OtherwisedustanddirtandageandlongusestampedthisGrassValleystoreanditsimmediateenvironment。
Jeanthrewhisbridle，and，gettingdown，mountedthelowporchandsteppedintothewideopendoor。Aface，grayagainstthebackgroundofgloominside，passedoutofsightjustasJeanentered。Heknewhehadbeenseen。Infrontofthelong，ratherlow—ceiledstorewerefourmen，allabsorbed，apparently，inagameofcheckers。Twowereplayingandtwowerelookingon。Oneofthese，agaunt—facedmanpastmiddleage，casuallylookedupasJeanentered。ButthemomentofthatcasualglanceaffordedJeantimeenoughtomeeteyesheinstinctivelydistrusted。
Theymaskedtheirpenetration。Theyseemedneithercuriousnorfriendly。
Theysawhimasifhehadbeenmerelythinair。
\"Goodevenin’，\"saidJean。