offtoohostiletotalk。Ittakestenminutestogetherbacktotheagencytohearme\'pologize，an\'eventhensheglaresan\'snortslikeshe\'sliabletostampedeag\'in。No；youdon\'twanttotryan\'
givethisgirlnomoney。Whatwe-allsneedsistohuntupsomethin\'
forhertoworkatan\'payher。\'
\"\'TheDoc\'sright，\'saysEnright，\'an\'thethingistofindsomethin\'forthisyereladytodo。Anygentwithanotiononthesubjectcan\'tspeaktooquick。\'
\"\'Nopartyneedtakemyremarksaspersonal，\'saysBurns，whorunstheRedLight，\'asnothin\'invidjousisintended；butIrisestosaythataheapofmybusinessisoncredit。Agentcomesinfreean\'
sociable，nameshissozodont，an\'getsit。Ifhepayscash，allright；ifhewantscredit，allright。\"Younamesyourdaytodrink，an\'younamesyourdaytopay，\"ismymotto，asyou-allsknows。Thisbein\'troo，onderpresentexigenceswhatforaschemewoulditbeformetogetanoutfitofbooks，——day-books，week-books，ledgers，an\'therestofthelayout，——an\'letthisyeremaidenkeep\'emawholelot？Ithrowsthisoutasasu\'gestion。\'
\"\'Iain\'tmeanin\'nothin\'ag\'instBurns\'ssu\'gestion，\'saysTexasThompson，\'butinmyopinionthiscampain\'tripeforkeepin\'booksasyet。Thingslikethathastobecometobydegrees。I\'veknowedaheapoftroublearisefromkeepin\'books，an\'aslongasthisyere\'sapeacefulcamplet\'skeepitthata-way。\'
\"\'Thatsettlesit，\'saysBurns，\'thar\'senoughsaid，an\'Idon\'tkeepnobooks。\'
\"\'You-allspresentknowsme，\'saysCherokeeHall，who，asIsaysprevious，isturnin\'farointheRedLight，\'an\'mostofyouhasmetmefrequentinabusinessway。Thar\'smygamegoin\'everynightreg\'lar。Thar\'snothin\'tin-hornaboutit。Itain\'tnoskingameneither。Anygentwithdoubtscanstepoveran\'testmybox，whichhe\'llfindallcomfortableonthelayoutawaitin\'hisconvenience。
Itain\'tbeenusualformetoblowmyownbazootoanyextent，an\'I
onlydoesitnowasbein\'preliminarytothestatementthatmygameain\'tnodeadfall，an\'isoneasarespectablean\'virchusfemalepersoncouldsetinonwithperfectsafetytoodtoherreputation。
Thisyereladyinquestionneedslight，reg\'laremployment，an\'I
letsitflythatifshewantsinonanysechdealI\'llgoherabluestackaweektoholddownthechairaslook-outformygame。\'
\"\'Cherokee\'sofferisallright，\'saysEnright；\'it\'sgoodtalkfromasquar\'man。Women，however，ispartic\'lar，an\'likehossestheyshiesatthingstharain\'tnodangerin。Youseeshowthatis；awomandon\'treasonnothin\'，shefeelsan\'mightylikelythisyoungpersonisloadedtothegyardswithsechnotionsag\'ingamblin\'aswouldsendherflyin\'atthebaremention。Thefactis，Ithinksofsomethin\'sim\'lar，buthastogiveitup。Ifiggers，firstdashouto\'thebox，thatasafe，easytrailtohighgroundistogiveheratablean\'letherdealalittlestudfortheboys。Thisyerewouldn\'tbenoresk，an\'therakeisashorethingfornineortendollarsanight。Bein\'abenev\'lence，Iknowstheboyswouldsetinmightyfree，an\'thetroublewouldbecorraledrightthar。WiththisyereinmymindItapshergentlyaboutourvariousgameswhenI
callsforherpaw；an\'toputitstraight，shetakesitreluctantan\'disgustedatthemerehint。Ofcoursewe-allshastostandthesethingsfromwoman，an\'wemightaswellp\'intupsomeotherwayan\'
notimelost。\'
\"\'Don\'tyou-allsreckonfortomakeaspeshulrakeonallpokergoin\'，sameasaboutthatYallerhousegent，mightbeanondefeasiblewaytogetattheneckofthisbusiness？\'saysDaveTutt。\'Imerelyasksitasaquestion。\'
\"\'Thatwouldn\'tdo，\'saysDocPeets，\'butanyhowyerecomesWilkinshow，an\'if，asEnrightsays，the\'reoutofchuckuphisway，I
reckonsI\'llloseasmallbettotheoldshorthornontilsechtimesaswedevisessomeschemeallreg\'lar。\'
\"\'Howdy，Wilkins？\'saysDoc，mightygayan\'genial，\'how\'sthingsstackin\'up？\'
\"\'Mightyornery，\'saysWilkins。
\"\'Feellikemakin\'alittlewagerthisA。M。？\'saysDoc。
\"\'Whatdoyou-allwanttogambleat？\'saysWilkins。
\"\'Oh，\'saysDoc，\'I\'mfeelin\'aheapcarelessaboutwhatIdogambleat。S\'poseIgoesyoutendollars\'sworthofgrubtheLordsburgbuckboarddon\'tshowupnoneto-day？\'
\"\'IfIhadtendollarsI\'daboutcallyoualotonthat，\'saysWilkins，\'butI\'maporecussan\'ain\'tgotnotendollars，an\'
what\'stheuse？Noneofyou-allsain\'tgotnoRedLightwhiskey-
chipsyouain\'tusin\'，beyou？S\'poseyou-allsgropesaboutinyourwar-bagsan\'sees。I\'mneedin\'ofadrinkmightybad。\'
\"OldWilkinslookssomequeerabouttheeyes，an\'more\'nusualshaky，sowegiveshimabigdrinkan\'hesorterbracesup。
\"\'I\'llbackWilkins\'sendofthatbetyouoffers，Doc，\'saysTutt，\'soconsideritmade，willyou？\'
\"\'Youwasofferin\'tobetgrub，\'saystheoldman，powerfulpeevishan\'fretful。\'Whatfordoyouwanttobetgrub？Whydon\'tyoubetmoney，soIgetswhatIwantswithit？It\'smymoneywhenIwins。
MebbyIdon\'twantnogrub。MebbyIwantsclothesorwhiskey。Youain\'tnosport，Doc，totieupaplaywithastringlikethat。Gimmeanotherdrinksomeone，I\'mmostdyin\'forsome。\'
\"Theoldman\'pearslikehe\'smightysickthata-way，sothar\'snothin\'foritbuttogivehimanotherhooker，whichwedoesaccordin\'。
\"\'I\'mfeelin\'likeIwasshothardbysomethin\'，\'hesays，\'an\'I
don\'tlikefortogohometillI\'mbetter，an\'scareSue。IreckonI\'llcampdownonthisyeremontetableforanhourtillIcomes\'round。\'
\"SoWilkinscurlsuponthetable，an\'noonenoticeshimforabouttwentyminutes，whenalongcomesrattlin\'uptheLordsburgmail。
\"\'Youwin，Wilkins，\'saysPeets；\'comeovertotheNewYorkStorean\'cutoutyourstuff。\'\"Theoldmanactslikehedon\'thear，soDocshakeshimupsome。Nouse，tharain\'tnogetupinhim。
\"\'Lookslikehe\'sgonetosleepforgood，\'saysDoc。
\"Thenhewalks\'roundhim，shakeshim，an\'takesalookathiseye，a-openin\'ofitwithhisfinger。Finallyhestandsback，stickshisthumbinhisbelt，an\'whistles。
\"\'What\'sup？\'saysCherokeeHall。\'Heain\'ttryin\'toworkusforanotherdrinkIhopes。\'
\"Well，thisisadeal，\'saysDoc，\'an\'nohumbugneither。Gents，I\'mblessedifthisyereoldprairie-dogain\'tshorelyupan\'died。\'
\"We-allscomesupan\'takesalookathim，an\'Dochascalledtheturn。Shoreenoughtheoldmanhascashedin。
\"`Thisisahossonus，an\'nodoubtaboutit，\'saysEnright。\'I
ain\'tworryin\'forWilkins，ashemostlikelyisaheadonthedeal；
butwhatgetsmeishowtobreakthenewstothisyeremaiden。It\'sgoin\'tobeahair-lineplay。Ireckons，Doc，it\'syouan\'me。\'
\"SotheygoesovertoWilkins\'swickeyupan\'callstheyoungSuegirlout，an\'Enrightbeginstellin\'hermightysoftashowherpawistookbaddowntotheRedLight。Butthegirlseemstogetitasrightasifshe\'sscoutedforitamonth。
\"\'He\'sdead!\'shesays；an\'thencripplesdownalongsideofthedooran\'beginstosob。
\"\'Tharain\'tnousedenyin\'it，Miss，\'saysEnright，\'yourpawstruckinonthebigtrailwherethehoof-printsallp\'intsoneway。
Butdon\'ttakeithard，Miss，tharain\'tagentdon\'tgiveyousympathy。Whatyoudonowisstayrightyere，an\'thecamp\'lltendtothefuneral，an\'putituprightan\'jestasyousays，youbein\'
mourner-in-chief。Youcantrustusfortheproperplay；sinceweburiesJackKing，obsequiesisourlongsuit。\'
\"ThelittleSuegirlstrugglesthroughsomehow，an\'hashernervewithher。Thefuneral，youbet，isright。Thistimeweropesinapreacherbelongin\'tosomedeep-wateroutfitoverinTucson。Hesomehowisstrayed，an\'happensalongourway，an\'wegetshimsquar\'inthedoor。Hejumpsinan\'givesthemceremoniesascientificwhirlasain\'tpossiblenohowtoamatures。All\'roundwewouldn\'thaveputonmoredogifwe\'dbeenplantin\'Enright；allofcourseonthelittleSuegirl\'saccount。Nextdaytheoutfitgoesovertofindoutwhateversheallowstodo。
\"\'Yousees，Miss；saysEnright，\'anythin\'yousays，goes。Notwaitin\'tolearnitsname，even，I\'mdirectedtostateashowthecampbacksyourplayan\'makesgood。\'
\"\'I\'mallowin\'togototheStates，\'saysthegirl，\'an\'I\'mobleegedtoyou。\'
\"\'Wewashopin\'，\'saysEnright，\'asyou\'dstayyere。We-allssorterfiggersyou\'dteachusaschool。Ofcoursetharain\'tnopapoosesyet，butasaforcedplaywearrangestoborrowasmallherdfromTombstone，an\'candoittooeasy。Then，ag\'in，anight-schoolwouldhitourneedsright；sayonenightaweek。Thar\'saheapofignoranceinthisyerecamp，an\'weneedsanight-schoolbad。Itwouldwinforfiftydollarsaweek，Miss；an\'youthinksofit。\'
\"No，theporegirlcouldn\'tthinkofitnohow。
\"\'Ofcourse，Miss，saysEnright，\'weallsain\'texpectin\'youtoopenthisyereacademythefirstkyardsoffthedeck。Youneedstimetolineupyouraffairs，an\'amlikewisewrungwithgrief。Youtakesyourleesureastothat；meanwhileofcourseyourstipendgoesonfromnow。\'
\"ButthelittleSuegirlcouldn\'tlisten。Herpawisdead，an\'nowshe\'sdueintheStates。Shesaysthingsisallrightthar。Shehasfriendsasherpawneverlikes；butwho\'sfriendsofhers，an\'
she\'llgotothem。
\"\'Well，Miss，\'saysEnright，mightyregretful，\'ifthat\'showitlays，Ireckonsyou\'llgo，sothar\'snothin\'forustodobutsettleupan\'forkoversomedustweowesyourpaw。Hebein\'nowdeceased，ofcourseyourepresents。\'
\"Thegirlcouldn\'tseehowanyoneowesherpaw，\'\'causehe\'sbeentoosicktowork，\'shesays。
\"\'Weoweshimallthesame，\'saysEnright，mightyferocious。\'Weonderstandswellenoughhowwecomestoowehim，don\'twe，Doc？\'
\"\'Youcanstackinyourlifewedo，\'saysDoc，plentypromptan\'
cheerful。\'We-allsowesforhisnailin\'themhoss-thiefswhentheytriestocleanoutthecorral。\'
\"\'That\'sit，\'saysEnright，\'forketchin\'ofsomerustlerswholaysforourstock。It\'sallright，Miss；youneedn\'tlooksodoubtful。
Youwouldn\'tifyouknowedthiscamp。It\'sthelastoutfitonearthaswouldgoan\'givemoneytopeople。It\'sagoodstraightcamp，Wolfvilleis；butbusinessisbusiness，an\'weain\'tpirootin\'
\'roundnone，givin\'nothin\'away，bewe，Doc？\'
\"\'Notmuch，\'saysDoc。\'It\'senoughforagenttopaydebts，withoutstampedin\'\'roundmakin\'presentsofthings。\'
\"\'That\'swhatever，\'saysEnright；\'soMiss，meanDoc\'llvamosovertotheRedLightan\'getthedust，an\'Ireckonswe\'llbebackinanhour。Is\'poseweowesMisterWilkinsabout\'fivehundreddollars，don\'twe，Doc？\'
\"\'Tain\'tsomuch，\'saysDoc，who\'sguilefulthata-way。AsheseesthelittleSuegirlarchin\'foranotherbuck，hepullsoutapaperan\'makesabluff。\'Yereitis，——fourhundredan\'ninety-threedollarsan\'seventy-fourcents。Iputsitdownallaccurate，\'causeIdon\'tallownosharptocome\'roundan\'beatmenone。\'
\"We-allsthrows\'roundan\'makesupthepottocometoDoc\'sfigger——
whichIwantstosayrightyere，DocPeetsistheablestgentI
eversees——an\'thelittleSuegirlhastotakeit。
\"Whichthismoneyletsheroutright，an\'shecriesan\'thanksus，an\'thenextdayshetakesthestageforTucson。We\'rethartosay\'good-by\'an\'wishthelittleSuegirlluck。
\"\'Adios，\'saysPeets，takin\'offhishattoher；\'itain\'tdownonthebillsnone，butifyou-allcouldmanagetokissthisyereoutfitonceapiece，Miss，itwouldberegarded。Youneedn\'tbeafraid。Someof\'emlooksalittleoff，butthey\'reallright，an\'b\'arhuggin\'
isbarred。\'
\"SothelittleSuegirlbeginswithEnrightan\'kissesusall，a-
sobbin\'meantimesomefree。Astheaffectionproceeds，Cherokeesortershovesbackan\'allowshe\'llpass。
\"\'Notanypass!\'saysEnright。\'AnygentwhothrowsoffonthattharlittleSuegirl，shewillin\'，needn\'tlookforanyluckbutlynchin\'。\'
\"\'Thatsettlesit，\'saysCherokee，\'Isalootsthisyerelady。\'
\"Soheupsan\'kissesthelittleSuegirllikeshe\'sahotflat-
iron，an\'backsintothecrowd。
\"\'Cherokeemakesmetired，\'saysPeets，who\'sridin\'herdontheplay。Whenitcomeshisturnhekissesherslowan\'rapturous，an\'
iscontemptuousofCherokee。
\"Whenshe\'sinthestagea-startin\'，Cherokeewalksup，allrespectful。
\"\'You\'vebeenawayfromtheStatessometime，Miss，\'hesays，\'an\'
it\'sanevenbreakyouwon\'tfindthingsthewayyouexpects。Now，youremember，shore；whatevergame\'sbein\'turnedbackthar，ifitgoesag\'inyou，raisethelongyellforasharpcalledCherokeeHall；an\'hisbank\'syourstogobehindyourplay。\'\"
CHAPTERIV。
THEWASHWOMAN\'SWAR。
Itwasevening。Thefirstdarkforeshadowingofthecomingnightclothedallinhalfobscurity。ButIknewtheway；Icouldhavetravelledthelittlepathatmidnight。Therehewas，theOldCattleman，underafavoritetree，thebettertoavoidtheheavydew。
Hesatmotionlessandseemedtobesoakinghimself，asonemightsay，inthebalmyweatherofthathour。
MywisdomhadorderedJim，myblackman，toattendmysteps。Thelaconic，half-sadsalutationofmyoldfriendatoncegaveBlackJimamission。Hewasdispatchedinquestofstimulants。AftercertainexactandalmostelaboratecommandstoBlackJim，andthatusefulAfrican\'sdeparture，Igentlyprobedmycompanionwithaquestion。
\"No，thar\'snothin\'thematterofme；sorterpensive，that\'sall，\"
wasmyreturn。
TheOldCattlemanappearedsilentandoutofsorts。FollowingthecomingofBlackJim，however，whobroughtalustytoddy，heyieldedtoabettermood。
\"ItsimplymeansI\'mgettin\'old；mysettin\'\'roundbalkythisa-
way。Thar\'ssomeseventywrinklesonmyhorns；nothin\'youngorrecentaboutthat。Whichnowitoftenhappenstome，likeitdoestooldfolksgeneral，thatjestwhenitbeginstogrownight，Igetsmoodyan\'bad。Lookslikemythoughtshasbeenoutonsomementalfeed-groundallday，an\'theycomesstringin\'inlikecattletogetbeddeddownforthenight。Nacheral，Is\'posetheysortermillsan\'
stands\'roundoneasylikeforawhilebeforetheyliesdownallcomfortable。Oldpeoplepartic\'largetsdissatisfied。Ifthey\'ssingle-footerslikemean\'ain\'tweddednone；campin\'\'roundattavernsan\'findin\'of\'emmockeries；theywishestheyhasawifeawholelot。Iftheybe，theywishshe\'dgovisitherfolks。Gettin\'
oldthata-wayan\'lonelymakesfolksfrequentmightycontrary。
\"No，asIimpartstoyouyeretofore，——mebbyit\'samonth，——Inevermarriesnothin\'。Ireckonstoo，I\'minloveoneround-upan\'anothermightynearadozentimes。ButsomehowIallerslosethetrailan\'
neverdoesrunupwithnoneof\'emonce。
\"DownintheBrazoscountrytharwasalittleblue-eyedgirl，——backfortyyearsitis，——an\'thewayIadoresherplumbtirespeople。I
reckonsIropesathermore\'nfiftytimes，butInevercouldfasten。
TharcomesatimewhenitlookspowerfullikeI\'mgoin\'torunmybrandontoher；butshelearnsthatBillJenksmarks150calvesthelastspringround-up，an\'meonlyforty，an\'thatsettlesit；shetakesJenks。
\"It\'sastonishin\'howlittleIdeemsofthisyeremaidenafterBillgetsher。Twomonthsbefore，I\'drodemyponytodeathtolookonceinhereyes。She\'slikesunshineinthewoodstome，an\'Idotesoneverywordsheutterslikeit\'saroastapple。ButaftershegetstobeBill\'swifeIcoolscomplete。
\"Notthatlovin\'Bill\'swife，withhisgeniusforshootin\'apistol，isgoin\'toproveapicnic，——an\'himsorterpeevishan\'hostilenacheral。Butlettin\'thatgointhediscard，Ishoredon\'tcarenothin\'abouthernohowwhenshe\'sBill\'s。
\"IrecallsthatpriortothemnuptialswithBillIgetsthatlocoedlovin\'thisgirlIgoesbulgin\'outtomakesomepoetryoverher。I
compilesonestanza；an\'I\'myeretoremarkit\'sharderworkthanaJunedayinabrandin\'pen。Ropin\'an\'flankin\'calvesan\'standin\'
offanoldcowwithonehandwhileyouironsupheroffspringwitht\'other，fromsun-uptilldark，issedentarycomparedtomakin\'
stanzas。WhatwastheonImakes？Well，youcanbetahossIain\'tforgotitnone。
\"\'Abeautifulwomanisshorelyamoon，Thenightsofyourlifetoilloomine；She\'sallthatisgraceful，guilefulan\'soon，Iswoman，lovelywoman。\'
\"I\'mplumbtangledupinmyropewhenIgetsthisfar，an\'Itakesalay-off。BeforeIgathersstrengthtotackleitag\'in，Jenksgetsher；sobein\'thar\'snolongernothin\'tharinInevermakesafinish。IallersalloweditwouldhavebeenapowerfulgoodpoemifI\'dstampededalongcl\'arthrough。
\"Yes，son；womenthata-wayisshorelyrangycattlean\'allersonthemove。Thar\'satimeoncewhentwoof\'emcomesmightynearsplittin\'Wolfvillewideopenan\'leavin\'itonbothsidesofthetrail。Allthateversavesthedayistheca\'mjedgementan\'
promptitoodofOldManEnright。
\"ThisishowWolfvillewalksintothispetticoatambush。Thecampisgettin\'alongallpeacefulan\'serenean\'man-fashion。Thar\'sthepost-officeforourletters；thar\'stheRedLightforourbug-juice；
thar\'stheO。K。Restaurawforourgrub；an\'thar\'sthestagean\'
ourponiestopullourfreightwithwhenWolfvillelifebeginstopullonusastoopastoral，an\'wethirstsforthemeetropolitangayetyofTucson。
\"AsIsaysweallshasallthatheartcanhungerfor；thatishungeronthesquar\'。
\"Amongotherthings，thar\'saChinkrunnin\'alaundryan\'a-doin\'ofourwashin\'。Thisyeretub-trundler\'snameisLung，which，however。
brandsnocattleyere。
\"It\'soneafternoonwhenDocPeetsgetsaletterfromabarkeepoverinTucsonsayin\':DearDoc:
Thar\'sanesteemableladydueinWolfvilleonto-morrer\'sstage。
She\'sp\'intin\'outtorunalaundry。Pleasebackherplay。Ifthar\'saChinamanintown，runhimout。
Andobleege，yours，Dick。
\"\'Whateverdoyouthink，Enright？\'saysDocPeetsafterreadin\'ustheletter。
\"\'That\'sallright，\'saysEnright，\'theChinkgoes。It\'sonbecomin\'
asaspectacleforaCaucasianwomanoffullbloodtobecontendin\'
forfoulshirtswithaslothfulMongol。Wolfvillepermitsnosechdebasin\'exhibitions，an\'Lungmustvamos。Jack，\'hesays，turnin\'
toJackMoore，\'takeyourgunan\'sa\'nteroveran\'stampedethisyereopium-slave。Tellhimifhe\'svisibletothenakedeyeinthesceneryyere-aboutsto-morrowwhenthisladyjumpsintocamp，he\'sshoreaskedthepriceofsoapthelasttimeheeverwillinthisvaleoftears。\'
\"\'What\'sthematteroflynchin\'thisyereChink？\'saysDanBoggs。
\'Thecamp\'sdeadlydull，an\'itwouldcheerupthingsawholelot，besidesbein\'complimentstothisyoungfemaleOldMonte\'sbringin\'
inonthestage。\'
\"\'Ohno，\'saysEnright，\'noneedofstringinhimnone。Onsecondthought，Jack，Idon\'treckonI\'drunhimoutneither。Itdignifieshimtoomuch。S\'poseyoucanteruptohistub-campan\'bringhimover，an\'we\'llrevealthisupheavalinhisshirt-burnin\'destiniesbywordofmouth。Ifhegrowsreluctantjestropehim\'roundtheneckwithhisqueue，an\'yankhim。Itimpresses\'eman\'shows\'emthey\'reupag\'inthelaw。Is\'pose，Peets，Ivoicesyoursentimentsinthis？\'
\"\'Shore，\'\"saysDocPeets——whichthisPeetsisthefinest-eddicatedmanIevermeets。\'ThisChinamanmustpullhisfreight。We-allsowesitnotonlytothisTucsonlady，buttothelovelysexsherepresents。Woman，woman，whathasshenotdoneforman!AsJohannaofArcshefreesthesensuousvine-cladhillsoffar-offSwitzerland。AsGraceDarlingshesmoothsthefever-heatedpillowoftheCrimea。Inreecompensesheasksonelittle，punyboon——tofirefromourmidstaheathenfromtheOrient。Gents，thar\'sbutoneanswer:Weplaysthereturngamewithwoman。ThisChinamanmustgo。\'
\"WhenJackcomesbackwithLung，whichhedoesprompt，Enrightstartsintodealthegame。
\"\'Itain\'tnouse，Lung，\'saysEnright，\'tryin\'toexplaintoyou-
allwhat\'sup。YourweakAsiaticintellectcouldn\'tgetthedropontoitno-how。You\'vebeenbroughttoashow-downag\'inawoman，an\'you\'reout-held。You\'vegottoquit；savey？Don\'tletusfindyouyereto-morrow。Bythird-drinktimewe\'llbea-scoutin\'foryouwithsomethin\'besidesanop\'ryglass，an\'ifyou\'renoticedaspartofthelandscapeyou\'regoin\'tohaveaheapofbadluck。I\'dadviseyoutop\'intforRedDog，butastothatyouplaysyourhandyourse\'f。\"
\"NextdaythatolddrunkardMontecomesswingin\'inwiththestage；
thesixhossesonthejump，sameasheallersdoeswithawomanalong。Overatthepost-office，wherehestops，aladygetsout，an\'
ofcoursewe-allsbowsp\'litean\'hopesshe\'swellan\'frisky。Sheallowssheis，an\'headsfortheO。K。House。
\"Itfloatsoverprettysoonthathername\'sAnnie，an\'asnoneofuswantstocallherjest\'Annie\'——thesamebein\'toofreeaplay——an\'
hearin\'shelivesayearortwoatBenson，weconcloodstocallherBensonAnnie，an\'letitgoatthat。
\"\'Thesamebein\'musicalan\'expressive，\'saysDocPeets，aswealllinesupag\'intheRedLightbar，\'Isu\'gestswebaptizethislady\"BensonAnnie，\"an\'yere\'stohersuccess。\'
\"Sowe-allsturnsupourglasses，an\'BensonAnnieitis。
\"ThenextdaythefetidLungisathingofthepast，an\'BensonAnniehasthegametoherse\'f。Twodayslatersheraisesthetarifftofiftycentsonshirts，insteadoftwenty-five，aspreviouswiththeChink。Butnoonerenigs。
\"\'Agent，\'saysDocPeets，\'asholdsthataCaucasianwomanisgoin\'
towashashirtforthemiserablestipendofaslaveoftheOrientmustbeplumblocoed。Wolfvillepaysfiftycentsforshirtsan\'isproudtharof。\'
\"Thingsgoesalongformightylikeamonth，an\'thenthisyereBensonAnnieallowsshe\'llhaveavisitor。
\"\'I\'mplumb，cleansick，\'shesays，\'ofseein\'nothin\'butalotofdrunken，good-for-nothin\'sotsa-pesterin\'\'round，an\'IdonereckonsI\'llhavemyfriendSalcomeoverfromTombstonean\'seemeawholelot。It\'llbesomerelaxation。\'
\"Mebbyit\'sfourdaysafterwhenthisyereSalhopsoutenthestage，an\'forthenextweektharain\'tnowashin\'donewhatever，whileBensonAnniean\'Salworksthewireaigeoffentheirvisit。
\"`Agentaswouldbegretchtwopore，hard-workin\'girlsalay-offofaweek，\'saysEnright，\'ain\'tcleanstrain，an\'Idon\'twanttoknowsechahoss-thiefnohow\'；an\'we-allsfeelslikewise。
\"Butslapontheheelsofallthisyeregregar\'ousnessonthepartofBensonAnniean\'Sal，thedealbeginstocomequeer。Attheendoftheweekthetwogirlshasarow，an\'intheturnSalgoestot\'otherendofcampan\'opensalaundry。Thatdoessettleit。BensonAnniegivesSalfits，an\'Salshorelysends\'emback。Thentheyquitsspeakin\'，anwhentheymeetsonthestreettheyconcoctssnootsateachother。ThisscaresEnright，buthedoeshislevelbestan\'triestokeeptheboysfromtakin\'sides。
\"\'Inaplaylikethisyere，\'hesays，\'thiscampdon\'ttakenokyards。ForthefirsttimeWolfvillepassesout，an\'offerstomakeitajack\'
\"Butasonedayan\'thenexttrailsby，theboyssortergetslineduponewayan\'t\'other；someforBensonAnniean\'someforSal，an\'
thingsisshorelygettin\'hot。Hamilton，overatthedance-hall，upsan\'nameshisplacethe\'SalSaloon，\'an\'BurnstakesdownthesignontheRedLightan\'callsitthe\'BensonAnnieHouse。\'Finallythingssorterculminates。
\"DanBoggs，who\'saopen，voylentAnnieman，comesa-prancin\'intotheRedLightonenight，an\'afterstampin\'an\'rappin\'hishorns\'roundawholelot，allowshisshirtiscleanerthanDaveTutt\'s。
\"Tuttsayshedon\'tcarenothin\'forhimse\'f，an\'nonewhateverfortheshirt；an\'whilehean\'Dan\'sallersbeenfriendsan\'crossedtheplainstogether，stillhedon\'tallowhe\'llstand\'roundmuchan\'seeaporeondefendedfemale，likeSal，maligned。SoTuttoutswithhisgunan\'getsBoggsinthelaig。
\"Thisyerebringsthingsdowntocases。Enrightisworriedsickatit。Buthe\'sbeenthinkin\'mightyarduousforquiteaspell，an\'
whenBoggsgetscreased，heseessomethin\'mustbedone，an\'beginstolinehimse\'fforaplayforout。
\"It\'sthenextdayafterBoggsgetsag\'inTutt，an\'DocPeetshaspluggedupthehole，whenEnrightroundsupthewholepasselofusintheRedLight。Helooksthatdignifiedan\'whatyou-allscallsimpressive，thatthebarkeep，yieldin\'tothegravityofthesituation，allowsthedrinksisonthehouse。We-allsgetsourfortydrops，an\'sorterstandspattharoninsilence，waitin\'forEnrighttoonfoldhisgame。Weshoreknowsifthar\'satrailhe\'llfindit。
\"\'IGents，\'hesaysatlast，——an\'itseemslikehe\'ssorryan\'hurtthata-way，——\'I\'llnotdriftintothemharrowin\'differenceswhichhasrentasunderwhatwasaforetimesthepeacefullestcampinArizona。Iwantsyou-alls，however，totakenoteofmyremarks，forwhatIsaysisshorelygoin\'togo。\'
\"YereEnrightpausestotakeasmalldrinkbyhimse\'f，whilewe-allstarriesabout，someoneasyan\'anxiousastowhatkyardsfallsnext。
AtlastEnrightp\'intsoutonthetrailofhisremarksag\'in。
\"\'Itiswithpainan\'mortification，\'hesays——an\'yerehefixeshiseyesomehardan\'delib\'rateonayoungtenderfootnamedFrench，who\'sbeenlostfromtheStatessomethin\'likesixmonths——\'itiswithpainan\'mortification，Isays，thatInotesforaweekpastouryoungfriendan\'townsman，WillyumFrench，payin\'markedan\'
ondiscreetattentionstoBensonAnnie，afemalepersonwhomweallrespects。Atalltimes，dayan\'night，whenhecouldescapehisdootiesasbook-keepforthestagecompany，hehaspitchedcampinhers\'ciety。Wolfvillehasbeenshocked，an\'apureladycompromised。Standin\'aswe-allsdoesinthelightofaparenttothisporeyoungfemale，wehavedeterminedthewrongmustbemaderight，an\'MisterFrenchmustmarrythegirl。IhavesubmittedtheseyereviewstoBensonAnnie，an\'sheconcurs。I\'vetookthetroubletobringagospel-sharpoverfromTucsontodothemarryin\'，an\'
I\'vesetthehappyeventforto-night，toconcloodwithablow-outinthedance-hallatmyexpense。Wewill，ofcourse，yerebyloseBensonAnnieinthemindustrialwalksshenowadorns，forIpausestogiveMisterFrenchap\'inter；thesentimentsofthiscampisag\'inamarriedfemaletakin\'inwashin\'。NottoplayittoolowdownonMisterFrench，who，whileperformin\'aprivatedooty，isalsoworkin\'forapublicgood，Iheadsasubscriptionwithfiftydollarsforapresentforthebride。I\'dsayinclosin\'thatifI
wasMisterFrenchIwouldn\'tcaretoobjecttothisunion。Theladyisgood-lookin\'，thesubscriptioniscash，an\'inthepresentheatedconditionofthepublicmind，an\'withtheheartofthecampsetonthisweddin\'，Iwouldn\'tberesponsibleifhedoes。Now，gents，who\'llfollowmyfiftydollarswithfiftymore？Barkeep，doyourdootywhilethesubscription-papergoes\'round。\'
\"Thebiddin\'ismightylively，an\'intenminutessevenhundreddollarsisraisedforadowry。ThenFrench，whohasbeensettin\'inasortofdaze，getsup:
\"\'MisterEnrightan\'gents，\'hesays，`thisyereisas\'prise-partytome，butitgoes。It\'sahossonme，butIstandsit。Iseeshowitis，an\'asaforcedplayImarriesBensonAnnieintheinterestsofpeace。Whichthesamebein\'settled，ifBensonAnnieisyere，whirlherupan\'I\'llcomeflutterin\'frommyperchlikeapanofmilkfromatopshelf，an\'putanendtothisonhealthfulexcitement。
\"We-allsapplaudsFrenchan\'isproudtonotehe\'sgame。
\"`An\'tobefreean\'openwithyou，French，\'saysTexasThompson，soastomakehimfeelhe\'saheadonthedeal；whichheshoreis，forthisyereBensonAnnieiscorn-fed，\'ifitain\'tforahigh-speritedladybackinLaredowhoreliesonme，I\'dbeplayin\'yourhandmyse\'f。\'
\"Well，noonedelaysthegame。EnrightbringsoverBensonAnnie，who\'sblushin\'some，butain\'tholdin\'back；an\'shean\'Frenchfrontsupforbusiness。Thisyerepreacher-sharpEnright\'sropedupisjestshufflin\'forthedeal，when，whateverdoyoureckontakesplace？I\'maMexicanifthisyereSaldon\'tcomewanderin\'in，a-
cryin\'an\'a-mournin\'powerful。SheallowswithsobsifherdearfriendAnnie\'sgoin\'togetmarriedshewantsinonthegameasbridesmaid。
\"\'Whichyou-allshorelygetsahandassech，\'saysDocPeets，who\'sactin\'lookoutforthedeal；an\'sohestakesoutSaloverbythenighsideofBensonAnnie，whokissesherquitefrantic，an\'unitesherwailstoSal\'s。Bothof\'emweepin\'thata-wayshorelymakestheoccasionmightysympathetican\'damp。ButPeetssaysit\'sthereg\'larcaper，an\'youcangamblePeetsknows。\"\'Thar，\'saysEnright，whenthelastkyard\'soutan\'theFrenchfam\'lyisreceivin\'congratulations，\'Ireckonsthatnow，withonlyonelaundry，Wolfvilleseesaseasonofpeace。It\'sallright，butI\'myeretoremarkthatthenextladyasdazzlesthiscampwithherdeebut，an\'onfurlsapurposetoplungeintowork，ain\'tgoin\'tokeepalaundrynone。Gents，thebridle\'splumboffthehoss。We\'llnowrepairtothedance-hall，ifsobemeetsyourtastes，an\'takethefirststepsinadebauchfromwhich，whenit\'sover，thisyerecampofWolfvilledatestime。\'\"
CHAPTERV。
ENRIGHT\'SPARD，JIMWILLIS。
\"Ifmymem\'ry\'sdealin\'asquar\'game，\"remarkedtheOldCattleman，ashemovedhischairabitmoreintotheshade，\"it\'ssome\'ersoverinthefoot-hillsof，theFloridaswhenEnrightvouchsafeswhyhehatesMexicans。\"
Themorningwasdrowsy。Conversationbetweenushadinasleepywayrangedawidefield。AshadgrowntobeourhabitweatlastsettledonWolfvilleanditsvolatileinhabitants。IaskedtobeenlightenedastothesageEnright，andwasinformedthat，asidefromhiscourageandloveofstrictjustice，theprominentcharacteristicofourWolfvilleLycurguswashiswrathagainstMexicans。
\"NotthatEnrightloathessomuchashedeplores\'em，\"continuedtheoldgentleman。\"However，Idon\'taimtobeheldassayin\'heindorsestheirexistencealittlebit；nonewhatever。
\"Enright\'stellin\'ofthistalearisesoutenatrivialincidentwhichaMexicanisthemarrowof。We\'reoutonthespringround-up，an\'combin\'thedrawsan\'dryARROYASoverbetweenthecowspringsan\'theFloridas，whenonenightaMexicanrunsoffapasselofourponies。Thehoss-hustlerisasleep，Ireckons，atthetimethisMexicanstacksin。Hesayshimse\'fhe\'slyin\'alongthebackofhisbroncogazin\'atthestarswhenthisrobberjumpsattheponiesan\'
flapsablanketorsomethin\'，an\'awaypatterseveryhoofintheband。
\"ThisyereMexicandon\'trunoffwithonlyaboutahandful；Itakesithecan\'troundupnomoreinthedark。Whenyou-allstampedesabunchofponiesthata-waytheydon\'tholdtogetherlikecattle，butplungesoffdiffusive。It\'severybroncoforhimse\'f，disdainfulofallelse，an\'whenit\'ssun-upyoufinds\'emspatteredalloverthescenean\'notregardin\'ofeachothermuch。
\"ButthisyereMexican，afterhestampedes\'em，huddleswhathecantogether——asIsaysmebbyit\'sadozen——an\'p\'intsoffintothehills。
\"Ofcourseitain\'tnotimeafterthesunshowsthetrackswhenEnright，JackMoore，an\'myse\'fisonthetrail。Tuttan\'DanBoggswantsinontheplay，butwecan\'tspar\'somanyfromtheround-up。
\"It\'soneofthestolenponiestipsthisGreaser\'shand。It\'sthesecondday，an\'we-allslosesthetrailformebbyit\'sfifteenminutes。We\'resmellin\'alongacanyontofinditag\'in，whenfromoverap\'intofrockswehearsabronconicker。HegetsthescentofanacquaintancewhichMoore\'sridin\'on，an\'says\'How!\'pony-
fashion。
\"Thar\'snoneedgoin\'intowearyin\'details。Followin\'thenickerwecomessurgin\'inonourprey，an\'it\'soverinaminute。Thar\'stwoMexicans，——ourcriminaltrackin\'upwithapardthatmornin\'。Butofcoursewe-allsknowshe\'stharlonghoursbackbythetracks，soitain\'tnos\'prise。
\"ThisyeresecondMexicanisdownedontherun-in。Heshowsaheapofinterestinourcomin\'，an\'takestoshootin\'usupmightyvividwithaWinchesteratthetime；an\'soEnright，who\'sclosein，jumpssomeleadintohiman\'stretcheshim。Hedon\'tmanagetodonoharm，nohow，more\'nhecreasesmyhossalittle。However，asthisyerehossisamazin\'low-sperited，an\'asbein\'burntthata-waywithabulletsorterlivenshimupaheap，Idon\'tcomplainnone。StillEnright\'sall-wiseenoughtocoppertheGreaser，fortharain\'tnosayin\'whatluckthefelonhaswiththatlittleoldgunofhisifhekeepsonshootin\'。Which，asIobserves，Enrightdownshim，an\'hispowder-burnin\'an\'hoss-rustlin\'stopsimmediate。
\"AsfortheotherMexican，whichhe\'sthepartywhojumpsourponiesinthefirstplace，hethrowsuphishandsan\'allowshecashesinhischipsforwhateverthebanksays。
\"We-allsropesoutourcaptive；sorterhog-tieshimhandan\'foot，wristan\'fetlock，an\'thengoesintocampallcomfortable，wherewerunsuponourgame。
\"JackMooredropstheloopofhislariatovertheoffmoccasinofthedeceasedMexican，an\'cantershisponydownthedrawwithhim，so\'sweain\'toffendednonebythevisionofhimspraddledoutthata-waydead。Thisyere\'sthoughtfulofJack，an\'showshe\'snacherallyrefinedan\'objectstoremainderslyin\'\'roundloose。
\"\'No，itain\'tsomuchI\'mrefined，\'saysJack，whenIcomplimentshimthatheexhibitshisbringin\'up，an\'himbein\'toomodestthata-waytoaccept；\'itain\'tthatI\'mrefinednone——whichmynacherisshorecoarse——Ijestsorterprotestsinmybosomag\'inhavin\'acorpseidlin\'\'roundthata-waywhereI\'mcamped。TharforeItakesmyropean\'snatchesdeceasedoffwhereheain\'tnoticeableonthescenery。\'
\"Jackdoesitthatgentlean\'considerate，too，thatwhenwepassestheMexicannextdayonourwayin，excepthe\'ssomeraveledan\'
frayedcoastin\'alongwhereit\'srocky，an\'whichcan\'tbehe\'pednone，he\'sasexcellentacorpseaswhenhecomesofftheshelf，warmastherifleEnrightthrowshimwith。
\"\'Whateverbewegoin\'todowiththisyerehoss-thiefpris\'nerofours？\'saysJackMooretoEnrightthenextday，whenwe\'resaddlin\'
upan\'organizin\'topullourfreight。\'He\'sshoreduetobotherusalot。We\'replumbsixtymilesfromTuttan\'theboys，an\'ridin\'
herdonthisyeresaddle-coloredgent，a-keepin\'ofhimfromlopin\'
off，ismightylikelytobeaheapexhaustin\'。Iknowsmen，\'Jackremarksattheclose，lookin\'wistfulatEnright，\'aswouldbeefhimrightyerean\'leavehimasacompanionpiecetothatcompadreofhisyoudowns。\'
\"\'Nachersaswouldexecuteapris\'nerincoldblood，\'saysEnright，\'isroodean\'oncivilized。WhichIdon\'tmeantheyislowneither；
butit\'sonconsideratethata-waytogoan\'ca\'mlykillapris\'ner，an\'noco\'tnorcommitteeauthorizin\'thesame。Ineverknowsofitbein\'donebutonce。It\'sMexicanswhodoesitthen；whichiswhytheyain\'tnonepop\'larwithmesince。\'
\"\'It\'sshorewhatyoucallsamightyinduratedplay，\'saysJack，shakin\'hishead，\'togoshootin\'somehe\'plessgentyou\'vetook；
but，asIstates，it\'sacinchit\'llbeaheapfatiguin\'keepin\'
casesonthisyereMexicantillwemeetsupwithaquorumofthecommittee。Stillit\'sourdooty，an\'ofcoursewedon\'tdouble-deal，norputbackkyardsonwhat\'sourplaindooty。\'
\"\'Whatyou-allstates，\'saysEnright，\'`istoyourcredit，butI\'lltellyou。Tharain\'tnoharmmountin\'thismarauderonaslowponythata-way；an\'bein\'humanes\'fficienttoleavehishandsan\'feetontied。Ofcourseifhetakesadvantageofourleniencyan\'goesstampedin\'offtomakehisescapesome\'ersalongthetrail，I
reckonsyou\'llshorelyhavetoshoot。Thar\'snopass-outthenbutdownhim，an\'wesadlytreadstharin。An\'，\'goesonEnright，somethoughtful，ifthisyereMexican，afterwe-allsisthatpatientan\'
liberalwithhim，abusesourconfidencesan\'escapes，weleavesitalone-handplaytoyou。Myeyesisgettin\'someoldan\'off，anyway；
an\'besides，ifwethreetakestobangin\'awaysimooltaneous，intheardorofcompetitionsomeofusmightshootthepony。Soifthisyerecaptiveruns——whichhelookstame，an\'Idon\'texpectnonehewill——weleavesthedetainin\'ofhim，Jack，toyouentire。\"
\"InspiteofEnright\'sfaithitshoreturnsoutthisMexicanisorneryenough，wherethetrailskirtstheriver，towheelsuddenan\'
goplungin\'across。ButJackgetshiminmidstream。Ashegoesoverthebronco\'sshoulder，hatfirst，heswingsonthebridlelongenoughwithhisdyin\'handtoturntheponysoitcomesoutag\'inonourside。
\"WhichI\'mgladhelivess\'fficienttoheadthathossourway，\'saysjack。\"Itsavessplashin\'acrossafterhiman\'wettin\'yourlegginsalot。\"
\"It\'sthatnightincampwhenjackbringsupwhatEnrightsaysaboutthetimetheMexicansdownsapris\'ner，an\'tharbyfixeshisviewsof\'em。
\"\'It\'salongtrailback，\'saysEnright，\'an\'Idon\'tlikethisyarnenoughtofindmyse\'frelatin\'ittoanyexcessivedegrees。Itdrawsthecinchsometightan\'painful，an\'Idon\'tteachmymindtodwellonitnomore\'nisnecessary。
\"\'ThisisallwhenI\'maboy；mebbyIain\'ttwentyyearsyet。It\'sdurin\'theMexicanwar。Igetsastackofwhitechipsan\'standsinonthedealinaboyishway。AllIsaveysofthewarisit\'sag\'intheMexicans，which，whileIain\'tgotnofeudwith\'empersonalatthetime，makesitplentysatisfactorytome。
\"\'It\'sdownofftwodaystothewestofChihuahua，an\'sevenofusisprojectin\'\'roundseein\'whatevercanwetiedownan\'brand，whensomeMexicansgetsusoutonalimb。Itain\'tasquar\'deal；stillI
reckonsit\'ssquar\'enough，too；onlybein\'whatyou-allscallsstrategic，it\'soffensivean\'sneakin\'asaplay。
\"\'Thisyerelieutenantwho\'sleadin\'us\'roundpermiscus，lookslikehe\'ssomeromanticaboutayoungMexicanfemale，who\'scalledthePrincessofCasaGrande。WhichtherepooteofthisyerePrincesswomanisbad，an\'Istrikesastoryseveraltimesofhowshe\'sthatincensedag\'inAmericanssheoncesawsoffathimblefuloflocoonacaptaininsomewhiskeyhe\'sallowin\'todrink，an\'hegoesplumbcrazyan\'dies。
\"\'Butlocoornoloco，thisyerePrincesspersonisshorethatgoodlookin\'apintoponydon\'tcomparetharwith；an\'whenshegetsherblackeyesonourlieutenant，thatsettlesit；weroundsupatherhaciendaan\'goesintocamp。
\"\'Besidesthelieutenantthar\'ssixofus。Oneof\'em\'sashorthornwhomatchesmeforage；whichhisname\'sWillis——JimWillis。\"\'NowI
ain\'touttomakenodescriptionsofthefriendshipwhichgoesonbetweenthisyereWillisan\'me。IseesashowonetimewhenI\'mpesterin\'\'roundbackinSt。Looey——an\'I\'myeretoremarkIdon\'tgothatfareastnomore——whichtakesonaboutacoupleofsportswho\'snamedDamonan\'Pythias。Themtwopeople\'sallright，an\'game。An\'theyshoredeemshighofoneanother。ButatthetimeIseesthisyereDamonan\'
Pythias，Isaystomyse\'f，an\'eversinceImakesonhesitatin\'
assertiontharof，thatthebrotherlyviewsthemtwogentsentertainsain\'tamarkertoJimWillisan\'me。\"\'ThisyereJimIknowssincewe\'reyearlin\'s。We-allsjumpsoutenthecorraltogetherbackinTennessee，an\'goesoffintothisMexicanwarliketwins。An\'bein\'
twoboysthata-wayamongabandofmen，Iallowstharain\'tnothin\'before，northen，norafter。whichIloveslikeJim。\"\'AsIobserves，Jiman\'me\'sintheoutfitwhenthisyerelieutenantcomestrackin\'\'roundthatPrincessofCasaGrande；whichherloveforhimisabluffan\'adeadfall；an\'thesamegetsallofusbeforewe\'rethrough。An\'itgetsmyJimWillisspeshul。\"Mebbyit\'sthethirdmornin\'afterwe-
allsmeandersintothisnestofMexicans，an\'thelieutenantgetslinedoutforthatPrincessofCasaGrande。Weain\'tbeenturnin\'
outearlynohow，tharbein\'nothin\'
toturnoutabout；butthisthirdmornin\'somebodyarousesusaheapvigorous，liketheyaimstotransactsomebusinesswithus。Whichtheyshorelydoes；it\'sanoutfitofGreaserguerillas，an\'we-allsain\'tnothin\'moreorlessthancaptives。\"\'Theorneryan\'
ongratefulpartisthatthePrincesssendsoneofherownpeoniesscoutin\'\'roundinthehillstobringinthisbandofcattle-eatersontous。\"\'WhenthelieutenanthearsoftheperfidyofthePrincessfemale，he\'sthatmortifiedhegetsapistolthefirstjumphemakesan\'blowsoffthetopofhishead；whichifheonlyblowsoffthetopofhersitwouldhavegoneaheapfurtherwiththerestofus。
Ifhe\'dconsultedanyofus，itwouldhaveshorelybeenadvised。Buthemakesanimpulsiveplaythata-way；an\'isthatsorean\'chagrinedhejestgrabsaguninafrenziedwayan\'casheshischipsabrupt。\"\'No，asIstates，\'saysEnright，musin\'tohimse\'f，\'ifthelieutenanthadonlydownedthatPrincesswhoplaysusinaspris\'nerssosmoothan\'easy，itwouldhavebeenregarded。Hecouldhavegonecaperin\'overthebrinkafterherwiththebridleoffthenextsecond，an\'we-allswouldstilltalkwellofhim。\"\'Asitis，however，thisriotousfemaledon\'tlasttwomonths。
Whichit\'salsoafactthattakin\'usthattimemusthavebeenaheapon。luckyforthemGreasers。Thar\'snineof\'em，an\'everylastmandiesinthenextfivemonths；an\'neveraone，noryetthePrincess，knowswhatthey\'reag\'instwhentheyquits；orwhatbreezeblowstheirlightout。Iknows，becausemean\'apartywhosenameisTate——
BillTate——neverleavesthemhillstillthelastofthatoutfit\'sgothisheapofrockspiledup，withitslittlepinecrossstickin\'
outenthepeaktharof，showin\'he\'sdonejumpedthisearthlygameforgood。\"\'ThisBillTatean\'mebreakscamponthemGreaserstogetherwhilethey\'retankin\'uponmescal，mebbyit\'stwodayslater；an\'theynevergetstheirlariatsonusnomore。\"\'\"Youain\'tgotnodates，norspeshulengagementswithnobodyintheStates，haveyou？\"saysTatetomewhenwe\'resafeoutenthemMexican\'shands。\"\'\"No，\"saysI，\"whatevermakesyouask？\"\'\"Oh，nothin\'，\"saysTatelookin\'attheskysorterblackan\'ugly，\"onlysinceyou-allhastheleesure，whatforaplaywoulditbetomakealongcampbackinthesehillsbysomewater-holesome\'ers，an\'standpatontilwedownstheseyereGreasers——squawsan\'all——
who\'shadustreed？Itoughterbedid；an\'ifwe-ailsdon\'tdoitnone，it\'saheaplikelyit\'sgoin\'tobeneglectedcomplete。It\'seasyasaplay；everyhoss-thiefof\'emlivesrightintheseyerevalleys，forIhears\'emtalk。Allwehastodoissa\'nterbackinthehills，makeacamp；an\'bybein\'slowan\'shore，an\'takin\'timean\'pains，webushwhacksan\'killsthelastone。\"\"\'ThewayIfeelsaboutWillismakestheprospectmightyallurin，\'an\'tharuponTatean\'meopensagamewiththemMexicansittakesfivemonthstodeal。\"\'Butit\'splumbdealtout，an\'wewin。WhenTatecrossestheRioGrandewiththearmygoin\'
back，heshorelyhastheskelpofeveryMexicanincloosiveofsaidPrincess。\"\'ButIwandersfromWillis。WherewasIatwhenIbogsdown？AsIsays，thislieutenantnabsapistolan\'goesflutterin\'fromhislimb。Butthisdon\'tdothemGreasers。TheyputsupaclaimthatsomeAmericanstracksupononeoftheiroutfitan\'killshimoff，theysays，fivedaysbefore。
Theyallowsthat，breakin\'evenonthedeal，oneofusisduetodie。Tateofferstolet\'emcountthelieutenant，buttheyshakestheirheadstillthelittlebellsontheirsombrerostinkles，an\'
declinesthelieutenantemphatic。\"\'Theyp\'intsoutthisyerelieutenantdiesinhisowngame，onhisowndeal。It\'snoracketoftheirs，an\'itdon\'tgotomatchthemanthey\'reshy。\"`Oneofussixwho\'slefthastodietocountevenforthisGreaserwho\'sbeencalledinthemfivedaysago。Tatecan\'tmove\'em；allhesaysisnouse；sohequits，an\'ashe\'sbeentalkin\'Spanish——whichthesameistoomuddyalanguagefortherestofus——Tateturnsinan\'tellsushowthethingsizesup。\"`\"Oneofusisshorelyelectedtotrailoutafterthelieutenant，\"saysTate。\"Theresttheyholdsaspris\'ners。Eitherwayit\'sahard，deepcrossin\'，an\'one\'saboutasroughatossastheother。\"\"\'ThislastTatestacksintomebbywinoutalittlecomfortfortheonetheMexicanscutsoutenourbunchtokill。\"`Afterabriefpow-wowtheGreaserwho\'sactin\'range-bossfortheoutfitputssixbeansinabuckskinbag。Fiveiswhitean\'one\'sblack。ThemGreasersisonthegamblebigger\'nwolves，an\'theycrowdsupplentygleefultoseeustakeagambler\'schanceforourlives。Theoneofuswhodrawsablackbeanistop\'intoutafterthelieutenant。\"`Sayin\'somethin\'
inSpanishwhichmostlikelymeans\"Agebeforebeauty，\"theMexicansmakesWillisan\'mestandbackwhilethefourotherssearchesoneaftertheotherintothebagforhisbean。\"`Tategoesfirstan\'winsawhitebean。
\"`Thenashiftless，no-accountpartywhomwe-allscalls\"ChickenBill\"reachesin。Ishorelyhopes，seein\'it\'sboundtobesomebody，thatthisChickenBillacquirestheblackbean。Butluck\'sag\'inus；
ChickenBillbacksoffwithawhitebean。\"`WhenthethirdgentturnsoutawhitebeantheshadowbeginstofallacrossJimWillisan\'me。IlooksatJim；an\'IgivesittoyoustraightwhenIsaysthatIain\'tatthattimethinkin\'ofmyse\'fsomuchasaboutJim。
Toseethisyeredeal，blackasmidnight，closin\'inonJim，iswhat\'shurtin\'；itdon\'tsomehowoccurtomeI\'mlikewiseupag\'intheironmyse\'f。\"`\"Lookslikethisyereamiabledeeviceisouttorunitsbrandontooneofus，\"saysJimtome；an\'Ilooksathim。
\"`An\'then，asthefourthfindsawhitebeaninthebag，an\'drawsadeepsighan\'standsback，Jimsays:\"Well，Sam，it\'suptous。\"
ThenJimlooksatmekeenan\'steadyawholelot，an\'theMexicans，bein\'ratherpleasedwiththesituation，ain\'tgoadin\'ofustohurryupnone。
\"`Whenit\'stoJiman\'metheyselectsmeoutastheonetopullforthenextbean。Jim\'sstilllookin\'atmehard，an\'Iseesthewaterinhiseye。\'
\"`\"Letmehaveyourdraw，Sam，\"hesays。
\"`\"Shore，\"Ireplies，standin\'astepofffromthebag。\"It\'syourstooquick。\"
\"`ButtheMexicansdon\'tseeitthata-way。It\'smyturnan\'mydraw，an\'Jimhastotakewhat\'sleft。SotheMexicanstellsTatetosendmeaftermybeanag\'in。
\"`\"Holdonasecond，Sam，\"saysJim，an\'bythistimehe\'ssteadyasachurch。\"Sam，\"hegoeson，\"thar\'snouseyou——allgettin\'theshortendofthis。Thar\'sreasonsforyoulivin\'，whichmycaseisvoidtharof。Nowletmeaskyou:beyouuponbeans？Canyoutellablackfromawhitebeanbythefeel？\"
\"`\"No，\"Isays，\"beansisallaheapthesametome。\"
\"\'\"That\'swhatIallows，\"goesonthisJim。\"Nowyere\'swheremysooperiorknowledgegetsin。IftheseMexicanshadletmedrawforyouI\'dfixedit，butitlooksliketheyhasscrooples。Butlisten，an\'youbeatsthedealasitis。Thar\'sadifferenceinbeanssameasinponies。Blackbeansisroughlikeacactuscomparedtowhitebeans，whichsaidlastvegetableisshorelyassmoothasglass。Nowyere\'swhatyou——alldoes；jestgrp[ean\'scout\'roundinthatbaguntilyoupicksoutthesmoothbean。That\'syourbean；that\'sthewhitebean。Cinchthesmoothbeanan\'theblackonecomestome。\"
\"WhenJimsaysallthisitseemslikeI\'minadazean\'sorterwoozy。Ineverdoubtshimforamoment。OfcourseIdon\'ttakenoadvantageofwhathesays。Irecallstheadvicemyoldmothergivesme；it\'slongenoughagonow。Theoldladysays:\"Samyool，neverletmehearofyouweakenin\'。Beaman，oramouse，oralong-tailrat。\"
SowhenJimlaysitoffaboutthemtwobeansbein\'smoothan\'roughthata-way，an\'thewhitebein\'thesmoothbean，Inacherallysearchesouttheroughbean，allowin\'she\'llshorebeblack；whichshowsmyintellectscan\'tcopewithJim\'snone。
\"`ThebeanIbringstothesurfaceiswhite。I\'mpaleasaghost。Myheartwiltslikewaterinsideofme，an\'Ifeelswhiteasthebeanwhereitlaysinmyhand。OfcourseI\'msomeyoungthemdays，an\'itdon\'tneedsomuchtostaggerme。\"`Irecollectslikeitwasinavisionhearin\'Jimlaugh。\"Sam，\"hesays，\"Ireadsyoulikesomuchsunshine。An\'Ishorelyfoolsyouupalot。Don\'tyoureckonI
allowsyou\'lldoubleonthetrail，p\'intin\'southifIsays\'north\'
atashowlikethis？Thewhitebeanisallersarough，sandybean；
allerswasan\'allerswillbe；an\'neverletnoonefoolyouthata-
wayag\'in。An\'now，Sam，ADIOS。\"
\"\'I\'mstandin\'lookin\'atthewhitebean。IfeelsJimgripmyotherhandasliesays\"ADIOS，\"an\'thenextisthe\"bang!\"oftheMexicans\'sguns。Jim\'sdeadthen；he\'soutinasecond；neverbatsaneyenorwagsay\'ear。
\"\'Whichnow，\'saysEnrightattheend，asheyankshissaddle\'roundsohemakesaplaceforhishead，\'whichnowthatyou-allsisfullyinformedwhyIappearsaversetoGreasers，IreckonsI\'llslumbersome。Ineverdoesseeone，Idon\'tthinkofthatboy，JimWillis；
an\'IneverthinksofJimbutIwantstomurderaMexican。\'
\"Enrightdon\'tsaynomore；sorterrollsupinhisblankets，dropshisheadonhissaddle，an\'laysalongtimequiet，likehe\'sasleep。JackMoorean\'meain\'tsayin\'nothin\'；merelysettin\'tharpeerin\'intothefirean\'listenin\'tothecoyotes。AtlastEnrightliftshisheadoffthesaddle。
\"\'Mebbyit\'stwentyyearsagowhenapartyoverontheRioGrandeallowsashowJim\'saimin\'tocold-deckmewhenheonfoldsaboutthehabitsofthembeans。Ittakessevenmonths，aironconstitootion，an\'threemedicine-sharps——an\'eachasgoodasDocPeets，——beforethatRioGrandepartyisregardedasoutendanger。\'\"
CHAPTERVI。
TUCSONJENNIESHEART。
\"\'Whyeverain\'tImarried？\'saysyou。\"TheOldCattlemanrepeatedthequestionaftermeashesettledhimselfforoneofourmany\"pow-wows，\"ashedescribedthem。\"Lookslikeyou\'vedealtmethatconundrumbefore。Whyain\'tIwedded？Theanswertothat，son，isalongshotan\'alimbintheway。
\"NowIreckonsthereasonwhyI\'mallerswifelessawholelotismainlyduetothewidepop\'larityofthemfemalesItakesafter。
Someothergentsortergetsherfirsteachtime，an\'nacherallythatbarsme。BillJenks\'swifeonthatoccasionisaspec\'mencase。
That\'soneofthedisapp\'intmentsIonfoldstoyou。Nowthar\'samaidenInotonlywants，butneeds；jestthesame，Billgetsher。