Thisco'tismo'thanwillin'andfullofjoytoseethecloudsofdiscordandmisunderstandin'rollin'awayfromtwolovin'hearts，butitairthedutyoftheco'ttop'eservethemoralsandintegrityoftheState。Theco'tremindsyouthatyouairnolongermanandwife，butairdivo'cedbyregulardecree，andassuchairnotentitledtothebenefitsand'purtenancesofthemattermonalestate。"
ArielacaughtRansie'sarm。Didthosewordsmeanthatshemustlosehimnowwhentheyhadjustlearnedthelessonoflife？
"Buttheco'tairprepared，"wentontheJustice，"furtoremovethedisabilitiessetupbythedecreeofdivo'ce。
Theco'taironhandtoperformthesolemnceremonyofmarri'ge，thusfixin'thingsupandenablin'thepartiesinthecasetoresumethehonour'bleandelevatin'stateofmattermonywhichtheydesires。Thefeefurper-
formin'saidceremonywillbe，inthiscase，towit，fivedollars。"
Ariclacaughtthegleamofpromiseinhiswords。
Swiftlyherhandwenttoherbosom。FreelyasanalightingdovethebillflutteredtotheJustice'stable。
HersallowcheekcolouredasshestoodhandinhandwithRansieandlistenedtothereunitingwords。
Ransiehelpedherintothecart，andclimbedinbesideher。Thelittleredbullturnedoncemore，andtheysetout，hand-clasped，forthemountains。
Justice-of-the-peaceBenajaWiddupsatinhisdoorandtookoffhisshoes。Onceagainhefingeredthebilltuckeddowninhisvestpocket。Onceagainhesmokedhiselder-stempipe。Onceagainthespeck-ledhenswag-
gereddownthemainstreetofthe"settlement，"cacklingfoolishly。
ASACRIFICEHIT
TheeditoroftheHearthstoneMagazinehisownideasabouttheselectionofmanuscriptforhispublication。
Histheoryisnosecret；infact，hewillexpoundittoyouwillinglysittingathismahoganydesk，smilingbenignantlyandtappinghiskneegentlywithhisgold-rimmedeye-
glasses。
"TheHearthstone，"hewillsay，"doesnotemployastaffofreaders。Weobtainopinionsofthemanuscriptssubmittedtousdirectlyfromtypesofthevariousclassesofourreaders。"
Thatistheeditor'stheory；andthisisthewayhecarriesitout:
WhenabatchofMSS。isreceivedtheeditorstuffseveryoneofhispocketsfullofthemanddistributesthemashegoesaboutduringtheday。Theofficeemployees，thehallporter，thejanitor，theelevatorman，messengerboys，thewaitersatthecaf？wheretheeditorhasluncheon，themanatthenews-standwherehebuyshiseveningpaper，thegrocerandmilkman，theguardonthe5。30uptownelevatedtrain，theticket-chopperatSixty——thstreet，thecookandmaidathishome——
thesearethereaderswhopassuponMSS。sentintotheHearthstoneMagazine。Ifhispocketsarenotentirelyemptiedbythetimehereachesthebosomofhisfamilytheremainingonesarehandedovertohiswifetoreadafterthebabygoestosleep。AfewdayslatertheeditorgathersintheMSS。duringhisregularroundsandcon-
siderstheverdictofhisassortedreaders。
Thissystemofmakingupamagazinehasbeenverysuccessful；andthecirculation，pacedbytheadvertisingrates，ismakingawonderfulrecordofspeed。
TheHearthstoneCompanyalsopublishesbooks，anditsimprintistobefoundonseveralsuccessfulworks——allrecommended，saystheeditor，bytheHearthstone'8
armyofvolunteerreaders。NowandthenaccordingtotalkativemembersoftheeditorialstafftheHearthstonehasallowedmanuscriptstoslipthroughitsfingersontheadviceofitsheterogeneousreaders，thatafterwardprovedtobefamoussellerswhenbroughtoutbyotherhouses。
Forinstancethegossipssay，"TheRiseandFallofSilasLatham"wasunfavourablypasseduponbytheelevator-man；theoffice-boyunanimouslyrejected"TheBoss"；"IntheBishop'sCarriage"wascontemptuouslylookeduponbythestreet-carconductor；"TheDeliver-
ance"wasturneddownbyaclerkinthesubscriptiondepartmentwhosewife'smotherhadjustbegunatwo-
months'visitathishome；"TheQueen'sQuair"camebackfromthejanitorwiththecomment:"Soisthebook。"
ButneverthelesstheHearthstoneadherestoitstheoryandsystem，anditwillneverlackvolunteerreaders；
foreachoneofthewidelyscatteredstaff，fromtheyoungladystenographerintheeditorialofficetothemanwhoshovelsincoalwhoseadversedecisionlosttotheHearth-
stoneCompanythemanuscriptof"TheUnderWorld"，hasexpectationsofbecomingeditorofthemagazinesomeday。
ThismethodoftheHearthstonewaswellknowntoAllenSlaytonwhenhewrotehisnoveletteentitled"LoveIsAll。"SlaytonhadhungabouttheeditorialofficesofallthemagazinessopersistentlythathewasacquaintedwiththeinnerworkingsofeveryoneinGotham。
HeknewnotonlythattheeditoroftheHearthstonehandedhisMSS。aroundamongdifferenttypesofpeopleforreading，butthatthestoriesofsentimentallove-
interestwenttoMissPuffkin，theeditor'sstenographer。
Anotheroftheeditor'speculiarcustomswastoconcealinvariablythenameofthewriterfromhisreadersofMSS。sothataglitteringnamemightnotinfluencethesincerityoftheirreports。
Slaytonmade"LoveIsAll"theeffortofhislife。Hegaveitsixmonthsofthebestworkofhisheartandbrain。Itwasapurelove-story，fine，elevated，romantic，passionate——aprosepoemthatsetthedivineblessingofloveIamtransposingfromthemanuscripthighaboveallearthlygiftsandhonours，andlisteditinthecatalogueofheaven'schoicestrewards。Slayton'sliteraryambitionwasintense。Hewouldhavesacrificedallotherworldlypossessionstohavegainedfameinhischosenart。Hewouldalmosthavecutoffhisrighthand，orhaveofferedhimselftotheknifeoftheappendi-
citisfanciertohaverealizedhisdreamofseeingoneofhiseffortspublishedintheHearthstone。
Slaytonfinished"LoveIsAll，"andtookittothyHearthstoneinperson。Theofficeofthemagazinewasinalarge，conglomeratebuilding，presidedunderbyajanitor。
Asthewritersteppedinsidethedooronhiswaytotheelevatorapotatomasherflewthroughthehall，wreck-
ing，Slayton'shat，andsmashingtheglassofthedoor。
Closelyfollowinginthewakeoftheutensilflewthejanitor，abulky，unwholesomeman，suspenderlessandsordid，panic-strickenandbreathless。Afrowsy，tallwomanwithflyinghairfollowedthemissile。Thejanitor'sfootslippedonthetiledfloor，hefellinaheapwithanexclamationofdespair。Thewomanpounceduponhimandseizedhishair。Themanbellowedlustily。
Hervengeancewreaked，theviragoroseandstalkedtriumphantasMinerva，backtosomecrypticdomesticretreatattherear。Thejanitorgottohisfeet，blownandhumiliated。
"Thisismarriedlife，"hesaidtoSlayton，withacertainbruisedhumour。"That'sthegirlIusedtolayawakeofnightsthinkingabout。Sorryaboutyourhat，mister。
Say，don'tsnitchtothetenantsaboutthis，willyer？
Idon'twanttolosemejob。"
SlaytontooktheelevatorattheendofthehallandwentuptotheofficesoftheHearthstone。HelefttheMS。of"LoveIsAll"withtheeditor，whoagreedtogive，himananswerastoitsavailabilityattheendofaweek。
Slaytonformulatedhisgreatwinningschemeonhiswaydown。Itstruckhimwithonebrilliantflash，andhecouldnotrefrainfromadmiringhisowngeniusinconceivingtheidea。Thatverynighthesetaboutcarry-
ingitintoexecution。
MissPuffkin，theHearthstonestenographer，boardedinthesamehousewiththeauthor。Shewasanoldish，thin，exclusive，languishing，sentimentalmaid；andSlaytonhadbeenintroducedtohersometimebefore。
Thewriter'sdaringandself-sacrificingprojectwasthis:HeknewthattheeditoroftheHearthstonereliedstronglyuponMissPuffkin'sjudgmentinthemanuscriptofromanticandsentimentalfiction。Hertasterepresentedtheimmenseaverageofmediocrewomenwhodevournovelsandstoriesofthattype。Thecentralideaandkeynoteof"LoveIsAll"wasloveatfirstsight——theenrapturing，irresistible，soul-thrilling，feelingthatcom-
pelsamanorawomantorecognizehisorherspirit-mateassoonasheartspeakstoheart。SupposeheshouldimpressthisdivinetruthuponMissPuffkinpersonally!——
wouldshenotsurelyindorsehernewandrapturoussensationsbyrecommendinghighlytotheeditoroftheHearthstonethenovelette"LoveIsAll"？
Slaytonthoughtso。AndthatnighthetookMissPuffkintothetheatre。Thenextnighthemadevehementlovetoherinthedimparlouroftheboarding-house。Hequotedfreelyfrom"LoveIsAll"；andhewoundupwithMissPuffkin'sheadonhisshoulder，andvisionsofliteraryfamedancinginhishead。
ButSlaytondidnotstopatlove-making。This，hesaidtohimself，wastheturningpointofhislife；and，likeatruesportsman，he"wentthelimit。"OnThursdaynightheandMissPuffkinwalkedovertotheBigChurchintheMiddleoftheBlockandweremarried。
BraveSlayton!Chateaubrianddiedinagarret，Byroncourtedawidow，Keatsstarvedtodeath，Poemixedhisdrinks，DeQuinceyhitthepipe，AdelivedinChica-o，Jameskeptondoingit，DicKensworewhitesocks，DeMaupassantworeastrait-jacket，TomWatsonbecameaPopulist，Jeremiahwept，alltheseauthorsdidthesethingsforthesakeofliterature，butthoudidstcapthemall；thoumarriedstawifefortocarveforthyselfanicheinthetempleoffame!
OnFridaymorningMrs。SlaytonsaidshewouldgoovertotheHearthstoneoffice，handinoneortwomanu-
riptsthattheeditorhadgiventohertoread，andresignherpositionasstenographer。
"Wasthereanything——er——that——er——youparticu-
larlyfanciedinthestoriesyouaregoingtoturnin？"
askedSlaytonwithathumpingheart。
"Therewasoneanovelette，thatIlikedsomuch，"
saidhiswife。"Ihaven'treadanythinginyearsthatIthoughtwashalfasniceandtruetolife。"
ThatafternoonSlaytonhurrieddowntotheHearth-
stoneoffice。Hefeltthathisrewardwascloseathand。
WithanoveletteintheHearthstone，literaryreputationwouldsoonbehis。
Theofficeboymethimattherailingintheouteroffice。Itwasnotforunsuccessfulauthorstoholdpersonalcolloquywiththeeditorexceptatrareintervals。
Slayton，hugginghimselfinternally，wasnursinginhishearttheexquisitehopeofbeingabletocrushtheofficeboywithhisforthcomingsuccess。
Heinquiredconcerninghisnovelette。Theofficeboywentintothesacredprecinctsandbroughtforthalargeenvelope，thickwithmorethanthebulkofathousanddiecks。
"Thebosstoldmetotellyouhe'ssorry，"saidtheboy，"butyourmanuscriptain'tavailableforthemagazine。"
Slaytonstood，dazed。"Canyoutellme，"hestammered，"whetherornoMissPuff——thatismy——ImeanMissruffkin——handedinanovelettethismorningthatshehadbeenaskedtoread？"
"Sureshedid，"answeredtheofficeboywisely。"I
heardtheoldmansaythatMissPuffkinsaiditwasadaisy。Thenameofitwas，'MarriedfortheMazuma，oraWorkingGirl'sTriumph。'"
"Say，you!"saidtheofficeboyconfidentially，"yourname'sSlayton，ain'tit？IguessImixedcasesonvouwithoutmeanin'todoit。Thebossgivemesomemanu-
scripttohandaroundtheotherdayandIgottheonesforMissPuffkinandthejanitormixed。Iguessit'sallright，though。"
AndthenSlaytonlookedcloserandsawonthecoverofhismanuscript，underthetitle"LoveIsAll，"thejanitor'scommentscribbledwithapieceofcharcoal:
"The——yousay!"
THEROADSWETAKE
TWIENTYmilesWestofTucson，the"SunsetExpress"
stoppedatatanktotakeonwater。Besidestheaqueous，additiontheengineofthatfamousflyeracquiredsomeotherthingsthatwerenotgoodforit。
Whilethefiremanwasloweringthefeedinghose，BobTidball，"Shark"Dodsonandaquarter-bredCreekIndiancalledJohnBigDogclimbedontheengineandshowedtheengineerthreeroundorificesinpiecesofordnancethatthecarried。Theseorificessoimpressedtheengineerwiththeirpossibilitiesthatheraisedbothhandsinagesturesuchasaccompaniestheejaculation"Dotell!"
AtthecrispcommandofSharkDodson，whowasleaderoftheattackingforcetheengineerdescendedtothegroundanduncoupledtheengineandtender。
ThenJohnBigDog，percheduponthecoal，sportivelyheldtwogunsupontheenginedriverandthefireman，andsuggestedthattheyruntheenginefiftyyardsawayandthereawaitfurtherorders。
SharkDodsonandBobTidball，scorningtoputsuchlow-gradeoreasthepassengersthroughthemill，struckoutfortherichpocketoftheexpresscar。Theyfoundthemessengersereneinthebeliefthatthe"SunsetExpress"wastakingonnothingmorestimulatinganddangerousthanaquapura。WhileBobwasknockingthisideaoutofhisheadwiththebutt-endofhissix-shooterSharkDodsonwasalreadydosingtheexpress-carsafewithdynamite。
Thesafeexplodedtothetuneof$30，000，allgoldandcurrency。Thepassengersthrusttheirheadscasuallyoutofthewindowstolookforthethunder-cloud。Theconductorjerkedatthebell-rope，whichsaggeddownlooseandunresisting，athistug。SharkDodsonandBobTidball，withtheirbootyinastoutcanvasbag，tumbledoutoftheexpresscarandranawkwardlyintheirhigh-heeledbootstotheengine。
Theengineer，sullenlyangrybutwise，rantheengine，accordingtoorders，rapidlyawayfromtheinerttrain。
Butbeforethiswasaccomplishedtheexpressmessenger，recoveredfromBobTidball'spersuadertoneutrality，jumpedoutofhiscarwithaWinchesterrifleandtookatrickinthegame。Mr。JohnBigDog，sittingonthecoaltender，unwittinglymadeawrongleadbygivinganimitationofatarget，andthemessengertrumpedhim。
WithaballexactlybetweenhisshoulderbladestheCreekchevalierofindustryrolledofftotheground，thusincreasingtheshareofhiscomradesinthelootbyone-sixtheach。
Twomilesfromthetanktheengineerwasorderedtostop。
Therobberswavedadefiantadieuandplungeddownthesteepslopeintothethickwoodsthatlinedthetrack。
Fiveminutesofcrashingthroughathicketofchapparalbroughtthemtoopenwoods，wherethreehorsesweretiedtolow-hangingbranches。OnewaswaitingforJohnBigDog，whowouldneverridebynightordayagain。
Thisanimaltherobbersdivestedofsaddleandbridleandsetfree。Theymountedtheothertwowiththebagacrossonepommel，androdefastandwithdiscre-
tionthroughtheforestandupaprimeval，lonelygorge。
HeretheanimalthatboreBobTidballslippedonamossyboulderandbrokeaforeleg。Theyshothimthroughtheheadatonceandsatdowntoholdacouncilofflight。
Madesecureforthepresentbythetortuoustrailthey-
hadtravelled，thequestionoftimewasnolongersobig。
Manymilesandhourslaybetweenthemandthespryestpossethatcouldfollow。SharkDodson'shorse，withtrailingropeanddroppedbridle，pantedandcroppedthankfullyofthegrassalongthestreaminthegorge。
BobTidballopenedthesack，drewoutdoublehandfulsoftheneatpackagesofcurrencyandtheonesackofgoldandchuckledwiththegleeofachild。
"Say，youolddouble-deckedpirate，"hecalledjoyfullytoDodson，"yousaidwecoulddoit——yougotaheadforfinancingthatknocksthehornsoffofanythinginArizona。"
"Whatarewegoingtodoaboutahossforyou，Bob？
Weain'tgotlongtowaithere。They'llbeonourtrailbeforedaylightinthemornin'。"
"Oh，Iguessthatcayuseofyourn'llcarrydoubleforawhile，"answeredthesanguineBob。"We'llannexthefirstanimalwecomeacross。Byjingoes，wemadeahaul，didn'twe？Accordin'tothemarksonthismoneythere's$30，000——$15，000apiece!"
"It'sshortofwhatIexpected，"saidSharkDodson，kickingsoftlyatthepackageswiththetoeofhisbootandthenhelookedpensivelyatthewetsidesofhistiredhorse。
"OldBolivar'smightynighplayedout，"hesaid，slowly。"Iwishthatsorrelofyourshadn'tgothurt。"
"SodoI，"saidBob，heartily，"butitcan'tbehelped。
Bolivar'sgotplentyofbottom——he'llgetusbothfarenoughtogetfreshmounts。Dangit，Shark，Ican'tbelpthinkin'howfunnyitisthatanEasternerlikeyoucancomeouthereandgiveusWesternfellowscardsandspadesinthedesperadobusiness。WhatpartoftheEastwasyoufrom，anyway？"
"NewYorkState，"saidSharkDodson，sittingdownonaboulderandchewingatwig。"IwasbornonafarminUlsterCounty。IranawayfromhomewhenIwasseventeen。ItwasanaccidentmycomingWest。Iwaswalkin'alongtheroadwithmyclothesinabundle，makin'forNewYorkCity。Ihadanideaofgoin'thereandmakin'lotsofmoney。IalwaysfeltlikeIcoulddoit。Icametoaplaceoneevenin'wheretheroadforkedandIdidn'tknowwhichforktotake。I
studiedaboutitforhalfanhour，andthenItooktheleft-
hand。ThatnightIrunintothecampofaWildWestshowthatwastravellin'amongthelittletowns，andIwentWestwithit。I'veoftenwonderedifI
wouldn'thaveturnedoutdifferentifI'dtooktheotherroad。"
"Oh，Ireckonyou'dhaveendedupaboutthesame，"
saidBobTidball，cheerfullyphilosophical。"Itain'ttheroadswetake；it'swhat'sinsideofusthatmakesusturnoutthewaywedo。"
SharkDodsongotupandleanedagainstatree。
"I'dagooddealratherthatsorrelofyournhadn'thurthimself，Bob，"hesaidagain，almostpathetically。
"Samehere，"agreedBob；"hewassureafirst-ratekindofacrowbait。ButBolivar，he'llpullusthroughallright。Reckonwe'dbetterbemovin'on，hadn'twe，Shark？I'llbagthisboodleag'inandwe'llhitthetrailforhighertimber。"
BobTidballreplacedthespoilinthebagandtiedthemouthofittightlywithacord。WhenhelookedupthemostprominentobjectthathesawwasthemuzzleofSharkDodson's。45helduponhimwithoutawaver。
"Stopyourfunnin'，"saidBob，withagrin。"Wegottobehittin'thebreeze。"
"Setstill，"saidShark。"Youain'tgoin'tohitnobreeze，Bob。Ihatetotellyou，butthereain'tanychanceforbutoneofus。Bolivar，he'splentytired，andhecan'tcarrydouble。"
"Webeenpards，meandyou，SharkDodson，forthreeyear，"Bobsaidquietly。"We'veriskedourlivestogethertimeandagain。I'vealwaysgiveyouasquaredeal，andIthoughtyouwasaman。I'veheardsomequeerstoriesaboutyoushootin'oneortwomeninapeculiarway，butIneverbelieved'em。Nowifyou'rejusthavin'
alittlefunwithme，Shark，putyourgunup，andwe'llgetonBolivarandvamose。Ifyoumeantoshoot——
shoot，youblackheartedsonofatarantula!"
SharkDodson'sfaceboreadeeplysorrowfullook。
"Youdon'tknowhowbadIfeel，"hesighed，"aboutthatsorrelofyournbreakin'hisleg，Bob。"
TheexpressiononDodson'sfacechangedinaninstanttooneofcoldferocitymingledwithinexorablecupidity。
Thesoulofthemanshoweditselfforamomentlikeanevilfaceinthewindowofareputablehouse。
TrulyBobTidballwasneverto"hitthebreeze"again。
Thedeadly。45ofthefalsefriendcrackedandfilledthegorgewitharoarthatthewallshurledbackwithindignantechoes。AndBolivar，unconsciousaccomplice，swiftlyboreawaythelastoftheholders-upofthe"SunsetExpress，"notputtothestressof"carryingdouble。"
Butas"Shark"Dodsongallopedawaythewoodsseemedtofadefromhisview；therevolverinhisrighthandturnedtothecurvedarmofamahoganychair；hissaddlewasstrangelyupholstered，andheopenedhiseyesandsawhisfeet，notinstirrups，butrestingquietlyontheedgeofaquartered-oakdesk。
IamtellingyouthatDodson，ofthefirmofDodson&Decker，WallStreetbrokers，openedhiseyes。Peabody，theconfidentialclerk，wasstandingbyhischair，hesitatingtospeak。Therewasaconfusedhumofwheelsbelow，andthesedativebuzzofanelectricfan。
"Ahem!Peabody，"saidDodson，blinking。"Imusthavefallenasleep。Ihadamostremarkabledream。
Whatisit，Peabody？"
"Mr。Williams，sir，ofTracy&Williams，isoutside。
HehascometosettlehisdealinX。Y。Z。Themarketcaughthimshort，sir，ifyouremember。"
"Yes，Iremember。WhatisX。Y。Z。quotedatto-day，Peabody？"
"Oneeighty-five，sir。"
"Thenthat'shisprice。"
"Excuseme，"saidPeabody，rathernervously"forspeakingofit，butI'vebeentalkingtoWilliams。He'sanoldfriendofyours，Mr。Dodson，andyoupracticallyhaveacornerinX。Y。Z。Ithoughtyoumight——thatis，Ithoughtyoumightnotrememberthathesoldyouthestockat98。Ifhesettlesatthemarketpriceitwilltakeeverycenthehasintheworldandhishometootodelivertheshares。"
TheexpressiononDodson'sfacechangedinaninstanttooneofcoldferocitymingledwithinexorablecupidity。
Thesoulofthemanshoweditselfforamomentlikeanevilfaceinthewindowofareputablehouse。
"Hewillsettleatoneeighty-five，"saidDodson。
"Bolivarcannotcarrydouble。"
ABLACKJACKBARGAINER
ThemostdisreputablethinginYanceyGoree'slawofficewasGoreehimself，sprawledinhiscreakvoldarm-
chair。Thericketylittleoffice，builtofredbrick，wassetflushwiththestreet——themainstreetofthetownofBethel。
Bethelresteduponthefoot-hillsoftheBlueRidge。
Aboveitthemountainswerepiledtothesky。FarbelowittheturbidCatawbagleamedyellowalongitsdisconsolatevalley。
TheJunedaywasatitssultriesthour。Betheldozedinthetepidshade。Tradewasnot。ItwassostillthatGoree，reclininginhischair，distinctlyheardtheclickingofthechipsinthegrand-juryroom，wherethe"court-
housegang"wasplayingpoker。Fromtheopenbackdooroftheofficeawell-wornpathmeanderedacrossthegrassylottothecourt-house。ThetreadingoutofthatpathhadcostGoreeallheeverhad——firstinheritanceofafewthousanddollars，nexttheoldfamilyhome，and，latterlythelastshredsofhisself-respectandmanhood。
The"gang"hadcleanedhimout。Thebrokengamblerhadturneddrunkardandparasite；hehadlivedtoseethisdaycomewhenthemenwhohadstrippedhimdeniedhimaseatatthegame。Hiswordwasnolongertobetaken。Thedailyboutsatcardshadarrangeditselfaccordingly，andtohimwasassignedtheignoblepartoftheonlooker。Thesheriff，thecountyclerk，asportivedeputy，agayattorney，andachalk-facedmanhailing"fromthevalley，"satattable，andtheshearedonewasthustacitlyadvisedtogoandgrowmorewool。
Soonwearyingofhisostracism，Goreehaddepartedforhisoffice，mutteringtohimselfasheunsteadilytra-
versedtheunluckypathway。Afteradrinkofcornwhiskeyfromademijohnunderthetable，hehadflunghimselfintothechair，staring，inasortofmaudlinapathy，outatthemountainsimmersedinthesummerhaze。
ThelittlewhitepatchhesawawayuponthesideofBlackjackwasLaurel，thevillagenearwhichhehadbeenbornandbred。There，also，wasthebirthplaceofthefeudbetweentheGoreesandtheColtranes。NownodirectheiroftheGoreessurvivedexceptthispluckedandsingedbirdofmisfortune。TotheColtranes，also，butonemalesupporterwasleft——ColonelAbnerCol-
trane，amanofsubstanceandstanding，amemberoftheStateLegislature，andacontemporarywithGoree'sfather。Thefeudhadbeenatypicaloneoftheregion；
ithadleftaredrecordofhate，wrongandslaughter。
ButYanceyGoreewasnotthinkingoffeuds。Hisbefuddledbrainwashopelesslyattackingtheproblemofthefuturemaintenanceofhimselfandhisfavouritefollies。Oflate，oldfriendsofthefamilyhadseentoitthathehadwhereoftoeatandaplacetosleep——butwhiskeytheywouldnotbuyforhim，andhemusthavewhiskey。
Hislawbusinesswasextinct；nocasehadbeenintrustedtohimintwoyears。Hehadbeenaborrowerandasponge，anditseemedthatifhefellnoloweritwouldbefromlackofopportunity。Onemorechance——hewassayingtohimself——ifhehadonemorestakeatthegame，hethoughthecouldwin；buthehadnothinglefttosell，andhiscreditwasmorethanexhausted。
Hecouldnothelpsmiling，eveninhismisery，ashethoughtofthemantowhom，sixmonthsbefore，hehadsoldtheoldGoreehomestead。Therehadcomefrom"backyan'"inthemountainstwoofthestrangestcreatures，amannamedPikeGarveyandhiswife。"Backyan'，"withawaveofthehandtowardthehills，wasunderstoodamongthemountaineerstodesignatetheremotestfastnesses，theunplumbedgorges，thehauntsoflawbreakers，thewolf'sden，andtheboudoirofthebear。
InthecabinfaruponBlackjack'sshoulder，inthewildestpartoftheseretreats，thisoddcouplehadlivedfortwentyyears。Theyhadneitherdognorchildrentomitigatetheheavysilenceofthehills。PikeGarveywaslittleknowninthesettlements，butallwhohaddealtwithhimpronouncedhim"crazyasaloon。"Heacknowledgednooccupationsavethatofasquirrelhunter，buthe"moonshined"occasionallybywayofdiversion。Oncethe"revenues"haddraggedhimfromhislair，fightingsilentlyanddesperatelylikeaterrier，andhehadbeensenttostate'sprisonfortwoyears。Released，hepoppedbackintohisholelikeanangryweasel。
Fortune，passingovermanyanxiouswooers，madeafreakishflightintoBlackjack'sboskypocketstosmileuponPikeandhisfaithfulpartner。
Onedayapartyofspectacled，knickerbockered，andaltogetherabsurdprospectorsinvadedthevicinityoftheGarvey'scabin。Pikeliftedhissquirrelrifleoffthehooksandtookashotatthematlongrangeonthechanceoftheirbeingrevenues。Happilyhemissed，andtheunconsciousagentsofgoodluckdrewnearer，disclosingtheirinnocenceofanythingresemblinglaworjustice。
Lateron，theyofferedtheGarveysanenormousquantityofready，green，crispmoneyfortheirthirty-acrepatchofclearedland，mentioning，asanexcuseforsuchamadaction，someirrelevantandinadequatenonsenseaboutabedofmicaunderlyingthesaidproperty。
WhentheGarveysbecamepossessedofsomanydol-
larsthattheyfalteredincomputingthem，thedeficienciesoflifeonBlackjackbegantogrowprominent。Pikebegantotalkofnewshoes，ahogsheadoftobaccotosetinthecorner，anewlocktohisrifle；and，leadingMartellatoacertainspotonthemountain-side，hepointedouttoherhowasmallcannon——doubtlessathingnotbeyondthescopeoftheirfortuneinprice——
mightbeplantedsoastocommandanddefendthesoleaccessibletrailtothecabin，totheconfusionofrevenuesandmeddlingstrangersforever。
ButAdamreckonedwithouthisEve。Thesethingsrepresentedtohimtheappliedpowerofwealth，butthereslumberedinhisdingycabinanambitionthatsoaredfarabovehisprimitivewants。SomewhereinMrs。Garvey'sbosomstillsurvivedaspotoffemininityunstarvedbytwentyyearsofBlackjack。Forsolongatimethesoundsinherearshadbeenthescaly-barksdroppinginthewoodsatnoon，andthewolvessingingamongtherocksatnight，anditwasenoughtohavepurgedherofvanities。Shehadgrownfatandsadandyellowanddull。Butwhenthemeanscame，shefeltarekindleddesiretoassumetheperquisitesofhersex——
tositatteatables；tobuyfutilethings；towhitewashthehideousveracityoflifewithalittleformandceremony。
SoshecoldlyvetoedPike'sproposedsystemoffortifica-
tions，andannouncedthatthevwoulddescendupontheworld，andgyratesocially。
Andthus，atlength，itwasdecided，andthethingdone。ThevillageofLaurelwastheircompromisebetweenMrs。Garvey'spreferenceforoneofthelargevalleytownsandPike'shankeringforprimevalsolitudes。
LaurelyieldedahaltingroundoffeeblesocialdistractionsomportablewithMartella'sambitions，andwasnotentirelywithoutrecommendationtoPike，itscontiguitytothemountainspresentingadvantagesforsuddenretreatincasefashionablesocietyshouldmakeitadvisable。
TheirdescentuponLaurelhadbeencoincidentwithYanceyGoree'sfeverishdesiretoconvertpropertyintocash，andtheyboughttheoldGoreehomestead，payingfourthousanddollarsreadymoneyintothespendthrift'sshakinghands。
ThusithappenedthatwhilethedisreputablelastoftheGoreessprawledinhisdisreputableoffice，attheendofhisrow，spurnedbythecronieswhomhehadgorged，strangersdweltinthehallsofhisfathers。
Acloudofdustwasrolling，slowlyuptheparchedstreet，withsomethingtravellinginthemidstofit。A
littlebreezewaftedthecloudtooneside，andanew，brightlypaintedcarryall，drawnbyaslothfulgrayhorse，becamevisible。ThevehicledeflectedfromthemiddleofthestreetasitnearedGoree'soffice，andstoppedinthegutterdirectlyinfrontofhisdoor。
Onthefrontseatsatagaunt，tallman，dressedinblackbroadcloth，hisrigidhandsincarceratedinyellowkidgloves。OnthebackseatwasaladywhotriumphedovertheJuneheat。Herstoutformwasarmouredinaskintightsilkdressofthedescriptionknownas"change-
able，"beingagorgeouscombinationofshiftinghues。
Shesaterect，wavingamuch-omamentedfan，withhereyesfixedstonilyfardownthestreet。HoweverMartellaGarvey'sheartmightberejoicingatthepleasuresofhernewlife，Blackjackhaddonehisworkwithherexterior。
Hehadcarvedhercountenancetotheimageofemptinessandinanity；hadimbuedherwiththestolidityofhiscrags，andthereserveofhishushedinteriors。Shealwaysseemedtohear，whateverhersurroundingswere，thescaly-barksfallingandpatteringdownthemountain-
side。ShecouldalwaysheartheawfulsilenceofBlack-
jacksoundingthroughthestillestofnights。
Goreewatchedthissolemnequipage，asitdrovetohisdoor，withonlyfaintinterest；butwhenthelankdriverwrappedthereinsabouthiswhip，awkwardlydescended，andsteppedintotheoffice，heroseunsteadilytoreceivehim，recognizingPikeGarvey，thenew，thetransformed，therecentlycivilized。
ThemountaineertookthechairGoreeofferedhim。
TheywhocastdoubtsuponGarvey'ssoundnessofmindhadastrongwitnessintheman'scountenance。Hisfacewastoolong，adullsaffroninhue，andimmobileasastatue's。Pale-blue，unwinkingroundeyeswithoutlashesaddedtothesingularityofhisgruesomevisage。
Goreewasatalosstoaccountforthevisit。
"EverythingallrightatLaurel，Mr。Garvey？"heinquired。
"Everythingallright，sir，andmightypleasedisMissisGarveyandmewiththeproperty。MissisGarveylikesyo'oldplace，andshelikestheneighbourhood。Societyiswhatshe'lowsshewants，andsheisgettin'ofit。TheRogerses，theHapgoods，thePrattsandtheTroyshevbeentoseeMissisGarvey，andshehevetmealstomostoftharhouses。Thebestfolkshevaxedhertodiffer'ntkindsofdoin's。Icyan'tsay，Mr。Goree，thatsechthingssuitsme——furme，givemethemthar。"Garvey'shuge，yellow-glovedhandflourishedinthedirectionofthemountains。"That'swharIb'long，'mongstthewildhoneybeesandtheb'ars。Butthatain'twhatI
comefurtosay，Mr。Goree。Thar'ssomethin'yougotwhatmeandMissisGarveywantstobuy。"
"Buy!"echoedGoree。"Fromme？"Thenhelaughedharshly。"Ireckonyouaremistakenaboutthat。Ireckonyouaremistakenaboutthat。Isoldouttoyou，asyouyourselfexpressedit，'lock，stockandbarrel。'Thereisn'tevenaramrodlefttosell。"
"You'vegotit；andwe'unswantit。'Takethemoney，'saysMissisGarvey，'andbuyitfa'randsquared'。'"
Goreeshookhishead。"Thecupboard'sbare，"hesaid。
"We'veriz，"pursuedthemountaineer，undetectedfromhisobject，"aheap。Wewasporeaspossums，andnowwecouldhevfolkstodinnereveryday。Webeenrecognized，MissisGarveysays，bythebestsociety。
Butthere'ssomethin'weneedweain'tgot。Shesaysitoughttobeenputinthe'ventoryovthesale，butittain'tthar。'Takethemoney，then，'saysshe，'andbuyitfa'randsquar'。"'
"Outwithit，"saidGoree，hisrackednervesgrowingimpatient。
Garveythrewhisslouchbatuponthetable，andleanedforward，fixinghisunblinkingevesuponGoree's。
"There'saoldfeud，"hesaiddistinctlyandslowly，"'tweenyou'unsandtheColtranes。"
Goreefrownedominously。Tospeakofhisfeudtoafeudistisaseriousbreachofthemountainetiquette。
Themanfrom"backyan'"knewitaswellasthelawyerdid。
"Naoffense，"hewenton"butpurelyinthewayofbusiness。MissisGarveyhevstudiedallaboutfeuds。
Mostofthequalityfolksinthemountainshev'em。TheSettlesandtheGoforths，theRankinsandtheBoyds，theSilersandtheGalloways，hevallbeencyarin'onfeudsf'omtwentytoahundredyear。Thelastmantodrapwaswhenyo'uncle，JedgePaisleyGoree，'journedco'tandshotLenColtranef'omthebench。MissisGarveyandme，wecomef'omthepo'whitetrash。Nobodywouldn'tpickafeudwithwe'uns，nomo'nwithafam'lyoftree-toads。Qualitypeopleeverywhar，saysMissisGarvey，hasfeuds。We'unsain'tquality，butwe'reuyin'intoitasfuraswecan。'Takethemoney，then，'
saysMissisGarvey，'andbuyMr。Goree'sfeud，fa'randsquar'。'"
Thesquirrelhunterstraightenedaleghalfacrosstheroom，drewarollofbillsfromhispocket，andthrewthemonthetable。
"Thar'stwohundreddollars，Mr。Goree；whatyouwouldcallafa'rpriceforafeudthat'sbeen'lowedtorundownlikeyournhev。Thar'sonlyyoulefttocyar'
onyo'sideofit，andyou'dmakemightypo'killin'。I'lltakeitoffyo'hands，andit'llsetmeandMissisGarveyupamongthequality。Thar'sthemoney。"
Thelittlerollofcurrencyonthetableslowlyuntwisteditself，writhingandjumpingasitsfoldsrelaxed。InthesilencethatfollowedGarvey'slastspeechtherattlingofthepokerchipsinthecourt-housecouldbeplainlyheard。
Goreeknewthatthesheriffhadjustwonapot，forthesubduedwhoopwithwhichhealwaysgreetedavictoryfloatedacrossthesqquareuponthecrinklyheatwaves。
BeadsofmoisturestoodonGoree'sbrow。Stooping，hedrewthewicker-covereddemijohnfromunderthetable，andfilledatumblerfromit。
"Alittlecornliquor，Mr。Garvey？Ofcourseyouarejokingaboutwhatyouspokeof？Opensquiteanewmarket，doesn'tit？Feuds。Prime，two-fiftytothree。Feuds，slightlydamaged——twohundred，I
believeyousaid，Mr。Garvey？"
Goreelaughedself-consciously。
ThemountaineertooktheglassGoreehandedhim，anddrankthewhiskywithoutatremorofthelidsofhisstaringeyes。Thelawyerapplaudedthefeatbyalookofenviousadmiration。Hepouredhisowndrink，andtookitlikeadrunkard，bygulps，andwithshuddersatthesmellandtaste。
"Twohundred，"repeatedGarvey。"Thar'sthemoney。"
AsuddenpassionflaredupinGoree'sbrain。Hestruckthetablewithhisfist。Oneofthebillsflippedoverandtouchedhishand。Heflinchedasifsomethinghadstunghim。
"Doyoucometome，"heshouted，"seriouslywithsucharidiculous，insulting，darned-foolproposition？"
"It'sfa'randsquar'，"saidthesquirrelhunter，buthereachedouthishandasiftotakebackthemoney；andthenGoreeknewthathisownflurryofragehadnotbeenfromprideorresentment，butfromangerathimself，knowingthathewouldsetfootinthedeeperdepthsthatwerebeingopenedtohim。Heturnedinaninstantfromanoutragedgentlemantoananxiouschaffererrecom-
mendinghisgoods。
"Don'tbeinahurry，Garvey，"hesaid，hisfacecrimsonandhisspeechthick。"Iacceptyourp-p-proposition，thoughit'sdirtcheapattwohundred。At-trade'sallrightwhenbothp-purchaserandb-buyerares-satisfied。
ShallIw-wrapitupforyou，Mr。Garvey？"
Garveyrose，andshookouthisbroadcloth。"MissisGarvevwillbepleased。Youairoutofit，anditstandsColtraneandGarvey。Justascrapovwritin'，Mr。
Goree，youbein'alawyer，toshowwetraded。"
Goreeseizedasheetofpaperandapen。Themoneywasclutchedinhismoisthand。Everythingelsesud-
denlyseemedtogrowtrivialandlight。
"Billofsale，byallmeans。'Right，title，andinterestinandto'……'foreverwarrantand——'No，Garvey，we'llhavetoleaveoutthat'defend，'"saidGoreewithaloudlaugh。"You'llhavetodefendthistitleyourself。"
Themountaineerreceivedtheamazingscreedthatthelawyerhandedhim，foldeditwithimmenselabour，andlaceditcarefullyinhispocket。
Goreewasstandingnearthewindow。"Stephere，said，raisinghisfinger，"andI'llshowyouyourrecentlypurchasedenemy。Therehegoes，downtheothersideofthestreet。"
Themountaineercrookedhislongframetolookthroughthewindowinthedirectionindicatedbytheother。
ColonelAbnerColtrane，anerect，portlygentlemanofaboutfifty，wearingtheinevitablelong，double-breastedfrockcoatoftheSouthernlawmaker，andanoldhighsilkhat，waspassingontheoppositesidewalk。AsGarveylooked，Goreeglancedathisface。Iftherebesuchathingasayellowwolf，herewasitscounterpart。
Garveysnarledashisunhumaneyesfollowedthemovingfigure，disclosinglong，amber-colouredfangs。
"Isthathim？Why，that'sthemanwhosentmetothepenitentiaryonce!"
"Heusedtobedistrictattorney，"saidGoreecare-
lessly。"And，bytheway，he'safirst-classshot。"
"Ikinhitasquirrel'seyeatahundredyard，"saidGarvey。"Sothatthar'sColtrane!ImadeabettertradethanIwasthinkin'。I'lltakekeerovthisfeud，Mr。Goree，better'nyoueverdid!"
Hemovedtowardthedoor，butlingeredthere，betray-
ingaslightperplexity。
"Anythingelseto-day？"inquiredGoreewithfrothysarcasm。"Anyfamilytraditions，ancestralghosts，orskeletonsinthecloset？Pricesaslowasthelowest。"
"Tharwasanotherthing，"repliedtheunmovedsquirrelhunter，"thatMissisGarveywasthinkin'of。'Tain'tsomuchinmylineast'other，butshewantedpartic'larthatIshouldinquire，andefyouwaswillin'，'payfurit，'
shesays，'fa'randsquar'。'Thar'saburyin'groun'，asyouknow，Mr。Goree，intheyardofyo'oldplace，underthecedars。Themthatliestharisyo'folkswhatwaskilledbytheColtranes。Themonymentshasthenameson'em。MissisGarvevsaysafam'lyburyin'
groun'-isasho'signofquality。Shesaysefwegitthefeudthar'ssomethin'elseoughttogowithit。Thenamesonthemmoiivmentsis'Goree，'buttheycanbechangedtoournby——"
"Go。Go!"screamedGoree，hisfaceturningpurple。
Hestretchedoutbothhandstowardthemountaineer，hisfingershookedandshaking。"Go，youghoul!EvenaCh-Chinamanprotectstheg-gravesofhisancestors——go!"
Thesquirrelhunterslouchedoutofthedoortohiscarryall。WhilehewasclimbingoverthewheelGoreewascollecting，withfeverishcelerity，themoneythathadfallenfromhishandtothefloor。Asthevehicleslowlyturnedabout，thesheep，withacoatofnewlygrownwool，washurrying，inindecenthaste，alongthepathtothecourt-house。
Atthreeo'clockinthemorningtheybroughthimbacktohisoffice，shornandunconscious。Thesheriff，thesportivedeputy，thecountyclerk，andthegayattorneycarriedhim，thechalk-facedman"fromthevalley"
actingasescort。
"Onthetable，"saidoneofthem，andtheydepositedhimthereamongthelitterofhisunprofitablebooksandpapers。
"Yancethinksalotofapairofdeuceswhenhe'sliquoredup，"sighedthesheriffreflectively。
"Toomuch，"saidthegayattorney。"Amanhasnobusinesstoplaypokerwhodrinksasmuchashedoes。I
wonderhowmuchhedroppedto-night。"
"Closetotwohundred。WhatIwonderiswharhegotit。Yanceain'thadacentfuroveramonth，I
know。"
"Struckaclient，maybe。Well，let'sgethomebeforedaylight。He'llbeallrightwhenhewakesup，exceptforasortofbeehiveaboutthecranium。"
Thegangslippedawaythroughtheearlymorningtwilight。ThenexteyetogazeuponthemiserableGoreewastheorbofday。Hepeeredthroughtheuncurtainedwindow，firstdelugingthesleeperinafloodoffaintgold，butsoonpouringuponthemottledredofhisfleshasearching，white，summerheat。Goreestirred，halfunconsciously，amongthetable'sd閎ris，andturnedhisfacefromthewindow。Hismovementdislodgedaheavylawbook，whichcrasheduponthefloor。Openinghiseyes，hesaw，bendingoverhim，amaninablackfrockcoat。Lookinghigher，hediscoveredawell-wornsilkhat，andbeneathitthekindly，smoothfaceofColonelAbnerColtrane。
Alittleuncertainoftheoutcome，thecolonelwaitedfortheothertomakesomesignofrecognition。Notintwentyyearshadmalemembersofthesetwofamiliesfacedeachotherinpeace。Goree'seyelidspuckeredashestrainedhisblurredsighttowardthisvisitor，andthenhesmiledserenely。
"HaveyoubroughtStellaandLucyovertoplay？"
hesaidcalmly。
"Doyouknowme，Yancey？"askedColtrane。
"OfcourseIdo。Youbroughtmeawhipwithawhistleintheend。"
Sohehad——twenty-fouryearsago；whenYancey'sfatherwashisbestfriend。
Goree'seyeswanderedabouttheroom。Thecolonelunderstood。"Liestill，andI'llbringyousome，"saidhe。
Therewasapumpintheyardattherear，andGoreeclosedhiseyes，listeningwithrapturetotheclickofitshandle，andthebubblingofthefallingstream。Col-
tranebroughtapitcherofthecoolwater，andhelditforhimtodrink。PresentlyGoreesatup——amostforlornobject，hissummersuitofflaxsoiledandcrumpled，hisdiscreditableheadtousledandunsteady。Hetriedtowaveoneofhishandstowardthecolonel。
"Ex-excuse-everything，willyou？"hesaid。"I
musthavedrunktoomuchwhiskeylastnight，andgonetobedonthetable。"Hisbrowsknittedintoapuzzledfrown。
"Outwiththeboysawhile？"askedColtranekindly。
"No，Iwentnowhere。Ihaven'thadadollartospendinthelasttwomonths。Struckthedemijohntoooften。
Ireckon，asusual。"
ColonelColtranetouchedhimontheshoulder。
"Alittlewhileago，Yancey，"hebegan，"youaskedmeifIhadbroughtStellaandLucyovertoplay。Youweren'tquiteawakethen，andmusthavebeendreamingyouwereaboyagain。Youareawakenow，andIwantyoutolistentome。IhavecomefromStellaandLucytotheiroldplaymate，andtomyoldfriend'sson。TheyknowthatIamgoingtobringyouhomewithme，andyouwillfindthemasreadywithawelcomeastheywereintheolddays。Iwantyoutocometomyhouseandstayuntilyouareyourselfaain，andasmuchlongerasyouwill。Weheardofyourbeingdownintheworld，andinthemidstoftemptation，andweagreedthatyoushouldcomeoverandplayatourhouseoncemore。Willyoucome，myboy？Willyoudropouroldfamilytroubleandcomewithme？"
"Trouble!"saidGoree，openinghiseyeswide。"TherewasneveranytroublebetweenusthatIknowof。I'msurewe'vealwaysbeenthebestfriends。But，goodLord，Colonel，howcouldIgotoyourhomeasIam——adrunkenwretch，amiserable，degradedspendthriftandgambler——"
Helurchedfromthetableintohisarmchair，andbegantoweepmaudlintears，mingledwithgenuinedropsofremorseandshame。Coltranetalkedtohimpersist-
entlyandreasonably，remindinghimofthesimplemoun-
tainpleasuresofwhichhehadoncebeensofond，andinsistinguponthegenuinenessoftheinvitation。