Heturnedthetokeninhishand，caressingitasonthatfirstnightwhenJessaminehadtakenhisheartcaptive。
“Myidea，“headded，unabletolifthiseyesfromthetreasure。“Seethis，too。“
Ilooked，andtherewastheword“Neighbor“engravedonit。
“Heridea，“saidhe。
“Agoodone!“Imurmured。
“It’sonboth，yu’know。Wehaditputonthedayshesettledtoacceptthesuperintendent’sproposition。“HereLinfiredhissmallexchangedweaponatacotton-wood，strikinglow。“Shecanbeatthatwithmine!“heexclaimed，proudandtender。“ShetookfourdaysdecidingatEdgeford，andIlearnedhertohittheaceofclubs。“Heshowedmethecardstheyhadpracticeduponduringthosefourdaysofindecision；hehadtheminabookasiftheywerepressedflowers。“Theywon’tgetcrumpledthatway，“
saidhe；andhefurthershowedmeatintype。“She’sgottheotheratSepar，“hefinished。
Ishookhishandwithallmymight。Yes，hewasworthyofher!Yes，hedeservedthissmoothcoursehislovewasrunning!AndIshookhishandagain。TotonichergriefJessaminehadlongedforsomeactivity，somework，andhehadshownherWyomingmightholdthisforheraswellasKentucky。“Buthowintheworld，“Iaskedhim，“didyoupersuadehertostopoveratEdgefordatall？“
“Yu’mustn’tforget，“saidtheloverandheblushed，“thatIhadherfourhoursaloneonthetrain。“
Buthisfacethateveningroundthefire，whentheytalkedoftheirnextday’swelcometothenewagent，becamecomedyofthehighest，andhewassodesperatelycannyinthemomentshechoseforsilenceorforcomment!
Hehadnotbeensureoftheirignoranceuntilhearrived，anditwasajokewithhimtoodeepforlaughter。HehadaspecialeyeupontheVirginian，hismateinsuchataleofmischiefs，andnowheledhimon。
HesuggestedtotheSouthernerthatcautionmightbewise；thischangeatSeparwasperhapssomenewtrickofthecompany’s。
“Wemostlytaketheirtricks，“observedtheVirginian。
“Yes，“saidLin，noddingsagelyatthefire，“that’sso，too。“
Yetnothe，notanyone，couldhaveforeseenthemortifyingharmlessnessoftheoutcome。TheysweptdownuponSeparlikeallthehordesoflegend——
moreegregiously，perhaps，becausetheywereplay-actingandnoserioushordewouldgoonso。OurfinalhundredyardsofspeedandcopioushowlingbroughtalldwellersinSeparouttogazeanddisappearlikerabbits——allsavethenewagentinthestation。Nobodyranoutorinthere，andthehordewhirleduptothetiny，defencelessbuildingandleapedtoearth——exceptLinandme；wesatwatching。Theinnocentdoorstoodopenwidetoanycoolbreezeorinvasion，andHoneyWiggintrampedinforemost，hatloweringovereyesandpistolprominent。Hestoppedrooted，staring，andhismouthcameopenslowly；hishandwentfeelingupforhishat，andcamedownwithitbydegreesasbydegreeshisgrinspread。Theninamilkyvoice，hesaid：“Why，excuseme，ma’am!
Good-morning。“
Thereansweredaclear，long，rippling，amplelaugh。Itcameoutoftheopendoorintotheheat；itmadethesun-bakedairmerry；itseemedtowelcomeandmock；itgeniallyhoveredaboutusinthedustyquietofSepar；fortherewasnoothersoundanywhereatallintheplace，andthegreatplainstretchedawaysilentallroundit。Thebulgingwater-tankshoneoverheadinbland，ironicsafety。
Thehordestoodblank；thenitshifteditslegs，lookedsidewaysatitself，andinahesitatingclumpreachedthedoor，shambledin，andremoveditsfoolishhat。
“Good-morning，gentlemen，“saidJessamineBuckner，seatedbehindherrailing；andvariousvoicesendeavoredtoreplyconventionally。
“Ifyouhaveanyletters，ma’am，“saidtheVirginian，moreinventive，“I’lltakethem。LettersforJudgeHenry’s。“Heknewthejudge’sofficewasseventymilesfromhere。
“AnyfortheC。Y。？“mutteredanother，likewiseknowingbetter。
Itwasahappy，ifsimple，thought，andmostoftheminquiredforthemail。Jessaminesoughtcarefully，makingthemrepeattheirnames，whichsomedidguiltily：theyforesawhowsoontheladywouldfindoutnolettersevercameforthesenames!
Therewasnoletterforanyonepresent。
“I’msorry，truly，“saidJessaminebehindtherailing。“Foryouseemedrealanxioustogetnews。Betterlucknexttime!AndifImakemistakes，pleaseeverybodysetmestraight，forofcourseIdon’tunderstandthingsyet。“
“Yes，m’m。“
“Good-day，m’m。“
“Thankyu’，m’m。’
Theygotthemselvesoutofthestationandintotheirsaddles。
“No，shedon’tunderstandthingsyet，“soliloquizedtheVirginian。“Ohdear，no。“Heturnedhisslow，darkeyesuponus。“YouLinMcLean，“saidhe，inhisgentlevoice，“youhavecert’nlyfooledmeplumbthroughthismawnin’。“
Thenthehorderodeoutoftown，chastenedandorderlytillitwasquitesmallacrossthesagebrush，whenreactionseizedit。Itspedsuddenlyandvanishedindustwithfar，hilariouscriesandherewereLinandI，andheretoweredthewater-tank，shiningandshining。
ThusdidSepar’svigilantetakepossessionandvindicateLin’sknowledgeofhiskind。ItwasnotthreedaysuntiltheVirginian，thatlynxobserver，fixedhisgraveeyesuponMcLean“’Neighbor’isascuteanameforasix-shooteraseverIheard，“saidhe。“Butshe’llneverhaveneedofyourguninSepar——onlytoshootuppeacefulplayin’-cyardswhileshehearkenstoyourcourtin’。“
Thatwashiswayofcongratulationtoabrotherlover。“Plumbstrange，“
hesaidtomeonemorningafteranhourofridinginsilence，“howamanwillwintwowomenwhileanothermangetsagedwaitin’forone。“
“Yourhairseemsblackasever，“saidI。
“Myhopesain’tsoglossyanymore，“heanswered。“Linhasdonebetterthissecondtrip。“
“Mrs。Luskdon’tcount，“saidI。
“Ireckonshecountedmightyplentifulwhenhethoughthe’dgotherclampedtohimbylawfulmarriage。ButLin’slucky。“AndtheVirginianfellsilentagain。
LuckyLinbestirredhimoverhiswork，hisplans，hisranchonBoxElderthatwasonedaytobeahomeforhislady。Hecameandwent，seeinghisideatriumphandhisgirlrespected。Notonlywassheagirl，butagoodshottoo。Andasifsheandhersmall，neathomewereasortofpossession，thecow-puncherswouldboastofhertostrangers。Theywouldhavedealtheavilynowwiththewretchwhoshouldtriflewiththewater-tank。Whencampcamewithinvisitingdistance，youwouldseeoneoranothershavingandpartinghishair。Theywroteunnecessaryletters，andbroughtthemtomailasexcusesforanafternooncall。HoneyWiggin，moreoriginal，wouldlookinthedoorwithhisgrin，andholdupanaceofclubs。“Ithoughtmaybeyu’couldspareaminuteforashootin’-match，“
hewouldinsinuate；andSeparnowheardnomoreobjectionableshootingthanthis。Texasbroughtherpresentsofgame——antelope，sage-chickens——
but，shynessintervening，heleftthemoutsidethedoor，andentering，dressedinallthe“Sunday“thathehad，wouldsitdumblyinthelady’spresence。Irememberhisemergingfromoneoftheseplacidinterviewsstraightintothehandsofhistormentors。
“Ifshedon’tnoticeyourclothes，Texas，“saidtheVirginian，“justmentionthemtoher。“
“Nowyer’vedoneoffendedher，“shrilledManassasDonohoe。“Sheheardthat。“
“She’llhearyousingin’sooprano，“saidHoneyWiggin。“It’sgoodthiscountryhasreformed，orthey’dhaveyouwarblin’insomedance-hallandcorruptyourmorals。“
“Yousca’celycancorruptthemoralsofasopranoman，“observedtheVirginian。“GoandplaywithBillytillyoucantalkbass。“
ButitwastheboldestadultsthatBillychoseforplaymates。Texashefoundimmature。Moreover，whennexthecame，hedesiredplaywithnoone。
Summerwasdone。September’sfullmoonwasseveralnightsago；hehadgoneonhishuntwithLin，andnowspelling-bookswereathand。Butmorethanthiscloudedhismind，hehadbeenbroughttosaygood-byetoJessamineBuckner，whohadscarcelyseenhim，andtogiveherawolverene-skin，ahuntingtrophy。“Shecanhaveit，“hetoldme。“Ilikeher。“Thenhestolealookathisguardian。“Iftheygetmarriedandsendmebacktomother，“saidhe，“I’llrunawaysure。“Soschoolandthisolddreadhauntedthechild，whilefortheman，Linthelucky，whosuspectednothingofit，timewaseverbringinglovenearertohishearth。HisJessaminehadvisitedBoxElder，andevensaidshewantedchickensthere；
sincewhenMr。McLeanmightoccasionallyhavebeenseenathiscabin，worryingoverbarn-yardfowls，feedingandcursingthemwithequalcare。
Springwouldseehimmarried，hetoldme。
“Thistimeright!“heexclaimed。“AndIwanthertoknowBillysomemorebeforehegoestoBearCreek。“
“Ah，BearCreek!“saidBilly，acidly。“Whycan’tIstayhome？“
“Homesoundskindo’slick，“saidLintome。“Don’tit，now？’Home’iscloserthan’neighbor，’youbet!Billy，putthehorsesinthecorral，andaskMissBucknerifwecancomeandseeheraftersupper。Ifyou’regood，maybeshe’lltakeyu’forarideto-morrow。And，kid，askheraboutLaramie。“
AgainsuspicionquiveredoverBilly’sface，andhedraggedhishorsesangrilytothecorral。
Linnudgedme，laughing。“IcanrilehimeverytimeaboutLaramie，“saidhe，affectionately。“Iwouldn’thavebelievedthekidsetsomuchstorebyme。NorIdidn’tneedtoaskJessaminetolovehimformysake。Whatdoyu’suppose？BeforeI’dgotfarasthinkingofBillyatall——rightafterEdgeford，whenmyheadwasjustawhirlofjoy——Jessaminesaystomeoneday，’Readthat。’ItwasGovernorBarkerwritin’toheraboutherbrotherandhersorrow。“Linpaused。“Andaboutme。Ican’tnevertellyou——buthesaidaheapIdidn’tdeserve。AndhetoldheraboutmepickingupBillyinDenverstreetsthattime，anddoingforhimbecausehisownhomewasnotagoodone。GovernorBarkerwroteJessamineallthat；andshesaid，’Whydidyounevertellme？’AndIsaiditwasn’tanythingtotell。Andshejustsaidtome，’ItshallbeasifhewasyoursonandIwashismother。’Andthat’sthefirstregularkisssheevergavemeIdidn’thavetotakemyself。Godblessher!Godblessher!“
Asweateoursupper，youngBillyburstoutofbroodingsilence：“I
didn’taskheraboutLaramie。Sothere!“
“Well，well，kid，“saidthecow-puncher，pattinghishead，“yu’needn’tto，Iguess。“
ButBilly’seyeremainedsullenandjealous。Hepaidslightattentiontothepicture-bookofsoldiersandwarthatJessaminegavehimwhenwewentovertothestation。Shehadherownbooks，someflowersinpots，arocking-chair，andacoseylampthatshoneonherbrightfaceanddarkdress。Wedrewstoolsfromtheofficedesks，andBillyperchedsilentlyonone。
“Scantyroomforcompany!“Jessaminesaid。“Butwemustmakeoutthisway——tillwehaveanotherway。“ShesmiledonLin，andBilly’sfacedarkened。“Doyouknow，“shepursuedtome，“withallthosechickensMr。
McLeantellsmeabout，neveraonehashethoughttobringhere。“
“Livin’ordeaddoyouwant’em？“inquiredLin。
“Oh，I’llnotbotheryou。Mr。Donohoesayshewill——“
“Texas？Chickens？Him？Thenhe’llhavetosteal’em!“Andwealllaughedtogether。
“Youwon’tmakemegobacktoLaramie，willyou？“spokeBilly，suddenly，fromhisstool。
“I’dliketoseeanybodytrytomakeyou？“exclaimedJessamine。“Whosaysanysuchthing？“
“Lindid，“saidBilly。
Jessaminelookedatherloverreproachfully。“Whatawaytoteasehim!“
shesaid。“Andyousokind。Why，you’vehurthisfeelings!“
“Ineverthought，“saidLintheboisterous。“Iwouldn’thave。“
“Comesithere，Billy，“saidJessamine。“Wheneverheteases，youtellme，andwe’llmakehimbehave。“
“Honest？“persistedBilly。
“Shakehandsonit，“saidJessamine。
“CauseI’llgotoschool。ButIwon’tgobacktoLaramiefornoone。Andyou’rea-goingtobeLin’swife，honest？“
“Honest!Honest!“AndJessamine，laughing，grewredbesideherlamp。
“ThenIguessmothercan’tnevercomebacktoLin，either，“statedBilly，relieved。
Jessamineletfallthechild’shand。
“Causeshelikedhimonced，andhelikedher。“
JessaminegazedatLin。
“It’ssimple，“saidthecow-puncher。“It’sallright。“
ButJessaminesatbyherlamp，verypale。
“It’sallright，“repeatedLininthesilence，shiftinghisfootandlookingdown。“OnceImadeafoolofmyself。Worsethanusual。“
“Billy？“whisperedJessamine。“Thenyou——ButhisnameisLusk!“
“Courseitis，“saidBilly。“FatherandmotherarelivinginLaramie。“
“It’sallstraight，“saidthecow-puncher。“Ineversawhertillthreeyearsago。Ihaven’tanythingtohide，only——only——onlyitdon’tcomeeasytotell。“
Irose。“MissBuckner，“saidI，“hewilltellyou。Buthewillnottellyouhepaiddearlyforwhatwasnofaultofhis。Ithasbeennosecret。
Itisonlysomethinghisfriendsandhisenemieshaveforgotten。“
ButallthewhileIwasspeakingthis，Jessamine’seyeswerefixedonLin，andherfaceremainedwhite。
Ileftthegirlandthemanandthelittleboytogether，andcrossedtothehotel。Butitsairwasfoul，andIgotmyrollofcampblanketstosleepinthecleannight，ifsleeping-timeshouldcome；meanwhileI
walkedaboutinthesilenceTohavetakenawifeonceingoodfaith，ignorantshewasanother’s，leftnostain，raisednobarrier。IcouldhavetoldJessaminethesameoldstorymyself——oralmost；butwhathadittodowithheratall？Whyneedsheknow？Reasoningthus，yetwithsomethingleftunclearedbyreasonthatIcouldnotstate，Iwatchedthemoonedgeintosight，heavyandrich-hued，amelon-sliceofglow，seeminglynear，likeagreatlanterntiltedovertheplain。Thesmellofthesage-brushflavoredtheair；thehushofWyomingfoldeddistantandnearthings，andallSeparbutthosethreeinsidethelightedwindowwereinbed。Darkwindowswereeverywhereelse，andloomingaboverosethewater-tank，adullmassinthenight，andforeversomehowtomeaSphinxemblem，thevisionIinstantlyseewhenIthinkofSepar。SoonIheardadoorcreaking。ItwasBilly，comingalone，andonseeingmehewalkedupandspokeinahalf-awedvoice。