain\'ttellin\'younone，\'saystheRedDogman，\'Isimplyletsflythishint，soanyofyou-allsashasgotbric-a-brachevaluesspeshul，hetakeswarnin\'somean\'packsitoffallsafe。\' \"It\'saboutthenwhenCherokeeHall，who\'slookin\'on，shouldersinbetweenEnrightan\'theRedDogman，mightypositive。Cherokeeisaheapsotinhisidees，an\'Iseesrightoffhe\'stookanotionag\'intheRedDogman。 \"\'Asyou\'vegotalotofworkcutout，\'saysCherokee，eyein\'theRedDogmanmalignant，\'s\'posewetipsthecanteenag\'in。\' \"\'Ishorelygoesyou，\'saystheRedDogman。\'Idrinkswithfriend，an\'Idrinkswithfoe；withthepardofmybosoman\'theshudderin\' victimofmywrathallsim\'lar。\' \"Cherokeeturnsoutabigdrinkan\'standsa-holdin\'ofitinhishand。Iwantstosayrightyere，thisCherokee\'splentyguileful。 \"\'Youwasnamin\'，\'saysCherokee，\'somepublicimprovementsyouaimstomake；sechasmovin\'thisyerecamp\'roundsome，Ibelieves？\' \"\'That\'swhatever，\'saystheRedDogman，\'an\'theholycaustI \'nitiatesisduetostartinfifteenminutes。\' \"\'I\'vebeenfiggerin\'onyou，\'saysCherokee，\'an\'Igivesyoutheresultinstrictconfidencewithoutholdin\'outakyard。Whenyou- alltalksoftearin\'upWolfville，you\'realiaran\'ahoss-thief，an\'youain\'tgoin\'totearupnothin\'。\' \"\'What\'sthisIhears!\'yellsthefrenziedRedDogman，reachin\'forhisgun。 \"Buthenevergetsit，forthesamesecondCherokeespillstheglassofwhiskeystraightinhiseyes，an\'thenexthe\'sanguishedan\' blindasamole。 \"\'I\'llfoolthisyerehumansimoonupalot，\'saysCherokee，a- hurlin\'oftheRedDogmantothefloor，facedown，whilehisnine- inchbowieshinesinhishandlikethestingofawasp。\'Ishorefixeshimsohecan\'tgetajobclerkin\'inastore，\'an\'grabbin\' theRedDogman\'sha\'r，whichislongasthemaneofapony，heslashesitoffcloseinonemotion。 \"\'Thar\'safringeforyourleggin\'s，Nell，\'remarksCherokee，a- turnin\'ofthecropovertoFaroNell。\'Now，Doc，\'CherokeegoesontoDocPeets，\'takethisyereRedDogstrangerovertotheRedLight，fixhiseyesallright，an\'thentellhim，ifhethinksheneedsbloodinthis，totakehisWinchesteran\'gonorthinthemiddleofthestreet。IntwentyminutesbythewatchIstepsoutenthedance-halldoora-lookin\'forhim。P\'inthimtothedoorallfairan\'squar\'。Idon\'taimtoplaynothin\'lowonthisyeregent。 Hegetsachanceforhisante。\' \"DocPeetssorteraccoomilatestheRedDogman，whoiscussin\'an\' carryin\'onscand\'lous，an\'leadshimovertotheRedLight。InaminutewordcomestoCherokeeashiseyesisroundin\'upallproper，an\'thathe\'smakin\'war-medicinean\'isgrowin\'morehostileconstant，an\'toheelhimse\'f。AtthatCherokee，mightyca\'m，sendsoutforJackMoore\'sWinchester，whichisan\'eight-squar\'，\'latestmodel。 \"\'Oh，Cherokee!\'saysFaroNell，beginnin\'tocry，an\'curlin\'herarms\'roundhisneck。\'I\'m\'fraidhe\'sgoin\'todownyou。Ain\'ttharnowaytofixit？Can\'tDanyeresettlewiththisRedDogman？\' \"\'Cert，\'saysDanBoggs，\'an\'Imakesthetriptoogleeful。Jesttospar\'Nell\'sfeelin\'s，Cherokee，an\'nottointerferewithnogent\'slittlegame，Itakesyourhandan\'playsit。\' \"\'Notnone，\'saysCherokee；\'thisismydeal。Don\'tcry，Nellie，\'headds，smoothin\'downheryallerha\'r。\'Folksinmybusinesshastoholdthemse\'fsreadytofaceanygameontheword，an\'theyneverweakensorlaysdown。An\'anotherthing，littlegirl；IgetsthisRedDogsharp，shore。I\'minthemiddleofarunofluck；Iholdsfourstwicelastnight，withaflushan\'afullhandoutag\'in\'em。\' \"NellatlastletsgoofCherokee\'sneck，an\'，bein\'afemalean\' timidthata-way，allowsshe\'llgo，an\'won\'tstoptoseetheshootin\'none。Weapplaudstheidee，thinkin\'shemightshakeCherokeesomeifshestays；an\'ofcourseagentoutshootin\'forhislifeneedshisnerve。 \"Well，thetwentyminutesisup；theRedDogmangetshisrifleoffenhissaddlean\'goesdownthemiddleofthestreet。Turnin\'uphisbigsombrero，hesquar\'s\'round，cockshisgun，an\'waits。ThenEnrightgoesoutwithCherokeean\'standshiminthestreetaboutahundredyardsfromtheRedDogman。AfterCherokee\'splacedheholdsuphishandforattentionan\'says: \"\'WhenallisreadyIstandstoonesidean\'dropsmyhat。You-allsfiresatwill。\' \"Enrightgoesovertothesideofthestreet，counts\'one，\'\'two，\' \'three，\'an\'dropshishat。Bangety!Bang!Bang!goestheriflesliketherollofadrum。CherokeecanworkaWinchesterlikeoneoftheseyereYankee\'larm-clocks，an\'thatRedDoghold-updon\'tseemnonebehind。 \"AboutthefifthfiretheRedDogmansorterstepsfor\'ardan\'dropshisgun；an\'afterstandin\'onsteadyforasecond，hestartstocripplin\'downathisknees。Atlasthecomesaheadonhisfacelikealandslide。Thar\'stwobulletsplumbthroughhislungs，an\'whenwegetstohimtheredfrothiscomin\'outenhismouthsomeplenteous。 \"WepackshimbackintotheRedLightan\'layshimontoamonte- table。Bimebyhecomestoalittlean\'Peetsaskshimwhateverhethinkshewants。 \"\'Iwantsyou-allstotakeoffmymoccasinsan\'packmeintothestreet，\'saystheRedDogman。\'Iain\'tallowin\'formyoldmotherinMissourytobetoldashowIdiesinnogin-mill，whichsheshorely\'bominatesof\'em。An\'Idon\'tdiewithnobootson，neither。\' \"We-allspackshimbackintothestreetag\'in，an\'pullsawayathisboots。Aboutthetimewegets\'emoffhesagsbackconvulsive，an\' tharheisasdeadasSantaAnna。 \"\'Whatsortofagameisthis，anyhow？\'saysDanBoggs，who，whilewestandsthar，hasbeenpawin\'overtheRedDogman\'srifle。\'Lookslikethisvivaciousparty\'splumblocoed。Yere\'shishind-sightswedgedupforathousandyards，an\'he\'sbeena-shootin\'ofcartridgeswithahundredan\'twentygrainsofpowderinto\'em。 Betweenthesightsan\'thejumpofthepowder，he\'sshootin\'plumboverCherokeean\'aimin\'straightathim。\' \"\'Nellie，\'saysEnright，lookin\'remorsefulatthegirl，whocolorsupan\'beginstocryag\'in，\'didyoucold-deckthisyereRedDogsportthisa-way？\' \"\'I\'m\'fraid，\'sobsNell，\'hegetsCherokee；soIslidesoverwhenyou-allsiswaitin\'an\'fixeshisgunsome。\' \"\'WhichIshouldshorelyconcedeyoudid，\'saysEnright。\'ThewaythatRedDoggentmanip\'lateshisweeponshowsheknowshisgame； an\'exceptforyoua-settin\'thingsuponhim，I\'mpowerfulafraidhe\'dspoiledCherokeeawholelot。\' \"\'Well，gents，\'goesonEnright，afterthinkin\'awhile，\'Ireckonswe-allsmightaswelldrinkonit。Hist\'rynevershowsagameyet，an\'awomaninit，whichisonthesquar\'，an\'wemeeklyb\'arsourburdenswiththerest。\'\" CHAPTERIX。 CHEROKEEHALL。 \"An\'youcan\'tschedooletoomuchgoodabouthim，\"remarkedtheOldCattleman。Herehethrewawaytheremnantoftheprincipe，and，securinghispipe，beattheashesthere-outandcarefullyreloadedwithcutplug。Inevitablytheoldgentlemanmustsmoke。Histoneandairashemadetheremarkquotedwerethoseofamanwhoseconvictionstouchingtheonediscussedwerenottobeshaken。\"No，sir，\"hecontinued；\"whenIlooksback\'arddownthetrailoflife，ifthar\'sonegentwhoaforetimeholdsforthinWolfvilleonwhomI reflectswithsatisfaction，it\'sthisyereCherokeeHall。\" \"Tojudgefromhisconduct，\"Isaid，\"inthehardcaseoftheWilkinsgirl，aswellashisremarkassheleftonthestage，I shouldholdhimtobeapersonofsensibilitiesaswellasbenevolentimpulse。\" Itwasmypurposetocoaxtheoldgentlemantofurtherreminiscence。 \"Benev\'lent!\"retortedtheoldman。\"WhichIshouldshoreadmitit! WhathedoesforthisyereyoungWilkinsfemaleain\'tamarker。 Thar\'stheRedDogmanheletsout。Thar\'stheStingin\'Lizard\'snephy；hestakessaidyoothfrominfancy。\'Benev\'lent!\'saysyou。 ThispartyCherokeeisthatbenev\'lenthe\'dgiveawayapokerhand。 I\'vedonesetan\'seehimgiveawayhishandinajack-potfortwohundreddollarstosomegent\'crossthetablewho\'sorganizin\'togoag\'inhiman\'can\'taffordtolose。An\'youcanonderscoreit；awinnin\'pokerhand，an\'himholdin\'it，isthelastthingathoroughbredkyard-sharp\'llgiveaway。ButasIsays，IseesthisCherokeedoitwhentheopp\'sitionissettin\'inhardluckan\' couldn\'tstandtolose。 \"Howwouldhegivehishandaway？Throwitinthediskyardan\'notplayitnone；jestnacherallyletthegentwho\'sneedythata-wayrakeinthechipsonthelowhand。Cherokeemebbydoesitthisfashionso\'shedon\'twoundthefeelin\'softhisyerevictimofhisgen\'rosity。Thar\'sfolkswhoturnssens\'tivean\'ain\'touttotakealmsnone，who\'sfeelin\'shespar\'sthata-waybylosin\'to\'ematpokerwhattheydeclineswithscorndirect。\"\'Benev\'lent，\'isthewayyouputsit!Son，\'benev\'lent\'ain\'ttheword。ThissportCherokeeHallain\'tnothin\'shortofchar\'table。 \"Speakin\'wideflungan\'onrestrained，Cherokee，asImentionstoyoubefore，isthemodestest，decentestlonghornasevershakeshisantlersinArizona。Heissliman\'light，an\'aondoubtedkyard- sharpfromhismoccasinsup。An\'Ineverknowshimtohaveapesohedon\'tgamblefor。Nothin\'common，though；Iseeshimonenightwhenhesetsca\'mlyintosomefour-handedpoker，fivethousanddollarstablestake，an\'he\'ssanguinean\'hopefulaboutlandin\'onhisfeetasaCimmaronsheep。Ofcoursetimesisplentyflushinthemdays，an\'fivethousanddon\'tseemnosechmammothsum。Tradeiseageran\' valueshigh；aces-upfrequentcallin\'forfivehundreddollarsbeforethedraw。Stillweain\'tnoneofusmakin\'cigarettesofnosechrollasfivethousand。Thedaysain\'tquitesohalcyonasallthatneither。 \"ButwhatIlikesspeshulinCherokeeHallishisjedgement。He\'severytimeright。Heain\'ttalkin\'much，an\'heain\'tneedin\'adviceneither，more\'nasteerneedsasaddle-blanket。Butwhenheconcloodestodothings，youcangamblehe\'sgotitplentyright。 \"OnetimethisCherokeean\'TexasThompsoniscomin\'infromTucsononthestage。BesidesCherokeean\'Texas，alongcomesafemale，close-herdin\'oftwoyoung-ones；whichtheminfantsmighthavebeent\'rant\'lersan\'everyoneaheaphappier。Sorterasrange-bossofthewholeout。fitisaleangentinablackcoat。Well，theyhopsin，an\'Cherokeegives\'emthetwobackseatsonaccountofthefemalean\'theyearlin\'s。 \"\'MynameisJones，\'saysthegentintheblackcoat，whenhegetssettledbackan\'thestageisgoin\'，Ian\'I\'manexhortin\' evangelist。Iplucksbrandsfromtheburnin\'。\' \"\'I\'mpowerfulgladtoknowit，\'saysTexas，wholikestalk。\'Themgamesofchancewhichhasvogueinthisyereclimeissomevarious，an\'IdidthinkIshorelytests\'emall；butifeverthedeviceyounamesisopeninWolfvilleIoverlooksthesamecomplete。\' \"\'Pore，sinkin\'soul!\'saystheblack-coatgenttothefemale；\'he\'sa-flounderin\'inthemireofsin。Don\'tyouknow，\'hegoesontoTexas，\'myperishin\'friend，youarebein\'sweptdownwardintheriverofyourownsinfullifetillyoursoulwillbedrownedintheabyss？\" \"\'Well，no，\'saysTexas，\'Idon\'t。IallowsI\'mmakin\'amightydryfordofit。\' \"\'Lost!lost!lost!\'saystheblack-coatgent，a-leanin\'backlikehe\'splumbdejectedthata-wayan\'hopeless。\'Itisastiff-neckedgen\'rationan\'sorelyperversealot。\'