"Thestagejoltsalongtwoorthreemiles，an'nothin'morebein'
said。Theblack-coatgenthegroansoccasionally，whichworriesTexas；an'thetwoinfants，gettin'restless，comestumblin'overontoCherokeean'issearchin'ofhispocketsformementoes。Whichthisisaboutasrefreshin'toCherokeeasbein'burnedatthestake。Butthemothersheleansbackan'smiles，an'ofcoursehe'splumbhe'pless。Finallytheblack。coatgentp'intsinforanothertalk。
"'Whatisyourname，myporeworm？'saystheblack-coatgent，addressin'ofTexas；'an'whateveravocationhasyouan'yourlostcompanion？'
"IWhy，'saysTexas，'thisyere'sHall——CherokeeHall。HeturnsfarointheRedLight；an'，'continuesTexas，a-lowerin'ofhisvoice，'he'sassquar'agentasevercountedadeck。Actooally，pard，youmightnotthinkit，butallthatgentknowsaboutsettin'upkyards，ordealin'double，oranvsechsinfulscheme，ismeretradition。'
"'Brother，'saysthefemale，bristlin'upan'tacklin'theblack-
coatgent，'don'ttalktothempersonsnomore。Them'sgamblers，an'
mightyawfulmen；'an'withthatshesnatchesawaytheyearlin'slikethey'scontam'nated。
'ThisisrelieftoCherokee，buttheyoung-oneshowlslikecoyotes，an'wantstocomebackan'finishpillagin'him。Butthemothershespanks'em，an'whenTexasisgoin'togive'emsomecartridgesoutenhisbelttoamoose'em，shesasseshimscand'lous，an'allowssheain'tneedin'noattentionsfromhim。ThenshesnortsatTexasan'Cherokeecontemptuous。Theyoung-oneskeepsonyellin'inamightyonmelodiousway，an'whileCherokeeisca'man'don'tseemlikehemindsitmuch，Texasgetssomenervous。AtlastTexaslugsoutabottle，aimin'tocomposehisfeelins'，whichthey'ssomeharrowedbynow。
"`Well，Inever!'shoutsthewoman；'Ishorelyseesinebriateserenow，butatleasttheyhasthedecencynottopullabottlethata-
waybeforealady。'"ThisstampedesTexascomplete，an'hethrowsthewhiskeyoutenthestagean'don'tgetnodrink。"It'salonglateinthemornin'whenthestagestrikestheupperendofApacheCanyon。Thisyerecanyonislatelyreckonedsomebad。Nothin'everhappensontheline，butthemisthedayswhenCochiseiscavortin''roundplentyloose，an'
it'smightypossibletostirupApachesanytimea-layin'inthehillsalongthetrailtoTucson。Iftheyevergetsanotiontostandupthestage，they'sshoreduetobeinthiscanyon；whereforeCherokeean'Texasan'OldMontewho'sdrivin'regardsits'picious。"'Send'emthroughonthejump，Monte，'saysCherokee，stickin'outhishead。"Thesixhosseslinesoutataten-milegait，whichrattlesthings，an'makestheblack-coatgentsigh，whiletheyoung-onespoursforthsomeappallin'shrieks。Thefemalegetsspeshulmadatthis，allowin'
they'splayin'itlowdownonherfam'ly。Butshetakesitoutincuffin'theyearlin'snowan'then，jesttokeep'emyellin'，an'
don'tsaynothin'。"Whichthestageisabouthalfthroughthecanyon，whenuponbothsidesaselectassortmentofWinchestersbeginstobangan'jumppermiscus；thesamegoin'hand-in-handwithwhoopsofonusualmerit。WiththefirstshotOldMontepourstheleatherintotheteam，an'themhossessurgesintothecollarslikecyclones。"It'sluckyaboriginesain'tnoshots。Theyneveryetgetsthephelosophyofahindsightnone，an'generallyyoucan'treachtheirbulletswithaten-footpole，they'sthathighaboveyourhead。TheonlythingasgetshitthistimeisTexas。Aboutthebeginnin'，alittlecloudofdustfliesoutentheshoulderofhiscoat，hisfaceturnspale，an'
Cherokeeknowshe'screased。"'Didtheygetyou，OldMan？'saysCherokee，someanxious。"'No，'saysTexas，tryin'tobracehimse'f。
'I'llbeonvelvetag'ininasecond。Inowlongs，however，forthatwhiskeyIhurlsoverboardsograceful。'"TheApachescomestumblin'downontothetrailan'giveschase，a-shootin'an'a-yellin'aheapzealous。Asthey'sonfoot，an'asOldMonteismakin'fifteenmilesanhourbynow，theymerelymanagestoholdtheirownintherace，aboutfortyyardstother'ar。
"Thisdon'tgoonlongwhenCherokee，afterthinkin'，saystoTexas，'ThisyereisthewayIfiggersit，Ifwe-allskeepson，themInjunsisthatferventtheyrunsinonusattheford。Withhalfluckthey'sduetodowneitherahossorMonte——mebbyboth；inwhicheventthestageshorelystops，an'it'safight。Thisbein'troo，an'asI'm'lectedforwaranyhow，I'mgoin'tocaperoutrightyere，an'pullonthebailemyse'f。This'llstopthechase，an'
betweenus，pard，it'saboutthelastchanceintheboxthisporefemalean'heroffspringshas。An'Iplaysitfor'em，winorlose。'
"'Them'smymotives；saysTexas，tryin'topullhimse'ftogether。
'Shallwetakethishe-shorthornalong？'An'hep'intswherethemfourtenderfootsismixeduptogetherinthebackofthestage。
"'Hewouldn'tbeworthawhitechip，'saysCherokee，'an'you-allistoohardhittogo，Texas，yourse'f。SotakemyregardstoEnrightan'theboys，an'smooththisallyouknowforFaroNell。Imakesthetripalone。'
"'Notmuch，'saysTexas。'Mystackgoestothecenter，too。'
"Butitdon't，though，'causeTexashasbledmore'nhethinks。Thefirstmovehemakeshetipsoverinafaint。
"CherokeepicksuphisWinchester，an'，openin'thedoorofthestage，jumpsplumbfree，an'theyleaveshimtharonthetrail。
"'It'smebbyanhourlaterwhenthestagecomesintoWolfvilleonthelope。Texasisstillinafog，speakin'mental，an'aboutbledtodeath；whilethemexhortin'peopleisoutentheirmindsentire。
"Innotimethar'sadozenofuslinedoutforCherokee。Dowelocatehim？WhichIshouldsayweshorelydiscovershim。Thar'sabulletthroughhislaig，an'tharheiswithhisbackag'inarockwall，hisWinchestertothefront，hiseyesglitterin'，a-holdin'
thecanyon。TharneverisnoInjungetsbyhim。Ofcoursetheystampedespromptwhentheyhearsusa-comin'，sowedon'tgetnofight。
"'Ihopesyounailsone，Cherokee，'saysEnright；'playin'evenonthisyerelaigtheyshoots。'
"'Iwinonce，Ireckons'，saysCherokee，'overbehindthatbigrocktotheleft。'
"'Shoreenoughhe'sgotoneInjunspreadout；an'，comin'alongalittle，JackMooreturnsupasecond。
"'Yere'sanother，'saysJack，'whichbreaksevenonthebulletinTexas。'
"'That'sright，'saysCherokee，'Iremembersnowthanistwo。Thekyardsiscomin'someTast，an'Ioverlooksabet。'
"We-allsgetsCherokeeinallright，an'nextday'roundcomesthefemaletenderfoottoseehim。
"'Iwantstothankmydefender，'shesays。
"'Youain'tondernoobligations，whatever，ma'am'，saysCherokee，risin'upalittle，whileFaroNellputsanothergoose-h'arpilleronderhim。'Isimplypreferstodomyfightin'inthecanyontodoin'itattheford；that'sall。It'sonlyamatterofstraightbusiness；nothin'more'napreferenceIhas。Anotherthing，ma'am；
you-allforgivesit，seein'I'magentonusedtochildishways:butwhenImakestheplayyounames，Isimplyseizesonthemsavagesthata-wayasanexcusetogetloosefromthemblessedchildrenofyour'nawholelot。'"
CHAPTERX。
TEXASTHOMPSON'S"ELECTION。"
"An'betweenus，"remarkedtheOldCattleman，theobservationbeingrelevanttothesubjectofourconversationontheoccasionofoneofourmanyconfabs，"betweenyouan'me，Iain'tnoneshoreaboutthemeritsofwhatyou-allcallslawan'order。Nowapains-takin'
an'discreetvig'lancecommitteeismynotionofabulwark。Letanyoutfittakeabaleofropean'aweekoff，an'iftheircampain'tweededdowntorightprinciplesan'aquietlifeattheendtharof，thenI'vepassedmydaysasvainasanycoyotewhicheveryelps。
"OfcoursethardawnsatimewhenWolfvillehastocometoit，sameasothers。Theytakestodiggin'forcopper；an'theybuildstheBirdCageOp'ryHouse，an'putsinimprovementsgeneral。Weevenculminatesinapaper，whichDocPeetsassuresusistheflowerofourprogress。Nacherallyontheheelsofallthemoutburstswegivesupoursimpleschemes，organizes，an'pullsoffan'lection。ButasOldManEnrightismadealcaldetharby，withJackMooremarshal，thejoltisnotseverenorthechangesofullofnotice。
"It'snotlongpriortotheseyerestampedesintoahighermoonicipallife，however，whenquiteab'ilin'ofusisintheRedLightdiscussin'somesechfuture。Ourrival，RedDog，isallowin'
it'sgoin'tohaveamayororsomethin'，an'wesorterfeelslikeourhandsisforced。
"'Formyse'f，'saysOldManEnright，whenthetopiciscirc'latin'，withthewhiskeyfollowin'suit，an'eachgentisairin'hisideesan'paintin'hisnoseaccordin'tohistaste，'formyse'f，Icanseeitcomin'。Thar'stobelawyerean''lections；an'whileatfirstit'smightylikelybothisgoin'toturnoutdisturbin'elements，stillIlooksontheirapproachwithoutfear。Wolfvilleistoostrong，an'Wolfvilleintelligenceistoowellfounded，toletanylawlocoitorsetittomillin'。'
"'Still，'saysDanBoggs，'ImustremarkIprefersadoolyauthorizedbandofStranglers。Avig'lancecommitteegetsmygamerightalong。They'smorehonestthananyoftheseyerelawsharpswho's'lectedtobeajedge；an'they'saheapmorezealous，whichlastisimportant。'
"'Boggsisright，'repliesEnright。'Itmaynotbecomeme，whoisheadofthelocalbodyofthatsort，tomakeboastsoftheexcellenceofavig'lancecommittee；butIain'tbluffin'onafour-
flushwhenIchallengesanygenttoputhistonguetoaneventwhereavig'lancecommitteestretchesapartywhoain'tinneedtharof；orwhichgoeswastin'itslariatsonthedesertair。Iputsittoyou-
allswithoutheatorpride，gents；JedgeLynchisrighteverytime。'
"'Putmedown，'saysDocPeets，atthesametimemakin'signsforthebarkeeptorememberhismissiononearth，'putmedownascoincidin'inthemsentiments。An'Isaysfurther，thatanypartywho'slookin'fortheplacewherethebadmanisscarce，an'alaw-
abidin'genthasthefullestliberty，peggedouttotheshorestsafetytood，lethimlocatewherehefindsthemostlynchin's，an'
whereavig'lancecommitteeissteadilyengageddiscriminatin'
'roundthroughthecommunity。
Whichacampthusprovidedisamodelofheavenlypeace。'
"'Youcangamble，ifanybody'splumbawareoftheseyoretrooths，it'sme，'
saysTexasThompson。
'WhenI'mdownintheSouthPalodurocountry，workin'apasselofBar-K-7cattle，Iaidsinaneffortto'lectajedgean'institootreg'larshore-'noughlaw；an'thesamecomesmightynearleavin'theentirehamletahowlin'waste。Itdeciminatesaheapofourbestcitizens。
"'Thisyeremisguidedbluffcomestopasspeculiar；an'Iallersallowsifitain'tfortheonforeseenwaywhereinthingsstacksup，an'themuddlewe-allsgetsintotryin'tofindatrail，thePlazaPalodurowouldhavebeenasceneofbleatin'peacethatday，insteadofastric'lycorpse-an'-cartridgeoccasion。Thedeathraterisestothatdegreeinfactthatthenextroundupisshyonmen；an'tharain'tenoughcartridgesincamp，whenthesmokeblowsaway，tobeseedforasecondcrop。Onthesquar'，gents，that'lectiondayontheSouthPalodurowaswhatyou-allsmighttermamassacre，an'getitrighteverytime。'
"'Well，whatofthisyeretoomultuous'lection？'demandsDaveTutt，whogetsimpatientwhileTexasrefresheshimse'finhisglass。'You-
allremindsmeamightysight，Texas，oftheTucsonpreacherwhopullshisfreighttheotherday。Theyputsittohim，theTucsonfolksdo，thathetalksan'hetalks，buthedon'tp'intout；an'heargufiesan'heargufies，buthenevershowswherein。Apartywho'sgoin'tomakeapulpit-play，orshineinArizonaasaracontoor，hasdonegottocult'vateadirect，incisivestyle。'
"'That'sallc'rect，'remarksTexas，somesavage，asherecovershisnoseoutenhisglass；'neveryoufretmenoneaboutmystylenotbein'incisive。Tharbeotherplayswhereanygentwhocomesputtin'
itallovermewithroodean'intemp'rateremarkswillfindmeplentyincisive；nottosaysomesoon:
"'Yere!'interruptsEnright，quickan'sharp。'Thisisplumboutsidetheline。Texasain'tgotnocalltowakeupsomalignantoverwhat'smostlikelynothin'worsethanhumoronTutt'spart；an'，Tutt，itain'tuptoyounoneneither，togospurrin'TexasintheshoulderinthemidstofwhatI'myeretomaintainisamightythrillin'narration。'
"'Texasisgoodpeople，'saysDave，'an'thelastgentwithwhichI
thirststodigupthewar-axe。WhichI'mproudtobehisfriend；an'
ImeansnooffensewhenIsu'geststhathewhirlasmallerloopwhenheonbosomshimse'fofatale。IyeretendersTexasmyhand，assurin'ofhimthatImeansmylanguagean'ain'tholdin'outnothin'。Shake!'An'atthisDavereacheshispistol-handtoTexasThompson，an'thesameisseizedpromptan'friendly。
"`Thisyereismyfault，'saysTexas。'Ireckonsnowmywiferecoverin'thatLaredodivorceI'mmentionin'toyou-alls，sorterleavesmeaheappetulant，thata-way。Buttogobacktothiswar-
jigIwasrelatin'aboutdownatPlazaPaloduro。
"'It'sthisa-way:No，Nellie；thar'snofemaleinit。Thisyeregrowsfromabusinesstransaction；an'theefforttharfromtoimproveonpresentconditions，institootareignoflaw，an'lectajedge。
"'Whichthecomin'ofamiscreantnamedCimmaronPete，fromsome'ersovernearthe'DobyWalls，isthebeginnin'ofthedeal。ThisCimmaronPetecomestrailin'inoneday；an'ashorthorncalledGlidden，whorunsastoreattheford，comesropin'atCimmaronPetetoraceponies。"'"Whatforstakesdoyou-allaimtoracefor？"
demandsthisCimmaronPete。
"'"I'llrunyouforhossan'saddle，"saysGlidden。
"'"Sayhossag'inhoss，"saysCimmaronPete，"an'I'mliabletogoyou。Saddlesishardtoget，an'Iwon'treskmine。Ponies，however，iseasy。Icanget'emeverymoonlightnight。"
"'Whenthemsportsisracin'，——whichtherunistobeaquarterofamile，onlytheyneverfinishes，——jestasCimmaronbeginstopullahead，hisponybein'ashadesuddenerthanGlidden's，whateverdoesthelatterdobutropethisCimmaronPete'sponybythefeetan'
downhim。
"'It'sshorefineworkwithalariat，butitcomeshighforGlidden。
For，ashestampedesby，thisCimmaronturnsloosehissix-shooterfromwherehe'stangledupwithhisbroncoontheground；an'asthefirstbulletgetsGliddeninthebackofhishead，hislightgoesoutlikeacandle。
"'WhenthecommitteelooksintotheplaytheyjestifiesthisCimmaron。"Whileonthesurface，"theysays，"thedealseemsalittleflorid；still，whenagentarmedwithnothin'butacoldsenseofjesticecomestopirootin'plumbthroughtheaffairwithalantern，he'sduetoemergealotwiththeconvictionthatGlidden'swrong。"SoCimmaronisfreeinaminute。
"'Butthar'sGlidden'sstore!Thar'snobodytoclaimit；tharbein'
nofam'lytoGliddennohow；notevenahiredman。
"'"Which，asitseemstobeacaseopentodoubt，"observesthisyereCimmaron，"InacherallytakesthisGliddenparty'sstorean'
dealshisgamemyse'f。"
"'Itain'tmuchofastore；an'bein'astherestofusishavin'
allwe-allscanrideherdonforourse'fs，nogentmakesobjections，an'Cimmaronturnshimse'flooseinGlidden'sstore，an'beginstosellthingsawholelot。He'sshorelydoin'well，Ireckons，whenmebbyit'saweeklaterhecomeschargin'overtoapasselofusan'
allowshewantsthecommitteetosettlesometroublewhichhascuthistrail。
"'"It'saboutthedebtsofthisyereGlidden，deceased，"saysCimmaron。"Isucceedstothebusinessofcourse；whichit'slittleenoughfordepartedropin'myponythattime。Butyou-allscangambleIain'tgoin''waybackonthisyeredeadperson'strail，an'
settleallhisgrayan'hoaryindebtnesses。Woulditberight，gents？Iputsittoyou-allsonthesquar'；doIimmersemyse'f，I'dlikefortobetold，indeceased'sliabilitiesmerelyforresentin'
ofhiswrongsag'inmewithmygun？Ifagentcangoblindlyshootin'himse'fintobankruptcythata-way，theAmericangov'mentisarankloser，an'theStateofTexasisplumbplayedout。"
Whenwe-allsproceedstoferretintothisyeremyst'ry，wefindsthar'sasharpcomeupfromDallaswhoclaimsthatCimmaron'sgottopayhimwhatGliddenowes。ThisyereDallaspartyputssaidindebtednessesatfivestacksofblues。
"'An'thisyerelonghorn'sgot'emtomakegood，"saystheDallassharp，p'intin'atCimmaron，"'causeheinheritsthestore。"
"'Now，whateverdoyou-allsthinkofthat？"saysCimmaron，appealin'
tous。"YereI'vetoldthisperversesportthatGlidden'sdonecashedinan'quit；an'nowhelaysformewiththemindebtednesses。
Itshorelyweariesme。"
"'Itdon'ttakethevig'lancecommitteenotimetoagreeitain'tgotnothin'tosayinthecase。
"'"It'sonlyonkillin's，an'hoss-rustlin's，an'sim'larbreaks。"
explainsOldMonroe，who'schiefofthePaloduroStranglers，"wherewe-allsgetskyards。Weain'tinonwhat'samereopen-an'-shetcaseofdebt。"
"'ButthisDallassharpstaysrightwithCimmaron。Hegivesitoutcoldhe'sgoin'toc'lect。Heputsituphe'llshoresueCimmaronalot。
"'You-allsdon'tmeantosaytharain'tnojedgeyere？"remarkstheDallassharp，whenOldMonroeexplainsweain'torganizednoneforsechgamesaslawcases。"Well，thisyerePlazaPaloduroisforcertainthelocodestcampofwhichIevercutsthetrail!You-allsbettergetahustleonrightnowan''lectajedge。IfIgoesbacktoDallasan'tellsthisstoryofhowyou-allsain'tgotnojedgenornolawyere，theywon'tletthisPlazaPalodurogetcloseenoughto'eminbusinesstohand'emaripepeach。Ifthar'senoughsenseinthiscamptomakebakin'-powderbiscuit，you-allswillhaveajedge'lectedreadyformetohavelawcaseswithbysecond-drinktimeto-morrowmornin'。"
"'Afterhangin'upthisblufftheDallassharp，puttin'onaheapofhawtooran'dog，walksovertothetavernag'in，an'leavesustosizeuptheplayatourlcesure。
"'WhatthisobduratepartyfromDallassays，"finallyremarksOldMonroe，"isnotwith。outwhattheComanchescallstum-tum。Thar'ssaveyan'jesticeinthemobservations。It'smyidee，thattharbein'nojedgeyere，thata-way，tomakeamoneyround-upforagentwhenhisdebtordon'tmakegood，ismightylikelyapalin'offenourfence。Ishorelythinkswebetterrectifythemomissionsan''lectajedgeatonce。"
"'WhichI'mopposedtotheseproceedin's，"interruptsCimmaron。"I'mplumbadversetoco'ts。Themlaw-wolvesgetsinto'em，an'whentheycan'tfindnogatetocomeatyou，theyupsan'pushesdownapaneloffence，an'laysforyou，cross-lots。I'mdeadag'intheseproceedin's。"
"'Seeyere，"saysOldMonroe，turnin'onthisCimmaron，"you-allisbecomin'tooapparentinthiscamp；whatImightdescribeasaheaptooobvious。Nowifyougetsyourstackinag'inwhenitain'tyourturn；orpicksupanybody'shandbutyourown，I'llfindashortwayofknockin'yourhornsoff。Youdon'tseemgiftedenoughtorealizethatyou'reluckytobealiverightnow。"
"'BarCimmaron，wholapsesintosilenceafterOldMonroegiveshimnotice，theentirecamplinesupfav'rableontheideeto'lectajedge。Theysendsovertothecorralan'getsanose-bagfortodepositthevotes；an'it'sdecidedthatOldMonroean'aCross-Z
partynamedRandallhasgottodotherunnin'。Randallisplentyp'lite，an'allowshedon'twanttobejedgenonenohow，an'says，giveittoOldMonroe；butthelattergent，whoisorganizin'theplay，insiststhatitwouldn'tbelegal。
"'"Thar'sgottobetwogentstodotherunnin'，"soOldMonroesays，"oritdon'tgo。The'lectionain'tlegalthata-wayonlessthar'stwocandidates。"
"'TheyputsBroncoCharliean'asportnamedOrmsbyintobe'lectionsupervisors。Theywastoholdthenose-bag；an'asvotesisdroppedin，they'stocount'emoutaccordin'toHoyle，sowe-allscantellwheretheplay'sheadin'。BroncoCharlieisjedgeforRandall，an'Ormsbyfrontsupallsim'larforOldMonroe。The'lectionwe-allsdecidestoholdintheLoneStarSaloon，so'stobeconductedwithcomfort。
"'"Makeyourgame，now，gents，"saysOldMonroe，wheneverythin'isshorelyready。"Getinyourvotes。Theseyerepollsisopenforonehour。"
"'"OneforRandall，"saysBroncoCharlieasOldMonroevotes。
"'"An'oneforOldMonroe，"remarksOrmsbywhenRandallvotesnext。
"'ThisgivesthedealtonetohaveRandallan'OldMonroep'intoutbyvotin'foreachotherthata-way，andtharain'toneofuswhodon'tfeelmorerespectablebyit。
"'It'stheopinionoflevel-headedgentsevenyet，thatthePlazaPalodurocouldhavepulledoffthis'lectionan'gotplumbaway，an'
neverhadnofriction，ifitain'tforaGreaserfromSanAntoniowhotriestoringinonus。Thar'stwenty-oneofushasvoted，an'
itstandsnineforRandallan'twelveforOldMonroe；whenuplopesthisyereMexicanan'allowshe'slocoedtovote。"'Whodoyou-allthinkyou'regoin'tovotefor？"asksOrmsby。
"'"SeniorMonroe，"saystheMexican，p'intin'atOldMonroe。
"'Stopthisdeal，"yellsBroncoCharlie，"'Ichallengesthatvote。
Mexicansisbarred。"
"'WhichMexicansisnotbarred，"repliesOrmsby。"An'thevoteofthisyereenlightenedmaverickfromsouthoftheRioGrandegoes。
ThirteenforOldMonroe。"
"'TwelveforOldMonroe，"remonstratesBroncoCharlie，feelin'forhisgun。
"'ThirteenforOldMonroe，"retortsOrmsby，ashisColt'scomesintoactionan'hebustsBronco'sarmattheelbow。
"'Ashisobstinacyhasdestroyedthefurtherefficiencyofmycolleague，"goesonOrmsby，asheshakesdowntheballotsinthenose-bag，"I'llnowconducttheseyerepollsalone。Gentswhohaven'tvotedwillpleasecomea-runnin'。AsIstatesamomentago，shestandsthirteenforOldMonroe。"
"'An'Isaysshe'stwelveforOldMonroe，"shoutsRedRiverTom，crowdin'for'ard。"'You-allcan'tringinMexicansan'snakenoplayonus。Thisyere'lection'sgoin'tobeonthesquar'，orit'sgoin'
tocomeoffinthesmoke。"
"'Withthis，RedRiver，who'sbeensorterdomineerin'atOrmsbywithhissix-shooterwhilehe'sfreein'hismind，slamsherloose。RedRiverover-shoots，an'Ormsbydownshimwithabulletinhislaig。
"'ThirteenforOldMonroe，"saysOrmsby。
"'Butthat'swherethe'lectionends。Followin'thesubsidenceofRedRiverTom，theairisasfullofleadasabagofbullets。
Throughthesmoke，an'theflashes，an'thenoise，youcanhearOrmsbywhoopin'
"'ThirteenforOldMonroe。"
"'YoucangambleOrmsby'sassquar'a'lectionjedgeasanygentcouldask。YougetsaplayforyourmoneywithOrmsby；buthediesthenextday，soheneveris'lectionjedgenomore。Fivegentsgetsdowned，an'awholecorralfullishurt。I，myse'f，reapssomeleadintheshoulder；an'evenatthatInevergoesnearerthanthesuburbsofthefight。
"'No；CimmaronPeteclawsoffallsound，an'nonewholesinhim。
ButastheDallasparty，whocomescaperin'overwiththefirstshot，islayin'atthewindupoutsidetheLoneStardoor，plumbdefunct，thar'sanendtotherootofthedisorder。
"'The'lectionitse'fislookedonasadraw。OldMonroeallowsthat，allthingsconsidered，hedon'tregardhimse'fas'lectednone；andRandall，whoadoctorisfeelin''roundinforabulletatthetime，sendsoverwordthatheindorsesOldMonroe'sp'sition；
an'thataslongastheDallassharphitsthetrailafterGlidden，an'istharbyabletolookafterhisdebtshimse'f，he，Randall，holdsit'snousedisturbin'ofareturnedsereenity，an'toleteverythin'goasitlays。
"'An'that，'concloodsTexasThompson，ashereachesforhislicker，'iswhatcomesofaneffortatlawan'orderinPlazaPaloduro。I
ain'tover-statin'it，gents，whenIsays，thatthat'lectionleavesmeplumbgun-shyforoverayear。'"
CHAPTERXL。
AWOLFVILLEFOUNDLING。
"DoesJackMoorehavesand？Son，isthisyerequerymeantforhumorbyyou？WhichformeresandtheMohavedesertisafooltoJack。"
TheOldCattleman'sfacewasfullofanearnest，finesincerity。Itwasplain，too，thatmyquestionnettledtheoldfellowabit；asmightadoubtcastatanidol。Butthesharpnesshadpassedfromhistonewhenheresumed"NotonlyisJacklongonsandthata-way，buthe'splumbloadedwithwhatyou-allscalls'nitiative。Leastwisethat'swhatoneoftheseyerefernologistsallows，whostragglesintocampan'goestothumbin'ourbumpsoneday。
"'Whichthisyoungperson，'saysthebumpsharp，whilehisfingersiscaperin'aboutonJack'shead，Iisremarkableforhis'nitiative。
He'sthesortofgentwhobuildshisfirebeforehegetshiswood；
an'issuesmoreinvitestodrinkthanhereceives。Whichhisweakness，speakin'general，isheoverplays。'
"Whichthisyerebumppartymighthavegonewronginhiswagersaheapoftimes；butheshorelycallstheturnonJackwhenhesayshe'ssomestrongon'nitiative。
"An'it'sthisyerepronenessfortheprematoor，an'nacheralwillin'nesstoopenanypotthata-way，thatmakesJacksechaslam-
upoffishul。Bein'fullof'nitiative，likethisfernologiststates，Jackdon'tidlealongontilsomethin'shappened。Notmuch；heabatesitinthebud。
"Oncewhenmostoftheoutfit'soverinTucson，an'Jackissorterholdin'downthecampalone，abandofrustlerscomestrackin'in，allowin'they'llrunWolfvillesome。Which，that'swhereJack's'nitiativeshowsupbig。Hegoesafter'emreadily，likethey'santelope。Themhold-upsisalongmajorityoverJack，an'heeled；
butthatJackstandsthar——rightupag'intheiron——an'hetells'emwhathethinksan'whyhethinksitfor；makeshisminorityreportonto'emallfree，likeheoutnumbers'emtwotoone；an'windsupbybackin'thegamewithhisguninawaythatcommandsconfidence。
"'You-allshearsmyremarks，'hesaysattheclose，brieflyflashin'
hissix-shootersontheoutfit；'tharain'tnobandofbadmeninArizonacantreethistownan'meinformed。Nowgoslow，orI'lljeststretchafewofyouforluck。It'ssechconsoomin'toil，a-
diggin'ofsepulchersinthisyererock-ribbedlandscape，orI'ddoitanyhow。'
"An'tharuponthemrustlers，notin'Jack'sgotthedropon'em，kicksupadensecloudofdustanisseennomore。
"Butbein'repletewithsandan''nitiative，thata-way，don'tstatealltharisgoodofJack。Letanypore，he'plesspartycutJack'strail，an'he'splumbtender。OnsechtimesJack'sadove；leastwisehe'sadoveawholelot。
"Onehotafternoon，Enrightan'DocPeetsisawayaboutsomecattleIreckons。Whichtherestofusisnoomerousenough；an'we'resorterrevolvin''roundthepost-office，a-waitin'forOldMontean'
thestage。Yereshecomes，final，a-rattlin'an'a-creakin'；thatolddrunkardMontea-poppin'ofhiswhip，thesixhossesonthecanter，an'thewholesheebangputtin'onmoredogthanaMexicanofficerofrevenoo。Whenthestagedrawsup，OldMontethrowsoffthemailbagsan'theWells-Fargobox，an'getsdownan'opensthedoor。Butnobodyemergesout。
"'Well，I'macoyote!'saysMonte，aheapdisgusted，`whereveristhefemale？'
"Thenwe-allspeersintothestagean'thar'sonlyababy，withmebbyaten-months'startdownthisvaleoftears，inside；an'nomothernornothin'along。JackMoore，jestasIsayswhenIbegins，reachesinan'getshim。Thebabyain'tsayin'nothin'，an'sortertakesitoutinsmilin'onJack；whichlastpleaseshimexcessive。
"'Heknowsmeforahundreddollars!'saysJack。'I'manApacheifheain'tallowin'heknowsme!Whereverdidyougethim，Monte？'
"'Givemeadrink，'saysMonte，p'intin'alongintotheRedLight。
'Thisyeremakesmesick。'
"AfterOldMontegetsaboutfourfingersofcarnationonderhisbelt，heturnsinan'explainsashowthemotherstartsalonginthestageallrightenoughfromTucson。Thelasttimeheseesher，soheputsitup，isatthelaststationbacksometwentymilesinthehills；an'hes'posesallthetimelater，she'sinsideridin'herdonherprogeny，ontilnow。
"'Idon'treckon，'saysOldMonte，lookin'gloomy-likeattheinfant，'thatladyisaimin'tosawthisyoreyoung-oneontothestagecompanynone？'
"'Don'tupsetyourwhiskeyfrettin'aboutthecompany，'saysJack，a-plantin'oftheinfantonthebar，whilewe-allscrowdsinforalookathim。`Thecamp'llplaythishand；an'thecompanyain'tgoin'tobeinitalittlebit。'
"'IwishEnrightan'Peetswasyere，'saysCherokeeHall，'tobeheardhereon；whichIshoredeemsthisagraveoccasion。Yerewe-
allsfindsourse'fspossessedofanonexpectedchildoftenderyears；an'thequestionnacheralenoughis，whatever'llwedowithit？'
"'Let'smaverickit，'saysDanBoggs，who'samightygoodman，butonthinkfulthata-way。
"'No，'saysCherokee；'itsmother'llcomehoppin'alongto-morrow，a-yellin'。ThisyeresotMontehasjestdonedroveoffan'lefthersome'ersupthetrail；she'llcomeromancin'alongintime。'
"'Meanwhile，'saysJack，'theinfant'sgottobetookcareof，towhichdootyIvolunteers。Thar'satenderfoota-sleepin'intheroombackofthedance-hall，an'he'sthat'feminatean'effeet，he'sgotashore-'noughbedan'somegoose-ha'rpillers；whichthesameIdoyerebyconfiscatetopublicusetotakecareofthisyearlin'。Isthesentimentpleasin'？'
"'Jack'sschemeisright，'saysBoggs；'an'I'mpresenttoannouncehe'sallersright。Lettheshorthorngosleeponderamesquite-bush；
it'lldohimgoodawholelot。'
"'I'msomedoobersomeofthisplay，'saysCherokee。'Smallinfantsismightymyster'ouspeople，an'nolivin'gentiseverontotheirgamean'abletoforeseetheirneeds。Doyou-allreckonnowyoucantakecareofthisyereyoung-one，Jack？Beyouequaltoit？'
"'Takecareofasmallbabylikethis'saysJack，plentyscornful；
'whichthesameain'tweighin'twentypounds？Well，it'llbesomefunnyifIcan't。Icouldbreakevenwithhimifhe'sfourtimesasbig。AllIasksisforyou-allstostandbyincrisisesan'backtheplay；an'，thatsettled，youcangomakesidebetswe-allscomesoutwinnersonthedeal。'
'Iain'tabsolootlyshore，'saysDaveTutt，'bein'someshyofpracticewithinfantsmyse'f，butjedgin'byhislookin'smoothan'
silky，Ioffersfiftydollarsevenheain'tweanednoneyet。'
"'Iwon'tbetnoneonhisbein'weanedcomplete；saysJack，'butI'llhangupfiftyhedrinksoutenabottleaseasyasOldMonte!
"'I'llgoyouonce，'saysTutt；'it'sfiftydollarsevenhegrowscontemptuousatabottle，an'disdainsit。'
"Whichwe-allstalksitoveran'decidesthatJack'stonursesaidinfant；afterwhichapasselofusproceed'stomakeaprocessionforthetenderfoot'sbed，whichheshorelyresignswithoutastruggle。WepacksitbacktoJack；an'CherokeeHallan'Boggsthengoesovertothecorralan'laysforagoattomilkher。Thisyeregoatismightyreluctant，an'refusestoenterintothesperitofthething；buttheyswingsan'rastleswithher，makestheirp'intrightalong，an'afterafrightfultimecomesbackwith'mostadipper-full。
"'That'sallright，'saysJack，who'sdonecampedinaroombackoftheRedLight，'nowhopoutan'tellthebarkeeptogiveyouapintbottle。We-allshasthisyeregamepayin'div'dendsintwominutes。'
"Jackgetshisbottlean'fillsherupwithgoat'smilk；an'makesastopperoutencottonclothan'molassesfortheinfanttodrawitthrough。Whichit'saboutthistimetheinfantputsupayell，an'
refusespeaceag'intillJackgiveshimhissix-shootertoplaywith。
"'Whichshowsmyconfidenceinhim，'saysJack。'Thar'sonlyafewfolksleftI'llpassmygunto。'
"Jackgetsalongwithhimfirst-rate，a-feedin'ofhimthegoat'smilk，whichhegoesforwithavidity；tharbynettin'JackthatfiftyfromDaveTutt。BoggsbuildsafiresoJackkeepsthemilkwarm。
Jackturnsloosethatearnesthedon'tevengofornogrub；jestnacherallyhas'empackittohim。
"'We-alls'llhavetostandnightgyardsonthisyerefoundlin'to-
night，Ireckons？"asksBoggsofJack，whenhe'sbringin'Jackthings。
"'Is'posemostlikelywe'llhavetomakeaplaythata-way，'saysJack。
"'Allright，'saysBoggs，tappin'hisshirtwithhispistol-finger；
'you-allknowsmean'Cherokee。We'reinonthisyereanytimeyousays。'
"SoabandofussortercampsalongwithJackan'theinfantontilmebbyit'ssecond-drinktimeatnight。Theinfantdon'traisethewar-yellonce；jesttakesitoutingoat'smilk；an'inlaughin'，an'playin'withJack'sgun。
"'Excuseme，gents，'finallysaysJack，mightydignified，'butI'vebeenfiggerin'thisthing，an'Iallowsit'stimetobedthisyereyoung-onedownforthenight。Ifyou-allswillwithdrawsome，I'llseehownearIcomestomakin'runnin'ofit。Staywithinwhoopin'
distance，though；soifhetriestostampedeortakestomillin'I
cangethe'p。'
"We-allslinesoutan'leavesJackan'theinfant，an'turnsinonfaroan'pokeran'sim'lardeviceswhichisbein'wagedintheRedLight。Mebbyit'sanhourwhenJackcomesin。
"'Boggs，'hesays；'s'poseyou-allsetsinan'playsmyhandaminutewiththatinfantchild，whileIgoesoveran'adjournsthemfrivolitiesinthedance-hall。Itlookslikethisyerecampisspeshultoomultuousto-night。'
"Boggsgoesinwiththeinfant，an'Jackproceedstothebailehousean'statesthecase。
"'Idon'twanttoonsettlethereg'larprogramme，'saysJack，'butthisyereyoung-oneI'mresponsiblefor，getsthatengagedinthesoundsoftheseyererevels，itdon'tlooklikehe'sgoin'tosleepnone。Soifyou-allswillcallthelastwaltz，an'windherupforto-night，it'llshorelybeahe'p。Thekid'smother'llbeyerebysun-up；whichheradventthata-wayalterstheplayall'round，an'
mattersthengoesbacktooldlines。'
"'Enoughsaid，'saysJimHamilton，whorunsthedance-hall。'Youcangamblethistempleofmirthain'tlayin'downonwhat'sright，an'
tonight'sshindigclosesrightyere。Allpromenadetothebar。Wetakesadrinkonthehouse，quits，an'callsitaday。'
"ThenJackcomesback，aheapgravewithhiscares，an'relievesBoggs；who'sonwatch，straddledofachair，a-eyein'oftheinfant，who，a-settin'upag'inagoose-ha'rpiller，islikewisea-eyein'ofBoggs。
"'He'sa'wayupgoodinfant，Jack，'saysBoggs，givin'uphisseat。
"'Youcanbetyourlifehe'sagoodinfant，'saysJack；'butitshorelookslikehedon'taimtoturninan'slumbernone。Mebbythegoat'smilkistooinvigeratin'for'him，an'keepshimawakethata-way。'
"Aboutanotherhourgoesby，an'outcomesJackintotheRedLightag'in。
"'Iain'taimin'todisturbyou-allsnone，'hesays，'but，gents，ifyou-allscouldclosethesegamesyere，an'shetupthestore，I'lltakeitasapersonalfavor。Hecanheartheclickofthechips，an'
it'stoomanyforhim。Don'tgoaway；jestcloseupan'sortercamp'roundquiet。'
"Whichwe-allsdoesasJacksays；closesthegames，an'thensets'roundinourchairsan'keepsquiet，a-waitin'fortheinfanttoturnin。Ahalf-hourlaterJackappearsag'in。
"'Itain'tnouse，gents，'hesays，goin'backofthebaran'
gettin'abigdrink；'thatchildisontous。Hewon'thaveit。Youcangamble，he'sfixeditupwithhimse'fthatheain'tgoin'tosleepnoneto-night。Iallowsit's'causehe'samongrankstrangers，an'hefiggersit'sagoodsafeplaytolookouthisgameforhimse'f。'
"'Iwondercouldn'twesinghimtosleep，'saysCherokeeHall。
"'Nothin'ag'inatry，'saysJack，somedesp'rate，wipin'hislipsafterthedrink。
"'S'posewe-allsgiveshim"TheDyin'Ranger"an'"SandyLand"foranhourorso，an'see，'saysBoggs。
"Inwetrails。Cherokeelinesupononesideoftheinfant，an'Jackont'other；an'therestofustakeschairsan'camps'round，Westartsinan'shoresingshimallweknows；an'wekeepsitupforhours。Allthetime，thatchildisa-settin'thar，a-battin'hiseyesan'a-starin'，sleeplessasowls。ThelastIremembersisBoggs'svoiceon'SandyLand'
"'Greatbigtatersonsandyland，Getthar，Eli，ifyoucan。'
"ThenextthingI'mawareof，thar'sawhoopan'ayelloutside。We-
allswakesup——allexcepttheinfant，who'swideawakeallalong——
an'yereitis；fouro'clockinthemornin'，an'themotherhascome。Comesoveronaspeshulbuckboardfromthestationwherethatoldinebriate，Monte，droveoffan'lefther。Well，son，everybody'splumbwillin'an'gladtoseeher。An'forthatmatter，splittin'
even，so'stheinfant。"
CHAPTERXII。
THEMANFROMYELLOWHOUSE。
"That'sstraight，son；youshorelyshouldhaveseenJackMoore，"
continuedtheOldCattleman，afterabriefpause，ashehitchedhischairintoacomfortableposition；"notseein'Jackiswhatanygentmightcalldeeprivation。
"Backintheolddays，"hewenton，"JackMoore，asIrelates，iskettle-tenderan'doestheropeworkoftheStranglers。WhateveristheStranglers？WhichyouasksBornelate。Imentionsthisassemblyaheapfrequentyeretofore。Well，somefolkscalls'ernthe'vig'lancecommittee'；butthat'slongforaname，soinWolfvilleweallersalloodedto'emas`Stranglers。'Thisyereisbrief，an'
likewiseshedssomelight。
"ThisJackMoore——whichI'mproudtosayhe'smyfriend——IreckonsisthemostprobonopublicogentintheSouthwest。He'souttodoanythin'fromfighttofiddleatadance，so'sit'sapublicplay。
"An'thenhisideesabouthisdootiesiswide。Hejestscoutsfaran'near，an'don'tpaynomoreheedtodistancean'fatiguethanasteerdoestocobwebs。
"'Aoffishul，"saysJack，'whodon'tdiffusehimse'f'roundnone，an'confineshisendeavorstohisownbailiwick，isreestrictedan'
oneffectooal，an'couldn'tkeepdowncrimeinavillageofprairie-
dogs。'An'thenhe'dcinchonhissaddle，an'mebbygocurvin'offasfarnorthastheFlintHills，oreasttotheTurkey-track。
"That'sright；whenitcomestobein'active，Jackiswhatyoumightcallanall-roundseelection。An'cleanstrain？Gameashornets。
Neverknowedhimtoquitanythin'inhislife——notevenwhiskey。I
saystohimmyse'fonetime:'Jack；whyeverdon'tyourenigonwhiskey？Lookslikeit'ssortergettin'behindyousome，ain'tit？
Somedaymebbyitoutholdsyouwhenyoucan'tstandtolose。'
"'SometimesIthinksI'llpassitup，myse'f，'saysJack，'butdon'tyouknow，Ican'tdoit。I'mtoosperited，thata-way，an'
chivalrous。That'swhatever!I'mtoochivalrous。'An'Ishorereckonshewas。
"Butasfordoin'hisdooty!WhichthesameissimplyrelaxationtoJackMoore。Irecallsoneinstancespeshul。Onedaytharcomestrailin'alongintoWolfvilleapartyfromdown'roundYallerhousesome'ers。ThisyereYallerhousegentlooksdisperitedan'offcolorastohealth。Butofcoursewe-allsdon'trefernonetoit；forwhetherthisstranger'ssickorwellishisbusiness，notours；
leastwiseinitsfirststages。Thisyere'sbeforeDocPeetsinhabitsWolfvilleorhe'dinformedustouchin'thisparty'sthata-way。
"WhichtheYallerhousegenttracksalongintotheRedLight，an'
tellsthebarkeeptosetoutthenose-paint。Hedrinksalone，notinvitin'ofthepop'lace，wherebyweknowsforshorehe'soffenhisfeed。
"Well，afterhecorralshisfortydrops，thisinvalidcampsdowninonecornerofthestagestation，an'nextmornin'hewakesupoutenhisheadan'plumblocoed。
"'ThisyereYallerhouseman，'saysDanBoggs，comin'alongintotheRedLightaboutfirst-drinktimethesamemornin'，an'speakin'
general，'iswhatconserv'tiveopinionmightcall"somesick。"I
stopsaminuteagoan'askshimhowhe'sstackin'uplike，butitain'tnouse。He'splumboffhismentalreservation，an'crazyasawoman'swatch。'
"'Whateverdoyouallowisthematterofhim，Boggs？'asksOldManEnright。
"'Smallpox，'saysBoggs，mightyconfident。
"'Smallpox!'repeatsEnright；'beyoushore？'
"'That'swhatIsays，'answersBoggs；'an'youcangamblemylongsuitispickin'outsmallpoxeverytime。Iknowsthesignalsmokelikemyowncampfire。'
"'Well，seeyere，'saysDaveTutt，who'scomein，'IjestnowroundsupthemsymptomsofthisYallerhousegent；an'talkin'ofsmallpox，Ioffersahundreddollarsevenheain'tgotnosmallpox。Bein'outsolelyforlegit'matesport，'continuesTutt，'an'notaimin'tooffendBoggsnone，Iwillin'lycallsitfiftytoonehundredheain'tgotnothin'。'
"'WhichItakesbothbets，'saysBoggs，'an'deems'emeasy。Whichbothislikerobbin'abird's-nest。Yere'sthecirc'latin'medium。
Thar；coveritan'fileitawaywiththebarkeeptowaitresults。'
SoTuttan'Boggsmakestheirbetsmightyeager，an'thebarkeepholdsthestakes。
"AssoonasitgetsblownthroughWolfvillethisYallerhousepartyhassmallpox，everybodycomescanterin'overtotheRedLight，getsadrink，an'wantstoholdamassmeetin'overit。Bypartic'larrequestEnrighttakesthechairan'calls'emtoorder。