“Idon’tknowaboutpromotion，“hereplied。“Theboyshavebeenusedtoseein’meoneofthemselves。Whydon’tyoucomealongwithusfarasPlattsmouth？“Thusheshiftedthesubjectfromhimself，andcalledtomynoticethelocomotivesbackinguptohiscars，andremindedmethatfromPlattsmouthIhadthechoiceoftwotrainsreturning。Buthecouldnothideorbelittlethisconfidenceofhisemployerinhim。Itwasthecareofseveralthousandperishabledollarsandthecontrolofmen。Itwasacompliment。Thereweremoresteersthanmentoberesponsiblefor；butnoneofthesteershadbeensuddenlypickedfromtheherdandsetabovehisfellows。Moreover，Chicagofinishedupthesteers；butthenew-madedeputyforemanhadthentoleadhissixhighlyunoccupiedbrethrenawayfromtowns，andbackinpeacetotheranch，ordisappointtheJudge，whoneededtheirservices。
Thesethingssometimesgowronginalandwheretheysayyouareallbornequal；andthatquarterofanodinColonelCyrusJones’seatingpalaceheldmoreequalitythananywholenodyoucouldsee。ButtheVirginiandidnotseeit，therebeingatimeforallthings。
Wetrundleddowntheflopping，heavy-eddiedMissouritoPlattsmouth，andtheretheybackedusontoasiding，theChristianEndeavorbeingexpectedtopassthatway。Andwhiletheequalityabsorbedthemselvesinadeepbutharmlessgameofpokerbythesideoftherailwayline，theVirginianandIsatonthetopofacar，contemplatingthesandyshallowsofthePlatte。
“Ishouldthinkyou’dtakeahand，“saidI。
“Poker？Withthemkittens？“Oneflashoftheinnermanlightenedinhiseyesanddiedaway，andhefinishedwithhisgentledrawl，“WhenIplay，Iwantittobeinterestin’。“HetookoutSirWalter’sKenilworthoncemore，andturnedthevolumeoverandoverslowly，withoutopeningit。YoucannottellifinspirithewanderedonBearCreekwiththegirlwhosebookitwas。Thespiritwillgooneroad，andthethoughtanother，andthebodyitsownwaysometimes。“QueenElizabethwouldhaveplayedamightypow’fulgame，“washisnextremark。