"'Thisyeremeetin'，'saysEnright，meanwhilebeatin'withthebuttofhissix-shooteronthepoker-table，'issomesuddenan'
　　permiscus；buttheobjectsiseasyan'plain。We-allsconvenesourse'fstoconsiderthephysicalconditionofthispartyfromYallerhouse，whichreportsaysislocoedan'can'ttalknoneforhimself。Tomakethisinquiryasuccess，we-allsoughterseethisYallerhousegent；an'astharisfewerofhimthanofus，Iapp'intsJackMoore，DanBoggs，an'ShortCreekDave，acommittee，ofthree，tobringhimbeforeusinabody。Pendin'thereturnofthecommitteethemeetin'willtakeadrinkwiththechair。'
　　"Inaboutnotimebackcomestheoutfit，packin'theYallerhousemanalleasyenoughinablanket，an'spreadshimoutonthefloor。Helookssorterred'roundinspots，likesomethin'sbeenstingin'ofhim，butit'sevident，asBoggssays，he'slocoed。Helaysthar，rollin'hiseyesan'carryin'ontohimse'f，buthedon'taddressthechairoroffertotakenopartinthemeetin'。Enrightquaffshisdrinkallslowan'dignified，an'gazesattheYallerhousemanonthefloor。
　　"'Well，gents，'saysEnrightatlast，settin'downhisglass，an'
　　givin'thepoker-tablealittletapwithhisgun，'yere'stheparty，an'thequestionisnow:"What'shegot？"DoIhearanyremarks？'
　　"'Bein'inthelines，MisterPres'dent，'saysBoggs，'ofpreviousassertion，an'forthepurposeofbringin'thequestionsquar'
　　beforethishouse，InowmovesyouthisyereYallerhousepartyhasthesmallpox。Iain'taimin'hereinatplayin'itlowonTutt，an'
　　su'geststhatthechair，inputtin'thequestion，alsoinformsthemeetin'astothemwagers；whichthemoneytharofisnowinthewar-
　　bagsofthebarkeep。Ibelievesingivin'everygentallnecessarylightwhereintomakeuphismind；an'，asIsays，toopenthegamealllogical，Iag'inmovesthisYallerhousemanhasthesmallpox。'
　　"'Yotambien，'yellsaMexicanovernearthedoor。
　　"'PutthatGreaserout!'shoutsEnright，atthesametimebangin'
　　thetable。'Thisain'tnointernationalincidentatall，an'nothin'
　　buttheclean-strainAmericanwolfiseligibletohowl。'
　　"TheGreasergoesoutonhissaddle-coloredhead，an'EnrightputsBoggs'smotion。
　　"'Everygent，'saysEnright，'infavorofthisYallerhousemanhavin'thesmallpox，say"Aye"；contrary"No。"'
　　"Everybodyshouts'Aye!'
　　"'Whichthe"Ayes"hasitunanimous，'saysEnright。'TheYallerhousepartyhasthesmallpox，an'thenextchickenontheparliamentaryroostisthequestion:"Whateveristobedonetomakethisyeremaladyasuccess？"Istharanysu'gestions？'
　　"'MisterPres'dent，'saysTexasThompson，risin'inhisplace，'I'vedonetooknohandintheseproceedin'ssofar，throughignoranceofthepurposesofthisyereconvocation。Saidpurposesbein'nowforthefirsttimelinedoutallrightinmymind，an'thequestionbein'，"What'stobedonewithourcaptive？"Iasksyourindulgence。
　　Myfirstideeisthatourdootyan'ourpathisplain；thesamebein'simplytotakealariatan'hangthisYallerhousepersontothedance-hallwindmill；butthiscourse，onsecondthought，seemsprematooran'theoffspringsofnacheralimpulse。Still，somethin'
　　mustbedone；an'whilemymindisbynomeanscl'ar，Isu'gestsweturnthegentovertoJackMoore，whichisthemarshalhereof，torideherdonhimtillfurtherorders；an'Imakesamotiontothateffect。'
　　"'Secondsthemotion!'saysShortCreekDave。
　　"'Youdon'thavetoputthatmotion，MisterPres'dent，'saysJack；
　　'I'vebeencirelin'theideesomemyse'f，an'Ireckonsit'smydootytotakechargeofthisYallerhousegent。Youcanbetanythin'
　　whichgetssawedontomeasmydootygoes，an'don'tmakenodoubtaboutit。Yere'showItrailsoutonthis:Ifitain'tmydootytotakecareofthisperson，whosedootyisit？'Tain'tnobody's。
　　TharforeIplaysthehand。'
　　"'Whichthesamebein'eminentsatisfactory，'saysDaveTutt，risin'，asifhethinksofsomethin'speshul，'InowinquireswhetherthisyereishelddecisiveofthembetsImakeswithBoggs。
　　Iholdin'，meanwhile，contraryviewsemphatic。'
　　"'Thisbein'aquestionofpriv'lege，'saysEnright，'thechairwillanswerit。Theseproceedin'sdecidesyourbetswithBoggs，an'thebarkeeppaysBoggsthedinero。Thisisagov'mentofthepeople，forthepeople，bythepeople，an'foundedonavoxpopulibluff。Thevoiceofthemajoritygoes。YoutharforeloseyourbetstoBoggs；
　　drinksonBoggs，ofcourse。Tharisanothermatter，'continuesEnright，'abetweoverlooks。Takin'careofthisYallerhousegentwillcostastackortwo，an'meansmustbeprovided。Itharforemakesasanorderthatyereafterthar'stobearakeontens-uporbetter，showed，tomakeafundtobackthisplay；saidraketogoontilMisterMoorereportssaidYallerhousegentassafeorceasedtobe。'
　　"JacktakesthisYallerhousepartyovertothecalaboosean'layshimawayonsomeblankets。Thecalabooseisdry，an'whatyou-allsmightcall，commodious。It'saslam-upcamp；yesindeed!NeverhasbutSteveStevensoninit。PutsSteveinonenightwhenhe'sdead-
　　drunk。Thecalabooseisnewthen，an'we-allsisthatproudan'
　　anxioustotryitan'putittosomeuse，wecouldn'tresist，soinStevegoes。
　　"AboutfourhourslaterStevecomesbackuptotheRedLight，hotter'naburntboot。Seemslikehecomesto，an'isthatoutragedan'indignantaboutbein'corralledthata-way，hebuststhecorneroutenthecalaboosean'issuesforthawholelottofindwhodoesit。
　　"WhenhecomesintotheRedLighthereviveshimse'fwithadrink，an'theninquireswhetherit'shumorous，ordowemeanit？Seein'
　　howspeshullowStevetakesit，we-allsallowsit'sajoke；an'
　　Steve，whileheevidentfeelssomefretted，concloodstoletitgoatthat。
　　"ButonaccountoftheholethroughwhichSteveemerges，an'whichhemakesliberalan'big，thecalabooseisamightycommodiousplace。SoJackbedsdowntheYallerhousemanallrightan'startsintobringin'himthrough。Therestofusdon'tcrowd'roundnonetowatchtheplay，don'thoveroveritthata-way，'causeweain'taimin'toacquirenothin'ourse'fs。
　　"Jackhasaheapoftroublean'worry。Neverseesnosmallpoxdoyou？Folkslocoedmostusual，——cleanoffupintheairan'pitchin'
　　ontheirropes。OfcoursetheYallerhousegenthasallheneeds。
　　Thatrakeontens-upthemdayswouldhavetookcareofafam'ly。ButhekeepsJackherdin'himallthetime。Otherwise，notbein'
　　watched，an'crazythata-way，he'sliabletocomestampedin'overtotheRedLight，orsome'erselse，anytime，an'skeerusupsome。
　　"'He'saworld-beater，'saysJackoneday，whenhecomesoverforadrink。'He'sshorelyfourkingsan'anace。Youcan'tridehimwithbuckin'-strapsan'aSpanishbit。It'sgotsonow——hisdiseasebein'
　　atacrisislike——thatIsimplyhastobewiththisYallerhousepartydayan'night。He'dshorelylaywastethiscampifIdidn't。'
　　"AtlasttheYallerhousepartyan'Jacksomehowbeatsthesmallpox，butYallerhousecomesoutshyaneye。ThesmallpoxgougesitoutoneofthemtimeswhenJackain'tlookin'outhisgamesharp。It'shispistoleye，too；whichmakeshimfeelthelossmorekeen，an'
　　createsgeneralsympathy。TheYallerhousemangetssomemoroseoverit，whichain't，afterall，onnacheral。Agentain'tgotsomanyeyeshecanaffordtogoshortoneoneverylittlegameheplays。SohefindsfaultwithJackalot，an'allowsifhehashimbackintheStateshe'dsuehimforneglectofdooty。
　　"'Which，Ishorelylikesthat!'saysJacktotheYallerhouseparty，gettin'peevishoverhisfault-findin'。'Don'tyouknowit'smerelyowin'tothemercyofhellan'mywatchfulcare，you-allain'tbustin'yourharp-stringsan'raisin'allrounddiscordamongtheheavenlyhostsonhighrightnow，insteadofbein'safean'wellyereinWolfville？Youdon'tactlikeagentwhosaveyswhenhemakesawinnin'。S'poseyoubeaneyeout；you'restilllookin'atthingsterrestrialwiththeother。Youtalksofgrossneglectofdooty!Nowletmeinformyouofsomethin':Youcomepesterin''roundmesomemorean'I'llbendagunoveryourhead。'
　　"'Whichifitain'tmysix-shootereyewhich'sout，'saystheYallerhouseparty，mightyugly，'doyouknowwhatI'ddo？Well，thisyerewouldbethebasisofafirst-classgun-play。Youcangambletharwouldn'tbenojim-crowmarshalgopirootin''round，losin'noeyeofminean'gettin'awaywithit，an'thentalkofbendin'gunsonme；nonewhatever。'
　　"ButitallpreysonJack。An'a-seein'ofthisYallerhousegent'roundcampa-lookin'athiminafault-findin'wayoutenhisoneeyesorteraggravatesJacklikeit'sanightmare。
　　"'Iwouldn'tminditsomuch，'saysJacktome，confidential，'ifthisYallerhousegentquitsalaigoranarmbehind，'causeinwhicheventwepieceshimoutwithwood，easy。Butabouteyes，it'sdifferent。Aneyeoutisaneyeout；an'thatsettlesit。'
　　"OnedayJackcan'tb'aritnolonger，an'，resolvin'toendit，hewalksuptotheYallerhousepartyintheRedLight，allbriskan'
　　brief。
　　"'It'saroughdealonaone-eyedgent，'saysJack，'an'Ishoreaskspardonan'statesregretsinadvance。Butthingshasgottoashow-down。I'mslowlybecomin'onfitforpublicdooty。Nowyere'sanoffer，an'youcanhaveeitherend。You-allcangetahossan'ahundreddollarsofme，an'pullyourfreight；oryoucanfixyourse'fwithagunan'haveamightystirrin'an'eventfultimewithmerightyere。Asanoutcomeofthelast，thepublicwillhaveoneofustoplant，an'mebbyavacancytofillinthepostofkettle-tender。Whichisit，an'whatdoyousay？'
　　"'Whatforahossisshe？'askedtheYallerhouseparty。
　　"'Whichshe'sapinto，'saysJack；'asexcellentapaintponyaseverisroped。'
　　"'Doesthisyerethreatyou-allmakesincloodeasaddlean'spurs？'
　　askstheYallerhouseparty。
　　"'Itshorelydoes，'repliesJack。'Isitago？'
　　"'Well，'saystheYallerhouseman，afterponderin'ituponewayan'
　　downtheother，'thisideeofsettlin'foreyesforahossan'ahundreddollarsisfarfrombein'usualwithme。IfIhasmyeyeag'in，I'dshorelystayan'shootitout，an'admiretobepresent。
　　Butnowsechthoughtsisvanity。Soroundupyourmoneyan'yourponyattheRedLightinfifteenminutesbythewatch，an'assoonasIgetsabottlefilledI'mreadytogo。Ishorelyshouldnotregretleavin'an'outfitwhichputsfolksinjailforbein'sick，an'connivesbyrecklessan'criminalneglectofdootyattheirbein'blindedforlife。'"
　　CHAPTERXIII。
　　JACKSUPONEIGHTS。
　　"No；youcanhazardyourwealthalot，thar'snosooperstitionlurkin''roundinmeormyenvirons；nonewhatever。Iattachesnoimportancetowhatyou-allcallsomens。"
　　Somebodyhadundertakenadisquisitionondreams，andattemptedtociteinstanceswherethefuturehadbeenindicatedinthesehazyvisionsofoursleep。ThishadservedtoturntheOldCattleman'strainofthoughtupontheweird。
　　"Thar'ssigns，ofcourse，towhichI'dshorelybow，nottosaypayabsorbin'heed。IfsomegentwithwhomIchoosestodiffertouchin'
　　somematterthat'saheaprelevantatthetime，upsan'reachesforhisgunabrupt，itfillsmefullofpreemonitionsthatthenearfutureismightyliabletobecomeloadedwithleadan'interestforme。Nowthar'sanomenIdon'tdiscount。ButafterallIain'tconsentin'tocallthemapprehensionsofminethefrootofnosooperstition，neither。I'mmerelychary；that'sall。
　　"It'sCherokeeHallwhoiswhatIonhesitatin'lydescribesassooperstitious。Cherokeeisafflictedbymoresignsan'omensincarryin'onhisbusinessthananalmanac。It'sawaykyardsharpsgetsinto，Ireckons；sortergrowsoutentheirtrade。LeastwiseI
　　nevercreepsupononeyetwhoain'tbein'guidedbyallsortsofmiraclesan'warnin'sthata-way。An'sometimesitdoeslookliketheyacquiresap'interthatcomesto'emonstraightlines。As'llustratin'thisyerelast，itreturnstomesomevividhowCherokeean'Boggsgetstoprophesyin'oneday，an'howtheycallsofftheplaybetween'emsoplumbc'rrectthata-way，it'smorethanamazin'；it'ssinister。
　　"It'sahotAugustday，thisoccasionIhasinmind，an'whilenotpossessin'oneofthemheat-gaugestosayackerate，I'mallowin'
　　it'sridin'hardonsechweatherasthis。Abandofusisatthepost-officea-wrastlin'ourletters，whenintrailsCherokeeHalllookin'somemoody，an'setshimse'fdownonabox。
　　"'Whichyou-allnodoubtallowsyou'lltakesomemissivesyourse'fthismornin'，'saysDocPeets，a-noticin'ofhisgloom，an'aimin'
　　top'inthisideesupsomeothertrail。Doc，himse'f，isfeelin'
　　somegala。'PassoverthemdocumentsforCherokeeHall，an'don'tholdoutnothin'ontous。We-allsis'waytoopeevishtostandanyoffishulgaietiesto-day。'
　　"'Thar'snooneweak-minded'noughtowritetomenone，'saysCherokee。`WhichIremarksthisyerephenomenonwithpleasure。Mail-
　　bagspacksmoregriefthanjoy，an'Iain'thonin'fornohandinthegamewhatever。It'sfifteenyearssinceIbuysastamporgetsaletter，an'allthirsttharforisassuagedcomplete。'
　　"'Fifteenyearsisshorealongtime，'saysEnright，sortertohimse'f，an'thenwe-allshopsintoourlettersag'in。FinallyCherokeebreaksinoncemore。
　　"`Iain'taimin'toinvestWolfvilleinnosooperstitiousfears，'
　　saysCherokee，'an'ImerelychroniclesasacurrenteventhowIwassettin'intoalittlepokerlastnight，an'threetimesstraightI
　　picksup"thehandthedeadmanheld，"jacksuponeights，an'itwinseverytime。'
　　"`Wholosetoit？'asksDanBoggs。
　　"'Why，'saysCherokee，'it'severytimethatoldlonghornascomesinfromTucsonbacksometwoweeksago。'
　　"'Thatsettlesit，'saysBoggs，mightydecided。'Youcanbetyoursaddlean'throwtheponyin，Deathisfixin'hissightsforhimrightnow。It'sshorelyawarnin'，an'I'mplumbgladitain'tnoneoftheboys；that'sall。'
　　"YouseethisyerestrangerwhoCherokeealloodsatcomesoverfromTucsonalittlewhilebefore。Hehaslongwhiteha'ran'beard，an'，jedgin'fromtheringsonhishorns，he'smebbya-comin'sixty。Heseemslikehe'splentyofmoney，an'wetakesithe'sallright。Hisleavin'Tucsonshowshehassense，sowecasheshiminathisfigger。Ofcoursewe-allsneveraskshisnamenone，asaskin'namesan'lookin'atthebrandsonaponyisspeshulroodeintheWest，an'showsyourbringin'up；butheallowshe'scalled'OldBillGentry'totheboys，an'hean'FaroNell'spartic'larfriendly。
　　"'Talkin'tohim，'saysNell，'islikelayin'intheshade。Heknowseverythin'，too；allaboutbooksan'thingsallovertheworld。Hewasa-tellin'me，too，ashowhehadadaughterlikemethatdied'waybacksome'ersaboutwhenIwasayearlin'。Hefeelsaheapbadaboutityet，an'Igetssosorryforhim；sooldan'
　　white-ha'red。'
　　"'An'youcangamble，'saysDaveTutt，'ifNelllikeshim，he'sallright。'
　　"'IfNelllikeshim，thatmakeshimallright，'saysCherokee。
　　"We-allsisstilltalkin'an'readinoverourmailinthepost-
　　office，whenallatoncewehearsJackMooreoutside。
　　"'What'sthisyereliteratoorasaffrontsmyeyes，pastedontotheoutsideofUncleSam'swickeyup？'saysJack，mightytruculent。We。
　　allsgoesout，an'thar，shore-'nough，isanoticeofferin'fifteenhundreddollarsrewardforsomesharpwho'sbeena-standin'upthestageovertowardsPrescott。
　　"'Whoevertacksthisup？Iwonder，'saysEnright。`Itneverisyeretenminutesago。'
　　"'Well，jestyou-allhover'roundan'watchthegloryofitscomin'
　　down，'saysJack，a-cuttin'ofitloosewithhisbowie，an'tearin'
　　itup。'Iyerewithfurnishestheinformationcold，thiscampofWolfvilleknowsitsbusinessan'don'thavetobenotifiedofnothin'。Thisyereoutfithasavig'lancecommitteeallreg'lar，whichI'mkettle-tendertharfor，an'whenitcomesnacheraltoannouncesomenoticetothepublic，you-allswillperceivemea-
　　pervadin'ofthesceneryonahossan'promulgatin'ofsaidnoticevivervoce。AmIright，Enright？'
　　"'Rightaspreachin'，Jack，'saysEnright。'Youspeakstroothlikearunnin'brook。'
　　"'Butwhoeversticksthatnotice？——that'stheinformationIpantsfor，'saysBoggs，pickin'upan'readin'ofthepiece。"'IreckonsI
　　poststhatnoticesomemyse'f，'saysabig，squar'-builtgentwe-
　　allsdon'tknow，an'whocomesintheothermornin'withOldMonteonthestage。Ashesaysthishe'ssa'nterin'aboutthesuburbsofthecrowd，listenin'tothetalk。
　　"'Well，don'tdoitnomore，partner，'saysJack，mightygrave。'AsacommoonityWolfville'snodoubt'waywrong，butwe-allshasourpridesan'ourownpecooliarlittlenotions，thata-way，aboutwhatlooksgood；so，afternow，don'talterthelandscapenone'roundyeretillyouc'lectsourviews。'
　　"'I'mofferin'evenmoney，postin'noticesdon'thurtthisyerecampalittlebit，'saysthestranger。
　　"'Comin'righttocases，'saysEnright，'itdon'thurtnone，butitgratesawholelot。Theideeofamerestrangera-strollin'inan'
　　a-pastin'upofnotices，likehe'sstandin'apathandonwhatheknowsan'wenotinit，isaheaponpleasant。Sodon'tdoitnomore。'
　　"'WhichIdon'taimtodoitnomore，'saysthesquar'-builtgent，'butIstillclingstomyideethatnoticesain'tnoset-backtothiscamp。'
　　"'Thesamebein'ameretheery，'saysDocPeets，'personaltoyourse'f，Iholdsitwouldbeonp'litetodiscussit；solet'sallwheelondercoverforadrink。'
　　"Atthiswe-allslinesupontheRedLightbaran'nacherallydrinksendsthetalk，astheyallersought。
　　"Alongtowardssundownwe-allsgetssomecooler，an'bysecond-drinktimeintheevenin'everyoneismovin'about，an'，asithappens，quiteabandisintheRedLight；somedrinkin'an'exchangin'ofviews，an'somebuckin'thevariousgameswhichisgoin'wideopenall'round。Cherokee'ssettin'behindhisbox，an'FaroNellisupathisshoulderonthelookoutstool。Thegame'sgoin'plentylivelywhenalongcomesOldGentry。Cherokeetakesaglanceathiman'
　　seemsworriedalittle，reflectin'，nodoubt，ofthem'handsthedeadmanheld，'buthegoesondealin'withoutaword。
　　"'Where'syou-alldonebeenallday？'saysNelltotheoldman。'I
　　ain'tseenyounonewhateversinceyesterday。'
　　"'Why，Igetstiredan'doneupalot，settinag'instCherokeelastnight，'saystheoldman，'an'soIprowlsdowninmyblanketsan'
　　sleepssometillaboutanhourago。'
　　"Theoldmanbuysastackofbluesan'sets'emontheten。It'sjestthenincomesthesquar'-builtgent，who'sbeenpostin'ofthenoticeformer，an'p'intsasix-shooteratGentryan'says"'Putyourhandsup!put'emupquickorI'lldrillyou!Oldasyoube，Idon'ttakenochances。'
　　"'AtthefirstwordNellcomesoffherstoollikeasmalllandslide，whileCherokeebringsagunintoplayontheinstant。Theoldman'supevenwiththeproceedin's，too；an'standsthar，hisguninhishand，hiseyesa-glitterin'an'hiswhitebearda-curlin'likeacat's。He'scleanstrain。
　　"'Letmegetawordin，gents，'saysCherokee，plentyca'm，'an'
　　don'tnoonesetinhisstackon。lesshe'sgotahand。Idoesbusinessyeremyway，an'I'mduetodownthefirsthold-upwhoshootsacrossanylayoutofmine。Don'tmakenomistake，orthenextcensus'llbeshy，shore。'
　　"'Whatbeyou-allsaimin'tocel'brateanyhow？'saysJackMoore，gettin'thesquar'-builtgent'sgunwhileBoggscorralsGentry's。'
　　Who'sWolfvilleentertainin'yere，I'dlikefortoknow？'
　　"'I'maWells-Fargodetective，'saysthesquar'-builtgent，'an'
　　thisyere，'p'intin'toOldGentry，'isJimYates，thebiggesthold-
　　upan'stage-robberbetweenhellan''Frisco。Thatoldtarrapin'llstopastagelikeayoung-onewouldaclock，merelytoseewhat'sintoit。He'sthepartyI'mpastin'upthenoticeforthismornin。"
　　"'He'saliar!'saystheoldman，a-gettin'ugliereveryminute。
　　`Giveusoursix-shootersanthrowusloose，an'ifIdon'tlancetheroofofhislyin'mouthwiththefrontsightofmygun，I'llcashinforahold-uporwhateverelseyou-allssays。'
　　"'Whatdoyousay，Enright？'saysJack。'Let'sgive'emtheirjewelryan'let'emlope。I'vegotmoneyassaystheWells-Fargobill-pastercan'ttakethisold'Cimmaronalittlebit。'
　　"'WhichItrailsin，'saysBoggs，'withafewchipsonthesamekyard。'
　　"'No，'saysEnright，'ifthisyereparty'srustlin'themails，we-
　　allscan'tcallhishandtooquick。Wolfville'sastraightcampan'
　　don'tbacknocrim'nalplays；nonewhatever。'
　　"Enrighttharuponcallsameetin'oftheStranglers，an'we-allslinesoutfortheNewYorkStoretotalkitover。Beforewedonepow-wowstwominutesupcomesOldMonte，withthestage，alldustan'cuss-words，an'allowshe'sbeenstoodupoutbythecowspringssixhoursbefore，an'isbehindthemail-bagan'theAdamsCompany'sboxonthedeal。We-allslooksatOldManGentry，an'heshorelyseemstocrippledown。"'Gentry，'saysPeets，afterOldMontetellshisadventures，'IhearsyoutellNellyouwassleepin'allday。
　　S'poseyoutakesthisyerecommitteetoyourbudweran'exhibitstoushowitlookssome。'
　　"'Theturn'sag'inme，'saystheoldman，'an'Ilose。I'llcutitshortforyou-alls。Iholdsupthatstagethisafternoonmyse'f。'
　　"'Thisyere'sstraightgoods，Itakesit，'saysEnright，'an'ourdootyisplain。Goovertothecorralan'getalariat，Jack。'
　　"'Don'tletEnrighthangtheoldman，Cherokee，'saysNell，beginnin'toweepawholelot。'Pleasedon'tlet'emhanghim。'
　　"'Thisholdin'agunonyourfriendsain'tnopicnic，'whispersCherokeetoNell，an'flushin'upan'thenturnin'pale，'butyourwordgoeswithme，Nell。'ThenCherokeethinksaminute。'Now，thisyereisthewaywedoes，'hesaysatlast。'I'llmake'emalongtalk。You-allrunovertothecorralan'bringthebesthossyouseessaddled。I'llbetalkin'whenyoucomesback，an'youcreepupan'whispertotheoldmantomakeajumpfortheponywhileI
　　coversthedealwithmysix-shooter。It'splayin'itlowonEnrightan'DocPeetsan'therest，butI'lldoitforyou，Nell。Itallcomesfromthemjacksuponeights。'
　　"Withthis，CherokeetellsNell'good-by，'an'squar'shimse'f。Hebeginstotalk，an'Nellmakesaquietlittlebreakforthecorral。
　　"Butnohossiseverneeded。Cherokeedon'ttalkaminutewhenOldGentrycomesbuckin'offenhischairina'plepticfit。A'plepticfitispermiscusan'tryin'，an'whenOldGentrygetsthroughan'
　　comestohimse'f，he'scampedjestthissideofthedeadline。Hecanonlywhisper。
　　"'Comeyere，'sayshe，motionin'toCherokee。'Thar'sastackofblueswhereIsets'emonthetenopen，whichyouain'tturnedfornoneyet:TakeallIhasbesidesan'putwithit。Ifitlose，it'syours；ifitwin，giveittothelittlegirl。'
　　"ThisisallOldGentrysays，an'hecashesintheverynextsecondonthelist。
　　"Enrightgoesthrough'em，an'thar'sovertwothousanddollarsinhiswar-bags；an'，obeyin'themlastbehests，we-allsgoesovertotheRedLightan'putsitonthetenalongofthestackofblues。
　　It'soverthelimit，butCherokeeproceedswiththedeal，an'whenitcomesI'mblessedifthetenain'tloseran'Cherokeegetsitall。
　　"'ButIwon'twinnoneag'inadeadman；saysCherokee。An'hegivesittoNell，whoain'tsooperstitious。
　　"'Doyou-allsb'arinmind，'saysBoggs，aswetakesadrinklater，'howIforeseesthisyererackettheminuteIhearsCherokeea-
　　tellin'abouthis"Jacksuponeights"——the"handthedeadmanholds？"'"
　　CHAPTERXIV。
　　THERIVALDANCE-HALLS。
　　Itwassweetandcoolaftertherain，andtheOldCattlemanandI，movedbyanadmirationfortheopenairwhichwasmutual，foundourselvestogetherontheporch。
　　Asinpartrecompenseforhisreminiscencesoftheseveraldaysbefore，Iregaledmyoldfriendwiththehistoryofabank-failure，thedetailsaswellasthecausesofwhichwerejustthenforcingthemselvesuponmeintheguiseofbusiness。
　　"Thefactis，"Isaid，asIcametotheendofmystory，"thefactis，thetruecauseofthisbank'sdownfallwasarivalry——whatonemightcallabusinessfeud——whichgrewintobeingbetweenitandasimilarinstitutionwhichhadopenedasitsneighbor。Inthecompetitionwhichfellouttheyfairlycuteachother'sthroat。Theybothfailed。"
　　"An'Itakesit，"remarkedtheOldCattlemanincomment，"oneoftheseyeretradedooelsthata-waygoesonvindictivean'
　　remorseless，sameasifit'sapersonalfightbetweencow-folksovercattle。"
　　"Quiteright，"Isaid。"Moneyisoftenmorecruelthanmen；andabusinessvendettaisfrequentlymeremurderwithouttheincidentofblood。Idon'tsupposethelifeofyourArizonatownwouldshowthesetradewars。ItwouldtakeEastern——thatis，older——conditions，toprovokeandcarryoneon。"
　　"No，"repliedtheoldgentleman，withanairofretrospection，"I
　　don'trecallnothin'ofthesortinWolfville。We'retoomuchinahuddle，anyway；tharain'troomfornosechfracas，nohow。Nowthenearestwe-allscomestoanythin'ofthekindiswhenthenewdance-
　　hallstartsthattime。
　　"WhichIreckons，"continuedtheOldCattle。man，ashebeganarrangingasmoke，"whichInowreckonsthisyereistheonlycatyclismintradeWolfvillesuffers；theonlytimeitcomestowhatyou-allEasternsportswouldcallashowdownincommerce。Ofcoursethar'sthelaundrywar，butthat'sbetweenfemalesan'don'tcount。
　　Females——whileit'snosorterdoubtthey'sthenoblestan'mostexhilaratin'workoftheirRedeemer——isnervousthata-way，an'dueanytimetolettheirha'rdowntheirbacks，emitascreech，an'
　　clawan'layforeachotherforluck。An'，asIsays，ifyouconfinesthefestivitiestothemfemalesengaged，an'preventsthemenstandin'inontheplay，it'sshoretowindupinsobsan'
　　forgiveness，an'tharforeitdon'tgo。
　　"AsIsays，whatInowrelatesistheonlyindustrialtroubleI
　　recallsinWolfville。Iallersremembersit，'cause，bein'ashowI
　　knowsthepartywho'stheaggravatin'causetharof，itmortifiesmethewayhejumpsintocampan'carrieson。
　　"WhenIseeshimfirstisagesbefore，whenIfreightswitheightmulesovertheOldFortBascometrailfromVegastothePanhandle。
　　Thissharp——whichhe'satenderfootatthetime，butplumbwolfbynacher-trailsuptomeintheEarlyRoseSalooninVegasoneday，an'allowshe'dliketomakeadealan'goprojectin'overintothePanhandlecountrywithmeforatrip。"Freightin'thata-waythreeweeksaloneonthetrailissomeharrowin'tothesperitsofagentwholovescompanylikeme，soIagrees，an'nodelaytoit。
　　"WhichI'myeretomentionIregretslaterI'mthateasyItakesthispersonalong。Notthatheturnshostile，buthe'sallershavin'
　　adventures，an'thingskeepshappenin'tohim；an'final，Ithinkshe'sshorelydeadan'gonecomplete——thesame，asIafterwardlearns，bein'error；an'，takin'ituponetrailan'downanother，thattripbreaksmeoffenfoolin'withshorthornscomplete，an'I
　　don'tgonear'emforyears，more'nifthey'sstingin'lizards。
　　"Whateverdoesthisyeremaverickdotome？Well，nothin'muchtomepersonal；buthekeepsa-breedin'ofeventswhichpestersme。
　　"We'reoutaboutfourdayswhenthemmishapsbegins。IcampsoveronesunontheConchatorestmymules。I'mloadedsomeheavywithsixthousandpoundsinthelead，an'mebbyfourthousandpoundsinthetrailwagon；an'Istopsadaytogivemystockachancetorollan'breathean'braceup。Myoff-wheelmule——areg'larshave-tail——
　　isbadmed'cine。Whichhe'snotonlyeagertokicktoweristsan'
　　othershetakesanotionag'inst；buthe'slikewisewhatyou-allscallsakleptomaniac，an'isouttostealan'sim'larlow-downplays。
　　"Iwarnsthisyeretenderfoot——hisname'sSmith，butIpullsonhimwhenconversin'as'Colonel'——Iwarnsthisshorthornnottofuss'roundmyJerrymule，bein'，asIstates，amulewhosemoodisornery。
　　"'Don'tgonearhim，Colonel，'saysI；'an'partic'lardon'tgocrowdin''roundtogetnor'arviewsofhim。You-allhasnoideeoftheradiusofthatmule；whatyoumightcallhissweep。Youneverwilltillhe'skickedyouonceortwice，an'theinformationain'tworthnosechprice。SoIdon'treckonI'dfoolwithhim，nonewhatever。
　　"'An'speshul，Colonel，'Igoeson，forIshoreaimstodomydootybyhim，'don'tlaynothin''roundloosewherethisyereJerrymulecangrabitoff。I'mthelastfreighteronthePlainstogoslanderin'an'detractin'ofaporehe'plessmuleonlessit'sstraight；butifyou-alltakestoleavin'keepsakesan'mementoeslayin'aboutcasooalan'carelessthata-way，Jerry'lleat'em；an'
　　thefirstyousaveysyourkeepsakesiswithinJerry'sinterior，an'
　　tharyoube。
　　"'Thefactis，stranger，thisJerrymule'sathief，'Isays。'Ifhe'sahuman，Jerrywouldbelynched。Butotherwisehe'sasincere，earnestmule；anuphillorataquicksandcrossin'Jerrygoesintohiscollarlikealion；soIforgiveshimbein'athiefan'allowsit'sapeccadillo。"
　　"'Well，youbet!'saysthistenderfootColonel，'thisyereJerrybetternotcomenopeccadillosonme。'
　　"'Ifyou-allmaintainsabouttwentyfeet，'Ireplies，'betweenJerry'shind-Hocksan'you；an'ifyoukeepsyourbric-a-bracinyourwar-bags，youan'Jerry'llgetalonglikelambs。Now，Iwarnsyou，an'that'sgottodo。IfJerryan'yougetstangledupyereafteryou-allain'tgoin'toharbornorevengesag'inhim，normakenoranikabooplaystogeteven。'
　　"AsIstates，I'mcampedontheConcha，an`theColonel，who'sallersouttotryexperimentsan'newdeals，putsituphe'llgodowntotheriveran'takeaswim。Tharuponhelinesoutforthewater。
　　"Jerry'shangin'aboutcamp——forhe'ssorterapetmule——allowin'
　　mebbyIsubmitsaham-rindorsomesechdelicacytohimtochewon；
　　an'hehearstheColonelsu'gesthe'llswimsome。SowhentheColonelp'intsfortheConcha，Jerrysa'ntersalongafter，figgerin'，mightylikely，ashowhe'llpassthehoura-watchin'theColonelswim。
　　"I'mbusyonflapjacksatthetime——whichflapjacksisshoregoodfood——an'Idon'tobservenothln'ofJerrynortheColonelneither。
　　They'sawayhalfanhourwhenIoverhearsejac'lations，thoughI
　　can'tmakeoutnowords。Idon'thavetogetcaughtinnolandslidetotumbletoagame，an'I'mawareatoncethatJerryan'theColonelhasgottheirdestiniesmixed。
　　"Nacherally，Igoesovertotheheldofstrife，aimin'tosaveJerry，orsavetheColonel，whicheverhastheotherdown。WhenI
　　burstsonthescene，theColonelstartsforme，splutterin'an'
　　makin'noisesan'p'intin'atJerry，whostandstharwithanairofinnocence。TheColonel'supperliphangsdownqueer，likeanant-
　　eater's，an'hecan'ttalk。It'sallmightyamazin'。
　　"'What'sallthistoomultabout？'Isays。
　　"Theshortoftheriotisthis:TheColonelgoesinforaswim，an'
　　helaysouthisfalseteeththata-wayonastone。Whenhecomesforhisteeththey'sshorelygone，an'tharstandsJerryputtin'itonhe'sasleep。ThemteethisfiledawayinJerry。
　　"WhichtheColonelraves'roundfrightful，an'wantstokillJerryan'amputatehim，an'scoutfortheteeth。ButIwon'thaveit。I'mgoin'toneedJerrydownfurtheronthequicksandfordsoftheCanadian；an'，asIexplains，themteethisawreckbynow，an'nogoodifheget's'emag'in；Jerrymunchin'ofhisfoodpowerful。
　　"AfterawhileIroundsuptheColonelan'herdshimbacktocamp。
　　Jerryhasshoresawedoffasoreafflictiononthattenderfootwhenhetakesinthemteeth；Icanseethat。Hisliphangslikeablacksmith'sapron，an'hecan'ttalkalittlebit；jestmakessignsormotions，likehe'sInjunordeef。
　　"It'smebbytwoweekslaterwhenJerrygetsanothershotattheColonel。It'stheevenin'afterthenightJerrysneaksintocamp，soft-footasacoyote，nosesopenthegrub-box，an'eatsfivebottlesofwhiskey；allwehas。We'vepitchedcamp，an'I'vehobbledthisJerrymulean'hismate——theotherwheeler——an'throwed'emloose，an'isbusyhobblin'mynigh-swingmule，whentroublebeginsfomentin'betweenmytenderfootan'Jerry。
　　"Thefactisit'sdonefomented。ThisColonel，bein'someheatedaboutthatwhiskey，an'plumbsoreonJerryonaccountofthemteeth，allowstohimse'fhe'lltakeatrace-chainan'warpJerryonceforluck。
　　"Ifthisyeretenderfoothadbeenfreewithme，an'invitedmeintohisconfidencetouchin'hisdesigns，I'dtookalariatan'ropedan'
　　throwedJerryforhim，an'tiedthefelondown，an'lettheColonelwallophimanhourorso:buttheColonel'sfullofvarietythata-
　　way，ormebbyhethinksI'llsidewithJerry。Anyhow，heselectsatrace-chain，an'，withoutsayin'aword，dancesallcautioustowardshisprey。WhichthisisrelaxationforJerry。
　　[drawingofJerrykickingtheColonelwithcaption:"Thathe'plessshorthornstopsbothheels。]
　　"WhilethatColoneltenderfootisarodaway，Jerryturnshistailsomesuddeninhisdirection，an'thenextinstantthathe'plessshorthornstopsbothheelssome'ersaboutthesecondbuttonofhisshirt。Thatsettlesit；theColonel'saninvalidimmediate。I
　　shorelyhasatimewithhimthatnight。
　　"Thenextdayhecan'twalk，an'hecan'trideinthewagon'causeofthejolts。Italltouchesmyheart，an'atlastIupsan'makeahammockoutenaNavajoblanket，whichisgoodan'strong，an'swingstheColoneltothereachofthetrailwagon。
　　"It'smostlyagoodscheme。Wheretheground'sleveltheColonelcomesonallright；butnowan'then，whenawheelslumpsintoarut，theColonelcan'the'pnonebutsmitethegroundwherehe'sthelowest，an'italldrawsgroansan'lamentsfromhimaheap。
　　"Onetime，whentheColonel'sagonymakeshimgroanspeshulstrong，IseesJerrybathiseyeslikeheenjoysit；an'thenJerrymentionssomethin'tohismateoverthechain。We'retrottin'alongthetrailatthetime，an'，bein'he'sthenigh-wheeler——whichisthesaddle-
　　muleofateam——I'mridin'Jerry'scompadre，an'whenInoteshowJerryisthatjoyousaboutitIreachesacrossan'beltshimsomeabruptbetweenthey'earswiththebuttofashot-filledblack-
　　snake。ItratherletsthewheyoutenJerry'sglee，an'hedon'tgetsomuchblissfromthattenderfoot'smisfortunesashedid。
　　"ItgoesalongallrightontilIswingsdowntothecrossin'oftheCanadian。It'saboutfourth-drinktimeintheafternoon，an'I'mallowin'tofordtheCanadianthatevenin'an'campont'otherside。
　　Theriverishighan'rapidfromrainsome'ersbackonitsheadwaters，an'it'swidean'ugly。Itain'tmore'nfourfootdeep，butthebottomisquicksand，an'thatfalse，ifIletsmywagonsstoptensecondsanywherebetweenbankan'bank，I'mgoin'tobeshywagonsattheclose。I'llbeluckyifIwinoutthemules。It'sshoreahard，swiftcrossin'。
　　"Iswingsdown，asIsays，totheriver'saigewithmymindfilledupabouttherushI'vegottomake。It'sgothroughontherunorbogdown。FirstIsettlesinmysaddle，givestheoutfittheword，an'then，pourin'thewhipintothetwoleaders，Isendsthewholeeightintothewateronthejump。Theriverisrunnin'likeascaredwolf，an'thelittleleadmuleshardlytouchesbottom。
　　"Asthetrailwagontakesthewater，an'thetwoleadersisplumbintothey'ears，ahowldevelopstother'ar。It'smyporetenderfootinhishammockonderthetrailwagon。Heshrieksasthewatergetstohim；an'itallhitsmelikeabullet，forIplumboverlookshim，thinkin'ofthatquicksandcrossin'。
　　"It'sshoretoolatenow；I'min，an'Ican'tstop。Tomakethingsmorecomplex，asthewatercutsoffthetenderfoot'syelllikepuffin'outacandle，alittleoldblackmule，whichismyoff-
　　p'inter，loseshisfeetan'goesdown。Ipourstheleatherintotheteamtheharder，an'theotherssoarsintotheircollarsan'drugmyblackp'interwith'em；onlyhe'sonderwater。OfcourseIallowsboththeblackp'interan'theColonel'sshorelyduetodrownawholelot。
　　"Wegetsacross，thesevenothermulesan'me；an'thesecondhe'sskatedoutonthesandonhisside，thedrownedmulegetsupan'
　　singsastriumphantasIeverhears。Swimmin'ondertheriverdon'twearonhimabit。
　　"ThenIgoesscoutin'fortheColonel，buthe'svanishedcomplete。
　　Nacherally，Itakeshimforadead-an'-gonegent；an'figgersifsomeeddyorcounter-currentdon'tgethim，orhedon'tgoagroundonnosand-bar，hisfellow-menwillfishhimoutsome'ersbetweenmean'NewOrleans，an'planthiman'holdservicesoverhim。
　　"Bein'asIcan'tbeofnousewhereit'saclean-sweepplaylikethis，IdismissestheColonelfrommymind。Afterhobblin'an'
　　throwin'loosemyteam，Ilugsoutthegrub-boxallsorrowfulan'
　　goesintocamp。
　　"WhichIshouldallershaveplayedtheColonelfordead，ifitain'tthatyearslaterheonedaycomeswanderin'intoWolfville。Heain'ttendernow；he'sashardasmoss-agates，an'asworthless。
　　"Irenewsmyacquaintancewithhim，an'hetellshowhegetsoutentheCanadianthatday；butbeyondthatweconsoomesadrinkortwotogether，Iratherpasseshimup。Thar'saheapabouthimIdon'ttaketo。
　　"TheColonellays'roundWolfvillemebbyit'saweek，peerin'an'
　　spyin'about。Hesayshe'slookin'foranopenin'。An'Ireckonsheis，forattheendofaweekheslapsupajointoutentent-clothan'fence-boards，an'opensadance-hallsquar'ag'instJimHamilton'swhichisalreadythar。
　　"Thisyerealoneislikelytobroodan'hatchtrouble；but，asiftakin'astraightheaderintoHamilton'sgameain'tenough，thisColonelofminedon'tgetnopianer；don'tround-upnomusicofhisown；butstandspatan'pullsoffreels，an'quadrilles，an'green-
　　corndancestoHamilton'smusicgoin'onnextdoor。
　　"I'mthroughtheLincolnCountywar，an'hasbeenromancin'aboutthefrontierforyears；butInevertracksuponnosechoutrageinmylifeasthisdisgracefulColonelopenin'ahurdy-gurdyag'inHamilton's，an'maverickin'hismusicthata-way，an'dancin'
　　tharunto。
　　"It'sthesecondnight，an'Hamiltonconcloodshe'llseeaboutitsome。HecomesintotheColonel'sjoint，ca'man'considerate，an'
　　givesitoutthar'sgoin'tobetroubleiftheColoneldon'tclosehisgameorplayinhisownfiddlers。
　　"'Whichifyou-alldon'tcloseyourgameorhuntoutyourownmusic，'saysHamilton，'I'mmightylikelytogetmysix-shooteran'
　　closeitforyou。'
　　"'Seeyere，'saysmyColonel——whichhe'sshorebeenlearnin'sinceI
　　partswithhimontheCanadian——'thefirsthold-upwhocomesfoolin'
　　'roundtobreakupabaileofmine，I'llshorelymakehimhardtofind。Whatbusinessyougotfillin'upmyplacewithyourmelodies？
　　Yourollsyourtunesinyerelikeyouownstheranch；an'thenyoucomescurvin'overan'talksofagun-play'cause，insteadoflayin'
　　foryouforthatyoudisturbsmypeacewiththemharmonies，I'mthatgood-nacheredIyieldsthep'intan'dancesto'em。You-allpullyourfreight，'saystheColonel，'orI'llfillyoufulloflead。'
　　"ThisargumentoftheColonel'sdazzlesHamiltontothatdegreehedon'tknowwhetherhe'sgotthehighhandornot。Hethinksaminute，an'thenp'intsovertotheRedLightforEnrightan'DocPeets。Asheleavestherivaldance-hall，theColonel，who'scallin'
　　offhisdances，turnstothequadrille，whichispausinpendin'thedispoote，an'shouts:
　　"'YoubetIknowsmybusiness!Righthandtoyourpartner；grandrightan'left!'
　　"WhenHamiltonturnsawaythey'sshoremakin'thingsrockan'
　　tremble；an'alltothestrainsof'TheArkansawTraveller，'whichisbein'evolvednextdooratHamilton'sexpense。
　　"Whichsomethin'sgoin'topop；saysHamilton，mightyuglytoEnrightan'therestofus，ashepoursadrinkintohisneck。'I
　　allowsintheinterestsofpeacethatIcantersoveran'seesyou-
　　allsfirst。Iain'touttoshakeupWolfville，norgiveRedDogachancetocriticiseusnoneasadisorderlycamp；butIasksyougents，ascitizensan'membersofthevig'lancecommittee，whetherI'mtostandan'letthisyeresharpround-upmymusictoholdhisrevelsby，an'putitallovermenightly？'
　　"'Idon'tseenodifference，'saysDanBoggs，'betweenthisconvicta-stealin'ofHamilton'smusic，thanifhegoesan'standsupOldMontean'thestage。'
　　"'Thesamebein'myideeexact，'saysTexasThompson。'Yere'sHamiltoncaterin'tothiscampwithadance-hall。It'sapublicgoodthing。Ifagent'smorose，an'hiswhiskey'sslowplacin'itse'f，hegoesovertoHamilton'shurdy-gurdyan'findsrelaxationan'relief。
　　Nowyerecomesthisstranger——an'Imakesitfiftydollarsevenhe'sfromMassachusetts——an'whatdoeshedo？Neverantesnorsticksinawhitechip，butpurloinsHamilton'sstrains，an'pullsoffhisdancestharby。It'splumbwrong，an'whatthispartyneedsishangin'。'
　　"'Oh，Idon'tknow，'saysCherokeeHall，who'sinonthetalk。
　　'Hamilton'sallright，an'asquar'man。Allhewantsisjestice。
　　Now，whileIdeemstheconductofthisstrangerlowan'ornery；
　　still，comin'downtotheturn，he'sonhistrailallright。Asthissharpsays:WhogivesHamiltonanylicensetogofillin'hishurdy-
　　gurdyfullofdance-music？S'posethisgentwouldcomecaperin'overan'setinastackag'inHamiltonforoverloadin'hisjointwithpianeran'fiddlenoiseswithouthisconsent；an'puttin'ituphe'souttodragthecampifHamiltondon'tcease？TheonlywayHamiltongets'roundthatkindofcomplaintis，hedon'townthemwalsesan'
　　quadrillesaftertheyfetchesloosefromhisfiddle；thattheyain'thisquadrillesnomore，an'he'snotresponsibleaftertheystampedesoffintospace。'
　　"'That'sstraight，'saysDaveTutt，'you-allscan'trunnobrandonmelodies。Agentcan'townnomusicafterhecutsitloosethata-
　　way。Theminuteitleavesthebosomsofhisfiddles，that'swhereheletsgo。Afterthatitbelongstoanygenttodanceby，cryby，setby，orfightby，ashedeemsmeetan'pleasantatthetime。'
　　"'Whatdoyou-allssay？'saysHamiltontoEnrightan'Peets。'Doesthisyerepieceofoppressiononaleadin'citizen，perpetratedbyarankoutsider，go？Ishorewaitsforyourreplywithimpatience，forIeetchestogobackan'shootupthisnewhurdy-gurdyfromnowtillsun-up。'
　　"EnrighttakesDocPeetsdownbytheendofthebar——an'thar'snodoubtaboutit，thatPeetsisthewisestlonghornwestoftheMissoury——an'theyhasadeepconsultation。We-allsiswaitin'。someinterested，toseewhattheysays。It'sshoreafinep'intthisColonel'smakin'tojestifyan'backhisgame。
　　"'Getamoveonyou，Enright!'atlastsaysDanBoggs，whoisahasty，eagerman，wholikesaction；'getamoveonyou，youan'
　　Peets，an'settlethis。You'requeerin'thekyardsan'delayin'theplay。'
　　"'Well，gents，'saysEnrightatlast，comin'backwherewe-allsisbythedoor，'Peetsan'meseesnoneeddecidin'onthemquestionsaboutwhoownsatuneaftersaidtunehasbeenplayed。Buttharisasubject，thata-way，whichrequiresconsideration；an'whichmostlikelysolvesthisdance-halldeadlock。Inalltrademattersinagrowin'camplikeWolfville，it'sbettertopreserveaequilibrium。
　　It'sag'inpublicinteresttohavetwoorthreedance-halls，ortwoorthreesaloons，allinabunchthata-way。It'sbettertheybespraddled'roundwideapart，whichismoreconvenient。SoPeetsan'
　　meproposesasarooleforthisyerecampthattwohurdy-gurdiesbeforbidtobecarriedonwithinfivehundredfeetofeachother。Asitlookslikenobodyobjects，weconcloodsit'sadopted。Nacherally，thelasthurdy-gurdyuphastomove，whichdisposesofthisyeretrouble。'
　　"'BeforeIendswhatIhastosay，'goesonEnright，'Iwantstothankourtownsman，MisterHamilton，forconsultin'oftheStranglerspriortoakillin'。Itshowshe'salaw-abidin'gentan'
　　acredittothecamp。An'mightylikelyheprolongshisstayonearth。Ifhe'dprancedinan'skelpedthismaraudin'stranger，I
　　don'treckonwecouldavoidswingin'himattheendofalariatwithoutmakin'adangerouspreceedent。Asitis，hisrivalwillberoutedan'hislifemadesereenasyeretofore。'
　　"'Astotheexecutionofthisnewroole，'concloodsEnright，'weleavesthattoJackMoore。Hewillwaitonthispartyan'explaintheplay。Hemustupstakesan'movehiscamp；an'ifhecallsonanothershindigafterhe'swarned，we-allstakesourponiesan'ourropesan'yankshisoutfitupbytheroots。Agentofhisenterprise，however，willcometoadeadhalt；an'hispersecutionsofHamiltonwillcease。'
　　"'An'you-allcallsthisyereafreeAmericanoutfit!'saysmyColonel，mightyscornful，whenJackMoorenotifieshim。'IfIdon'tlineoutfort'otherendofcampyou-allsisallowin'toropemyjointan'pullitdown!Well，thatletsmeout；Iquitsyou。I'dbeshorelydegradedtoputinmytimewithanysechlow-flungpasselofsports。You-allmaygobackan'tellyourfolksthatasyouleavesyouhearsmegivethecalltomyguests，"Allpromenadetothebar"；
　　an'thedancin'isdone。To-morrowIdepartsforRedDogtobeginlifeanew。Wolfvilleistooslowacampforanygentwithanyswiftnesstohim。'"
　　CHAPTERXV。
　　SLIMJIM'SSISTER。
　　"Whichthar'sfolksinthiscaravansaryIdon'tlikenone，"remarkedtheOldCattleman，asIjoinedhimoneafternoononthelawn。Histonewasasofonehalfsullen，halfhurt，andashejerkedhisthumbtowardthehotelbehindus，itwasagesturefullofscorn。
　　"Thar'sfolksthar，takin''emupan'down，horns，hide，tallow，an'
　　beef，whoain'tworthheatin'arunnin'-irontobrand。"
　　"What'sthetrouble？"Iinquired，asIorganizedforcomfortwithmybackagainsttheelm-treewhichshadowedus。
　　"Notroubleatall，"repliedmyoldfriendsourly，"leastwisenothin'poignant。It'sthatyoothfulpartyintheblacksurtootwhocomespesterin'meamomentagoabouttheWestbein'，ashesays，aroodean'irreligiousoutfit。"
　　"He'sayoungpreacher，"Iexplained。"Possiblyhewasmovedbyananxietytouchingyoursoul'swelfare。"
　　"Well，ifhe'souttosavesouls，"retortedtheoldgentleman，"heoughterwhirlabiggerloop。No，no，hewon'tdo，"hecontinued，shakinghisheadwithanairofmournfulyetresentfuldecision，"thisyeregent'stoonarrow；whichhisheadisbuilttoomuchtheshapeofaquail-trap。Hemaydotochasejack-rabbitsan'sech，buthe'sasizetoosmallforgamelikeme。Savesouls，saysyou!Why，ifthatonp'liteyoungpersonwastomeetasoullikeminecomin'upthetrail，he'dshorelyomitwhattodoentire；he'dbethatstampeded。He'dbesomehardtolocate，Itakesit，afterhemeetsupwithasoullikemineawholelot。"
　　TheOldCattlemanmadethisproclamationrathertohimselfthanme，butIcoulddetectanairofpride。Thenhewenton:
　　"'ThisyereWestyouemanatesfrom，'saysthisyoungpreacher-sharptomethata-way，'thisyereWestyouhailsfromisroode，an'don'tyieldnonetoreligiousinflooences。'
　　"'Well，'Isaysbacktohim，fillin'mypipeatthesametime，'I
　　reckonsyoushorelycanc'llectmorewithagunthanacontreebutionboxintheWest，ifthat'swhatyou-allisaimin'at。Butifyoufiggerswedon'tmakeourownlittlereligiousbreaksoutinArizona，stranger，youfiggersaheapwrong。YououghterhaveheardShortCreekDavethattimewhenheturns'vangelistan'prancesintothewarehousebackoftheNewYorkStore，an'showsWolfvilleshe'sshoreh'ar-hungan'breeze-shakenoverhellthata-way。ShortCreekhasthecampallspraddledoutbeforeheturnshisdeal-boxupan'
　　closeshisgame。'
　　"'ButthisyereShortCreekDave，'heremonstratestome，'ain'tnoreg'larlicenseddivine。Heain'tworkin'inconjunctionswithnoshore'nough'sociation，Itakesit。ThisShortCreekpersonismostlikelyoneofthemirrelevantexhortin'folks，an'thatmakesadifference。Hedon'tbelongtonoreg'lardenom'nation。'
　　"'That'stroo，too，'Isays。'ShortCreekain'tworkin'withnoreg'larreligiousround-up；he'ssorterrunnin'afloatin'outfit，criss-crossin'therange，prowlin'formavericksan'straysonhisowngame。Butwhatofthat？He'sshorelytyin''emdownan'brandin'
　　'emrightalong。'
　　"'Oh，Idon'tdispootenonetheefficacyofyourfriend'sworkthata-way，'repliestheyoungpreacher-sharp，'butit'sirreg'lar；it'splumboutofline。Nowwhatyou-allsneedsintheWestisrealchurches，sameaswe-allshasintheEast。'
　　"`Iain'tnoneshoreofthat。'Isays，'an'I'mgettin'alittlewarmonderthecollarsomewiththemfrillsheputson；'Iain'tnoneshore。TheEastneedn'tdeemitse'ftheonlykinginthedeck；
　　nonewhatever。TheWestcanaffordtheusualroolesan'letallbetsgoastheylays，an'stillgetupwinneronthedeal。Itakesityou-allsnevernotestheWestsendin'Eastforhe'p？'
　　"'Butthatain'ttheidee，'heurges。'Churchesthata-wayistherightthing。Theymoldsacommoonity，churchesdoes。Youb'arswitnessyourse'fthatwherechurchesexiststhecommoonityisthemostorderlyan'fullerofquietoodan'peace。'
　　"'NotnecessarilyIdon't，'Irepliesback，forI'mgoin'toplaymyhandoutifitgetsmylastchip，'notnecessarily。WhatIb'arswitnesstoisthatwherethecommoonityisthemostorderlythata-
　　wayan'fullerofquietoodan'peace，thechurchesexists。'
　　"'WhichI'mshorelysomeafraid，'hesays，——an'hislooksshowshe'sgettin'ahorrorofme，——'youbelongstoaperversegeneration。You-
　　allisvainofyourownevil-doin'。LookatthemmurdersthatreddenstheWest，an'thensityerean'tellmeitdon'tneednoinflooences。'
　　"'Themain'tmurders，'Ianswers；them'skillin's。An'asforinflooenccs，ifyou-alldon'treckonthepresenceofavig'lancecommitteeinacampdon'tcauseagenttopausean'pondernonebeforehepullshisgun，youdwellsinignorance。However，I'myeretoadmit，Idon'tdiscernnosechsin-encrustedplayinakillin'
　　whenthepartiesbreaksevenatthestart，an'bothgentsisworkin'
　　tothesameendunanimous。Itdoessomefolksaheapofgoodtokill'emalot。'
　　"It'satthisp'inttheyoungpreacher-sharppullshisfreight，an'
　　Iobserves，bythewayhestacksmeupwithhiseyesthata-way，heallowsmebbyI'mlocoed。"
　　TheOldCattlemansaidnomoreforamoment，butpuffedathiscobpipeinthoughtandsilence。Ihadnonotionofinvolvingmyselfinanycombatofmoralsortheology，soIdidnotinvadehismood。AtlastIsuggestedinahalf-toneofinoffensivesympathythattheWestwasnodoubtmuchmisunderstood。