TheGreatWolfvilleStrike。
"No，sir，evenonderspuran'quirt，mymem'rycanonlycanterbacktooneuprisin'oflaborinWolfville；thatwasprinters。"
AtthistheOldCattlemanlookedundulysagacious，refreshedhimselfwithapuffortwoathispipe，andallwiththeairofonewhomight，didheseefit，considerthegravequestionsofcapitalandlaborwithanabilityequaltotheirsolution。Hisremarkwasgrowthofthestrikestoryofsomemillworkmen，toldglaringlyinthenewspaperheheldinhishands。
"Wolfvilleisnotatthattime，"hecontinued，"whatyou-allEastwouldcallaswirlin'vortexoftrade；stillshehashermarts。
Thar'sthecoppermines，theBirdCafeOp'ryHouse，theRedLight，theO。K。Restauraw，theDanceHall，theNewYorkStorean'sim'larhivesofcommerce。Whichondoubtedthebarkeepsisthehardestworkedfolksincamp，an'yetnoneof'emevergoesonthewarpathforshorterhoursorlongerpay，sofarasIhasnotice。Barkeepsthata-wayisalight-heartedbandan'cheerfulondertheirburdens。
OncewhenOldMontebringsthestageinlatebecauseofsomeboggin'
downhedoesoverataquicksandfordinthefoothills，ashorthornwhoarriveswithhimasapassengercomesedgin'intotheRedLight。
Bein'it'sfouro'clockinthemornin'，thetenderfootseemsamazedatsechactivitiesasfaro-bank，an'high-ball，saiddevicesbein'
infullcareer；tosaynothin'oftheDanceHall，which'TempleofMirth，'asHamiltonwhoisproprietortharofnamesit，iswhoopin'
itupacrossthestreet。
"'Ain'tyouopenratherlate？'saystheshorthorn。Histonesisapol'getican'nooffenceistook。
"That'soneofthemgratefyin'thingsabouttheSouthwest。Thattemperateregiondon'tgopirootin''roundstrivin'torunitsbrandontothingsasinsultswherenoneain'tmeant。TheSouthwestropesonlyattheintention。Youmayevengosofarastoshootthewronggentinadarkenedway，an'aslongasyoupullsofftheplayinasperitofhonesty，an'thepartypluggeddon'thappentobeapop'laridol，abouttheworstyou'dgetwouldbeacautionfromtheStranglerstobemoreacc'rateinyourfeuds，sechisthefairmindednessan'tolerationofSouthwestsentiment。
"AsIsu'gests，thebarkeep，realizin'thatthestranger'sbluffarisesfromcur'osityratherthananynotionofwhatbooksportscalls'captiouscriticism，'feelsnoombrage。
"'Whatwasyou-allpleasedtoremark？'retortsthebarkeepasheslamshisnose-paintwheretheshorthorncangetaction。
"'Nothin'，'repliestheshorthorn，imbibin'ofhisfortydrops，"onlyitsorto'lookstomyonaccustomedeyelikethisdeadfallisopenratherlate。"
"'Whichsheissomelate，'admitsthebarkeep，ashesoftlyswabsthecounter；'whichitissomelatefornightbeforelast，butit'sjesttheshankoftheevenin'forto-night。'
"But，asIobservesabitbackonthetrail，Ineverdohearofanymurmurofresentmentonthepartofthetoilin'massesofthetown，saveintheoneinstancewhenthatbunchoflocoedprinterscapersoutan'defiestheeditoran'publisheroftheWolfvilleCOYOTE，thesamebein'thedailypaperoftheoutfit。
"Thisyereimprint，theCOYOTE，isdoneownedan'runbyColonelWilliamGreeneSterett。An'I'llpauserightyereforthedoublepurposeoftakin'adrinkan'sympathisin'withyouawholelotinnotknowin'theColonel。Younacherallyain'tasacootelyawareofthefactasIbe，butyoucangambleabloostackthatnotknowin'
ColonelSterettbordersonadeeprivation。Heisshorewise，theColonelis，an'whenitcomestobein'fullyinformedoneveryp'int，fromthevalyooofqueensupbeforethedrawtothepoliticaleffectoftheDeclarationofIndependence，he'sanevenbreakwithDocPeets。An'asI'veassertedfrequent——an'Idon'tpinchdownachip——DocPeet'sisthefinesteddicatedsharpinArizona。
"We-allwillpassupthetaleatthiscrisis，butI'lltellyoulaterabouthowColonelSterettcomesa-weavin'intoWolfvillethattimean'foundstheCoyote。It'senoughnowtoknowthatwhentheseyereprinterstakestoghost-dancin'thattime，theColonelhasbeeninourmidstcrowdin'hardonthehocksofayear，an'isheldinhighregyardbyOldAlanEnright，DocPeets，JackMoore，Boggs，Tutt，CherokeeHall，FaroNell，andothermoldersoflocalopinion，an'sorto'trailsinnextafterEnrightan'Peetsinpublicesteem。
TheColonelisshorelistenedtoan'heededatsechepocksasWolfvillesetsdownserioustothink。
"ThemprintersoftheColonel'sstampedesthemse'fsjestfollowin'
thelatter'smisonderstandin'withHuggins，whoconductstheBirdCageOp'ryHouse，an'whoasI'veallersmaintained，incitesthemmechanics，private，torebellion，asaschemeofrevengeontheColonel。Thetroublewhichbearsitsfinalfrooteinthislaboruprisin'islikethis。Huggins，asnoted，holdsdowntheBirdCageOp'ryHouseasmanager，an'whenlie'sdrunk——which，seein'thatHugginsisabiggersotthanOldMonte，isrightalongheallowshe'sa'Impressario。'Mebbyyousaveys'Impressario，'an'
experiencesnodifficultywiththesameasaterm，butBoggsan'
Tuttgoestothefringeofagunplaydispootin'aboutitsmeanin'
thetimeHugginsplaysitonthecampfirstasdeescriptifofhisgame。
"'AImpressarioisafiddler，'saysBoggs；`IcutsthetrailofoneintheStatesonce，ropeshimup，an'wehasashoreenoughtime。'
"'Sechobservations，'observesTutt，towhomBoggsvouchsafesthisinformation，'sechobservationsmakemetired。Theydisplaystheonlimitedabilityforignoranceofthehoomanmind。Boggs，Idon'twanttobedeemedinsultin'，butyou-alloughtergotonight-schoolsome'ersontilyoulearnstheroodimentsoftheAmericanlanguage。"
"Whenthisyorecolloquyensooes，I'mawayonthespringround-up，an'tharfornotpresenttharat；butasgoodajedgeasJackMoore，insiststhattheremainderoftheconversationwouldhavecomeoffinthesmokeifhehadn't，inhiscapacityofmarshal，pulledhissix-shooteran'invokedBoggsan'Tutttoaca'mermood。
"Butspeakin'ofthisHugginsparty，Ineverlikeshim。Asidefromhisbein'mostlydrunk，which，nomatterwhatsomemaysayorthink，Iholdsimpairsagent'svalyooasasocialfactor，Hugginsisavariciousan'dotesonmoneytothep'intofbein'sordid。He'dgloatoveradollarlikeitwasacharlotteroose，Hugginswould。
So，asIsays，Iain'tfondofHuggins，an'takesnomorepleasureofhiscompanythanifhe'sawetdog。Still，thar'ssechathingasdooty；so，whenHugginscomeswanderin'wild-eyedintotheRedLightaboutfirstdrinktimeoneevenin'，an'confidestomeinawhisperthatthar'sajackrabbitoutsidewhichhassworntotakehislife，an'isrightthenbushwhackin'aboutthedoorwaitin'toexecootethethreat，IcallsDocPeets，an'aidsintyin'Hugginsdownsothathisvisionscanbemetan'copedwithmedical。
"PeetsridesherdonHugginsforaboutaweek，an'atlasteffectshisrescoofromthathostilejackrabbitan'themcrimsonrattlesnakesan'blue-wingedbatsthathasj'ineddogswithitinitsattemptsag'inHuggins。Later，whenPeetssendshischarges，thisyereingrateHuggins——lovin'moneyasIstates——wantstosquar'
itwithaquartortwoofwhiskeychecksontheBirdCagebar。
Nacherally，Peetswavesasidesechignobleproffersasinsultstohisprofessionalstandin'。
"'An'youalldon'towemeasplinter，Huggins，'saysPeets，asheturnsdowntheprop'sitiontotakewhiskeychecksashisreward。
'We'lljestcallthemservicesofmineinsubdooin'yourdeliriumtreemorsacontreebution。ItshouldshorelyberemoonerationenoughtoknowthatI'vepreservedyoutotheWolfvillepublic，an'thatthecampcanstillboastthepossessionofthemeanestsportan'
profoundestdrunkardoutsideoftheTexasPanhandle。'
"Barnone，DocPeetsisthebitterestgent，verbal，thatevermakesamoccasintrackintheSouth-west。An'whileHugginsain'tpleasednone，themstrictureshastogo。Totaketopawin''roundforturmoilwithPeetswouldbeencroachin'ontotheediotic。Evenifheemergesalivefromsechcontroversies——an'it'sfourtoonehewouldn't；forPeets，who'sallersframedupwithabraceofderringers，isaboutasvividanenterpriseasWolfvilleaffords——
theStranglerswouldconvenewithOldManEnrightinthecha'r，an'
Hugginswouldn'tlastaslongasadrinkofwhiskey。Asitis，Hugginsgulpshisfeelin'san'offersnothin'inreturntoPeets'sremarks。
"No；ofcourseDocPeetsain'tthatdiffusiveinhisconfidencesastogosurgin'abouttellin'thisstorytoeverygenthemeets。It'sag'inrooleforphysiciansthata-waytogodraggin'theirlariats'roundpermiscusan'impartin'alltheyknows。You-allcanseeyourse'fthatifphysiciansisthatingenuous，itwouldprodooceallsortsoftroublesinthemostonlooked-forplacesan'mostonexpectedforms。No；Peetswouldn'tgivewaytoconductsoonbecomin'amedicinemanan'asport。Butrooleshastheirexceptions；ansoFeets，inoneofthemmomentsofsympathyan'
confidence，whichtwohighlyeddicatedgentsaftertheeighthdrinkisboundtofeelforeachother，relatestoColonelSterettconcernin'Hugginsan'hisperfidywiththemBirdCagechecks。
"Thisyereonbosomin'ofhimse'ftotheColonelain'tnonediscreetofPeets。TheColonelhasmanyexcellencies，butkeepin'secretsain'tamong'em；nonewhatever。TheColonelisdeevoidoftalentsforsecrets，an'sothenextdayheprintsthisyereoutrageonderaderisiveheadlinetouchin'Huggins'froogality。
"Hugginsdon'tgradeover-highfornervean'isalongwayfrombein'cleanstraingame；buthefiggers，soIallersreckons，thattheColonelain'tnothunderboltofwarhimse'f，sowhenhereadsastohiman'Peetsan'themtreemorsan'thewhiskeychecks，hestartsintodrinkan'discussabouthishonor，an'givesitouthe'llhaverevenge。
"It'sthebarkeepattheRedLightpostsColonelSterettastothemperils。AMexicancomestrackin'alongintotheColonel'sroominthesecondstory——whathecallshis'sanctum'——withanote。It'sfromthebarkeepan'readslikethis:
REDLIGHTSALOON。
DEARCOLONEL:——
Hugginsisinheretankin'upan'makin'warmedicine。He'spackin'
twoguns。Hesayshe'sgoingtoplugyouforthatpiece。Icankeephimhereanhour。Meanwhile，heelyourse'f。I'llhavehimsodrunkbythetimeheleavesthatheoughttobeeasy。
Yourssincerely，BLACKJACK。
P。S。BettersendovertotheExpressCompanyforoneofthemshot-
guns。Buckshot，thata-way，isacinch；an'ifyou'realeetlenervousitdon'tmakenodifference。B。J。
"Aboutthetimethe10-gaugecomesovertotheColonel，withthecomplimentsoftheWells-FargoExpress，an'twentyshellsholdin'
twenty-onebuck-shottotheshell，DocPeetshimse'fcomessa'nterin'intothesanctum。
"'You-alloughtnevertohaveprintedit，Colonel，'saysPeets；'I'mplumbchagrinedoverthatexposureofHuggins。'
"'Don'tyoureckon，Doc，'saystheColonel，sorto'coaxin'theplay，'ifyouwastogodowntotheRedLightan'saytothisinebriatedmiscreantthatyoumakesgood，itwouldsteadyhimdownawholelot？'
"'IfIwastotakesechstepsasyouurges，Colonel，'saysPeets，'itwouldcomeouthowIgivesawaythesecretsofmypatients；itwouldhurtmyp'sition。Onthelevel!Colonel，I'damightysightsooneryou'dbeefHuggins。'
"'Butseeyere，Doc，'remonstratestheColonel，wipin'offthewateronhisfore'ead，'murderisnewtome，an'Ishrinksfromit。
Anotherthing——Idon'tthirsttodonofiveortenyearsatLeavenworthfordownin'Huggins，an'allonaccountofyoudeclinin'
whiskeychipsasahonorariumforthemservices。'
"'Itain'tnoquestionofLeavenworth，'arguesPeets；'sechthoughtsisfigments。Yere'showit'llbe。Hugginscomeschargin'up，hungerin'forblood。You-allisr'aredbackyerewiththat10-gauge，allorganized，an'youcoldlydownshim。Tharain'tnojury，an'
tharain'tnoVigilanceCommittee，inArizona，who'sgoin'tocarpatthatalittlebit。Besides，he'sthatornery，thegamelawisoutonHugginsan'hasbeenforsometime。Asforanyresktoyourse'f，personal，fromHuggins；why!Colonel，yousnapsyourfingerstharat。
YouhearsHugginsonthestairs；an'yougiveshimbothbarrelsthesecondheshowsinthedoor。It'sasplainasmonte。BeforeHugginscandeclar'himse'f，Colonel，he'syours，toodeadtoskin。It'ssechashorething，'concloodesPeets，'that，afterall，sinceyou'remerelyoutforsafety，I'dgethiminthewing，an'letitgoatthat。Oncehisarmisgone，itwon'tbenotroubletoreasonwithHuggins。'
"'Don'ttalktomeaboutnoarms，'retortstheColonel，stillmoppin'hisfeachersplentydesperate。'Iain'tgoin'todonofancyshootin'。IfHugginsshowsupyere，youcanputdownayellowstackonit，I'llbusthimwherehelooksbiggest。Hugginsisgoin'totakeallthechancesofthisembroglio。'
"ButHugginsneverarrives。It'sDanBoggswhoabateshiman'
assoomesthepressurefortheColonel。BoggsisgratefuloversomecomplimentstheColonelpayshimintheCoyotetheweekprevious。
It'srightinthemidstofHuggins'prep'rationsforbloodthatBoggshappensuponhimintheRedLight。
"'Seeyere，Huggins，'saysBoggs，assoonaseverhegetstheImpressario'sgrievancestraightinhismind，'you-allisfollowin'
offthewrongwagontrack。TheColonelain'tyourproperpreyatall；it'sme。IcontreebutesthatpieceintheCoyoteaboutyouplayin'itlowonPeetsmyse'f。'
"HugginsgazesatBoggsan'neveruttersaword；Boggsistoomanyforhim。
"'WhichI'mthelastsport，'observesBoggsafterapause，`toputalimitonthereccreationsormeddlewiththepicnicsofanygent，butthisyerevoylenceofyours，Huggins，hasgonetoofar。I'mobleegedtosay，tharfore，thatonlessyouaimstofurnishthepainfulspectacleofmebendin'agunoveryourhead，youhadbettersinkintosilencean'pullyourfreight。I'maslow，hardteamtostart，Huggins，'saysBoggs，'butonceIgoesintothecollar，I'mirresist'ble。'
"Hugginsdon'tknowmuch，butheknowsBoggs；an'so，followin'
Boggs'remarks，Hugginsupsan'ceasestoclamorfortheColonelrightthar。Lambsisbellig'rentcomparedwithHuggins。Thebarkeep，intheinterestsofpeace，cutsinontheplaywiththenewsthatthedrinksisonthehouse，an'withthattheeepisodecomestoaclose。
"Nowyou-allhasmostlikelybeguntomarvelwherethemlaborstrugglescomesbuttin'in。We'rewithinropin'distancenow。It'snotmadecl'ar，but，asIremarksprior，IallersfeltlikeHugginsisthebugonderthechipwhenthemprintersgetshostilethattimean'leavestheagency。Hugginsain'tfeebleenoughmentaltobelieveforamomentBoggswritesthatpiece。ThefactthatBoggscan'tevenwritehisownname——bein'onfortunatelywantin'utterlyineddication——isofitse'fenoughtobreeddoubts。Still，Idon'tondervalueHugginsnoneinlayin'downtoBoggs，thattimeBoggsallowshe'stheauthor。Withnothin'atstakemorethanafact，an'
nomoneyupnornothin'，heshorelywouldn'tbejestifiedincontendin'withagentofBoggs'extravagantimpulses，an'whoisbornwiththetheerythatsix-shootersisargyments。
"But，asIwasobservin'，HugginsisnomoremisledbythembluffsofBoggsthanheislikelytogiveuphisthoughtsofrevengeontheColonel。Bein'headedofffromlayin'fortheColoneldirect——forBoggsremindshimatclosin'that，havin'assertedhispersonalrespons'bilityforthatpiece，he'lltakeitasaffrontsifHugginspersistsingoin'projectin''roundforColonelSterett——thar'snodoubtinmymindthatHugginsgoestoslyin'about，an'jumpin'
sidewaysatthemprintersonthequiet，anfillin''emupwithnose-
paintan'notionsthatthey'rewrongedinequalquantities。An'
Hugginsgetsresults。
"WhichtheColonelpaysoffhisfiveprinterseveryweek。It'smebbythesecondSaturdayaftertheHugginstrouble，an'theColonelisjestfinishedmeasurin'upthe'strings，'ashecalls'em，an'
disbursin'thedinero。Atthefinish，thehead-printerstiffensup，an'thefourothersfallsbackapacean'looksplentyhard。
"'Colonel，'saysthehead-printer，'we-allsendsontothenationalcouncil，winsoutacharter，an'organizesourse'fsintoaunion。
You'reyerebynotifiedweclaimsunionwages，thesamebein'forty-
fivecentouseathousandemsfromnowontilfurtherorders。'
"'Jim，'retortstheColonel，'whatyouan'yournobleassistantsdemandsatmyhands，goes。FromnowIpaystheunionschedoole，thesamebein'fivecentsathousandemsmorethanformer。TheCoyoteasyetisnotself-supportin'，butthatshallnotaffectthisplay。I
havesofarmadeupdeeficienciesbydraw-poker，whichIfindstobefairlysoftan'certaininthiscamp，an'yoursu'gestionsofaraisemerelymeansthatI'vegottosetupaleetlelaterinagame，an'beatriflemoreremorselessonashorehand。WharforeIyieldstoyourrequestswithpleasure，asIsaysprior。'
"It'smightylikelyColonelSterettacquiescesinthemdemandstooquick；theprintersisledtothethoughtthathe'sassimpletoworkasaWinchester。It'shoomannaturetobrandasmanycalvesasyoucan，an'sonoone'ssurprisedwhen，twoweekslater，themvoraciousprinterscomesfrontin'upformore。Thehead-printerstiffensup，an'thefourothersassoomeseyesofiron，sameasbefore，an'thepowwowre-opensasfollows:
"'Colonel，'saystherangebossfortheprinters，whiletheothersstandslookin'an'listenin'likecattlewiththeiry'earsallfor'ard，'Colonel，thechapel'shadameetin'，an'we-allhasdecidedthatyou'vegottomakebackpaymentsatunionratesforthelastsixmonths，whichiswhenwesendsbacktotheStatesforthatcharter。Thewholethrowistwelvehundreddollars，ortwohundredandfortyagent。Noonewantstocrowdyourhand，Colonel，an'ifyoudon'tjesthappentohavesaidtwelvehundredinyourwar-bags，weallowsyouoneweektojump'roundan'rustleit。'
"ButtheColonelturnsoutbad，an'showshecanprotecthimse'fatprintin'sameashecanatpoker。Hewhirlsonthemsharpslikeamountainlion。
"'Gents，'saystheColonel，'you-allisupag'instit。Idon'tcarenoneifthecathedral'shadameetin'，Ideclinestobowtoyourclaims。AsIstatesbefore，Iobtainsthemoneytoconductthisyerejournalbyplayin'poker。NowIcan'tplaynoexpostfactopoker，norgetinonanyrectroactivehands，whichofitse'fdisplaysyourattitoodeonthiso'casionasonjust。Whatyou-allasksisrefoosed。'
"'Seeyere，Colonel，'saysthehead-printer，beginnin'toarchhisbacklikehe'sgoin'tobucksome，'don'tputonnospurstoconversewithus；an'don'tthinktostampedeusnonewiththemLatinbluffsyoumakes。YoueitherpaysunionratessinceFebruary，orwegoesp'intin'outforastrike。'
"'Strike!'saystheColonel，an'histonesisdecisive，'strike，saysyou!Whichifyou-allwillwaittillIgetsmycoat，I'llstrikewithyou。'
"Tharupontheentirepassel，theColonelan'themfiveprinters，comesovertotheRedLight，takesadrinkontheColonel，an'
dispersesthemse'fsonthestrike。OfcourseWolfvillelooksonsomeamazedatthisyerelabormovement，butdeclar'sitse'fnootral。
"'Leteverygentskinhisowneel，'saysEnright；'thesamebein'afav'riteproverbbackinTennesseewhenI'mayooth。ThiscollisionbetweenColonelSterettan'themfreean'independentprintershehasinhisherdisshorelywhatmaybecalledaprivategame。Thar'snoreasonan'nocallforthecamptobeheard。What'syouridea，Doc？'
"'Iyooniteswithyouinthemstatements，'saysPeets。'Whilemypersonalsymp'thiesiswithColonelSterettinthisinvolvement，asyetthesityooationoffersnoreasonforthepublictosaddleupan'
gotoridin''roundtharin。'
"'Don'tyou-allthink，'saysBoggs，appealin'toEnright，'don'tyoureckonnowifmean'Tuttan'JackMoore，allcasooallike，wastotakeourgunsan'gocuttin'upthedustaboutthemoccasinsofthemmalcontentprinters——merelyinourprivatecapacity，Imeans——itwouldhe'psolvethisyeredeadlockawholelot？'Boggsisaheapheadlongthata-way，an'likin'theColonel，nacherallyhe'seagertotakehisend。
"'Boggs，'repliesEnright，an'histonesissterntothevergeofbeingferocious；'Boggs，onlessyouwantsthelaw-abidin'elementtohangyouinhobbles，youhadbetterholdyourse'finmoresubjection。Moreover，whatyouproposesischildish。Ifyouwastoappearinthemidstofthisindustr'alexcitement，an'taketoromancin''roundasyousu'gests，you'dchaseeveryoneoftheseyereprintersplumbofftherange。Whichthey'dhitafewhighplacesinthelandscapean'begoneforgood。ThentheColonelnevercouldgetoutthatCoyotepapernomore。LettheColonelfillhishandan'playithisownway。I'llbet，an'goasfarasyoulike，thatifwe-allturnsourbacksonthis，an'don'ttaketopesterin'
eitherside，theColonelhasthempartiesallbackinthecorralag'ininsideofaweek。'
"OldManEnrightisright，sameasheeveris。It'saboutfourthdrinktimeintheevenin'ofthesecondday。ColonelSterett，who'sbeenconsoomin'hislickeratintervalsnottoolongapart，isseatedintheRedLightinareelaxedmood。He'ssayin'toBoggs，whohasbeenfaithfulathiselbowfromthefirst，soastokeepuphissperits，thathelooksonthisstrikeasaffordin'himamuch-
neededrest。
"'An'fromthestandp'intofrest，Dan，'observestheColoneltoBoggsasthebarkeepbringsthemfreshglasses，'Ireallywelcomesthisdifferencewiththemblacksmithsofmine。Ishorelyneedsthislay-off；literatoorthata-way，Dan，an'partic'lardailypaperliteratooroftheelevatedcharacterI'vebeensawin'offonthiscampintheCoyote，isfa-tiguin'tothelimit。Whenthemmisguidedpartiessurrenderstheirabsurddemands——an'betweenus，Dan，I
smellsHugginsinthisan'expectstolayforhimlatertharfor——I
say，whentheseobtooseprintersgivesup，an'returnstotheir'llegiance，I'llassoomethetripodlikeagiantrefreshed。'
"'That'swhatever!'saysBoggs，coincidin'withtheColonel，thoughheain'tnoneshoreastohisdrift。
"'I'llberecooperated，'continuestheColonel，sloppin'outanotherdrink；'I'llbeanewmanwhenItakesholdag'in，an'willmaketheCoyote，evertheleadin'mediumoftheSouthwest，asstrongan'
invincibleasfourkingsan'aace。'
"It'satthisp'intthefivewho'sonthewarpathcomesintotheRedLight。Thehead-printer，lookin'apol'getican'dejected，j'insBoggsan'theColonelwheretheysits。
"'Colonel，'observesthehead-printer，'thechapel'shadanothermeetin'；an'theshortan'thelongis，theboyskindo'figgerthey'reonjustinthemdemandsforbackpay——sorto'overplaystheirhands，They'vedecided，Colonel，thatyou'redeadright；an'I'myerenowtosaywe'resorry，an'we'llallgobackan'openupan'
gettheCoyoteoutag'ininold-timeform。'
"'Haveadrink，Jim，'saystheColonel，an'hisfacehasacloudofregretsontoit；'takefourfingersofthisred-eyean'cheerup。
You-allassoomestoosombreaviewofthiscontention。'
"'I'mobleegedtoyou，Colonel，'repliesthehead-printer；'butI
don'tmuchcaretodrinknonebeforetheboys。Theyain'tgotnobank-rollan'nocreditlikeyouhas，Colonel——that'swhatmakesthemseetheirerrors——an'theplaintroothistheyain'thadnothin'todrinkfortwenty-fourhours。That'swhyIdon'ttakenothin'。Itwouldshoreseeminvidiousformetobesettin'yereh'istin'inmynose-paint，an'myporecomradeslookin'he'plesslyon；that'swhatever!I'mtoomuchafriendoflabortodoit，Colonel。'
"'What!'saysBoggs，quitewroughtup；'doyou-allmeantotellmethemonhappysportsain'thadadrinksinceyesterday？It'sastainonthecamp!Whoopee，barkeep!seewhatthemgentswillhave；an'
keepseein'whatthey'llhaveendoorin'thisconference。'
"'Jim，'saystheColonel，mightyreluctant，'ain'tyou-allabandonin'yourp'sitionprematoor？Thar'ssomethin'dootoaprinciple，Jim。I'dratherlookedforacontinyooationofthisestrangementforawhileatleast。I'dshoretaketimetoconsideritbeforeeverI'dletthisstrikec'llapse。'
"'That'sallright，Colonel，'saysthehead-printer，'aboutc'llapsin'；an'Ionderstandsyourfeelin'san'symp'thisestharwith。ButI'veexplainedtoyouthefinancialconditionofthismovement。Tharstandstheboys，pourin'inthefirstfire-waterthathaspassedtheirlipsforaday。An'youknows，Colonel，nogent，norsetofgents，canconductstrikestoasuccessfulissuewithoutwhiskey。'
"'But，Jim，'pleadstheColonel，whohatestocomeoffhisvacation，'ifIfixestheRedLightsayforfifteendrinksall'roundeachday，don'tyoureckonyoucanprevailonthemrecalcitrantprinterstoputthisreeconciliationoffaweek？'
"However，Enright，whoatthisp'intcomestrailin'in，takesupthehead-printer'sside，an'showstheColonelit'shisdooty。
"'YouowesittotheWolfvillepublic，Colonel，'saysEnright。'TheCoyotehasnowbeensuppressedtwodays。We-allhasbeendeprivedofourdailyenlightenmentan'ourintellectsisboggin'down。FortwoentiredaysWolfvillehasbeenindarknessastoworldlyevents，an'
isrightnowknockin''roundintheproblemofexistencelikeablinddoginameatshop。Yourattitoodeofdelay，Colonel，isimpossible；thepublicrequestsyourreturn。Ifyouain'tbackattheCoyoteofficeto-morrymornin'byseconddrinktime，dealin'
yourwontedgame，Iwouldn'tondertaketostatewhatshapeajestpop'larresentmentwillassoome。'
"'An'，ofcourse，'observestheColonelwithasigh，'whenyou-allputsitinthatloocidan'convincin'way，Enright，thar'snomoretobesaid。Thestrikeisnowoveran'thelastkyarddealt。Jim，youan'mean'themprinterswillreturntothevineyardofourefforts。Thisover-workmaybeonderminin'me，butWolfvilleshallnotcalltomeinvain。'"
CHAPTERII
TheGrindingofDaveTutt。
"Yes，"saidtheOldCattleman，ashetookoffhissombreroandcontemplatedtherattlesnakebandwhichenvironedthecrown，"cow-
punchersisqueerpeople。Theyneedsaheapofwatchin'an'herdin'。
IknowedonebythenameofStevensondownontheTurkeyTrack，asmeritsplentyoflookin'after。ThisyereStevensonain'texactlyornery；butbein'restless，an'withadisp'sitiontobeemphaticwheneverhe'sfillin'himse'fup，keepin'youreyeonhimisgood，safejedgment。Heispublic-sperited，too，an'sometimestakeslotsofpainstopleasefolksan'bepop'lar。
"Irecallsoncewhenwe'rebringin'upabeefherdfromthePanhandlecountry。We'reag'inthesouthbankoftheArkansaw，tryin'tothrowtheherdacross。Thar'sabridge，butthenatifsallowsit'splentyweak，sowe'remakin'theherdswim。Steveispostedatthemouthofthebridge，toturnbackanyloosecattlethattakesanotiontotryan'crossthata-way。Thar'snothin'muchtoengageSteve'sfaculties，an'he'sa-settin'onhisbronco，an'
bothismightynearasleep。Somewomenpeople——fromthefarEast，I
reckons——asiscampedintown，comesoveronthebridgetoseeuscrosstheherd。They'velinedoutclostuptoSteve，a-leanin'oftheiryoungEasternchinsonthetoprail。
"'WhichIdon'tregyardthismuch，'saysoneyoungwoman；'thar'snothrillintoit。Whyeverdon'ttheydosomethin'excitin'？'
"Steveobserveswithchagrinthatthisyereladyisdispleased；an'，ashecan'tfiggernothin'elseoutquicktoentertainher，hegivesawhoop，slamshissix-shooteroffintothescenery，sockshisspursintothepony，an'hopshimse'foverthesideofthebridgeawholelotintotheshallowwaterbelow。Thejumpissometwentyfeetan'
buststhepony'slaigsliketoothpicks；alsoitbreaksSteve'scollarbonean'disperseshisfeachers'roundsomefreean'frightfulonaccountofhissorto'lightin'onhisface。
"Well，weshootsthepony；an'Steveridesinthegrubwagonfourorfivedaysrecooperatin'。It'sjestthemercyofhellhedon'tbreakhisneck。
"'Whateverdoyoujumpofffor？'IasksStevewhenhe'scomin'
'round。
"'WhichIperformssaidequestrianismstoamoosethatshe-shorthornwhoiscussin'usout。'saysSteve'Iain'tpermittin'forhertogobacktotheStates，malignin'ofuscow-men。'
"Stevegetshimse'fdownedayearafter，an'strikesoutfornewrangesintheskies。He'soverontheupperRedRiverwhenhegetscreased。He'ssettin'intoapokergame。
"Steveneveroughtergamblednone。Heisagoodcow-boy——splendidround-uphand——an'candohisday'sworkwithropeorironinabrandin'penwithanybody；butcomin'righttocases，hedon'tknownomoreaboutplayin'pokerthanhedoesaboutpreachin'。Actooally，he'dbacktwopa'rlikethar'snorecordoftheirbein'beat。Thisyere，ofcourse，leadstofrequentpoverty，butitdon'tconfernowisdomonSteve。
"Onthiso'casion，whentheyshipsStevefortherealmsoflight，oneoftheboysgetsatrey-full；Stevebeingpossessedofaheartflush，nineatthehead。Intwominuteshedon'thaveevenhisblanketsleft。
"Afterhe'sbroke，Steveh'istsinadrinkortwoan'sours'roundawholelot；an'jestasthetrey-fullboygetsintohissaddle，Stevecomesroamin'alongupan'hailshim。
"'Pard，'saysSteve，aheapgloomy，'I'vebeentryin'toschoolmyse'ftob'arit，butitdon'tgo。Tharfore，I'myeretosayyoustealsthatpa'rofkingsascompletedmyrooin。Comin'tothemdecisions，I'mgoin'tocallonyouforthatbric-a-bracIlose，an'
Ilookstogainsomefav'rablereplies。'
"'Oh，youdo，doyou!'saysthetrey-fullboy。'Whichyou-allisaheaptoosanguine。DoyoureckonIgivesupthefrootesofatrey-
full——ashardahandtoholdasthatis？YoucangotentooneI
won't:notthisround-up!Sechrequestsispreepost'rous!'
"'Don'twaxflippantaboutthisyererobbery，saysSteve。'It'senoughtobeplunderedwithoutbein'insultedbygayeties。Now，whatIsaysisthis:EitherIgetsmystuff，orIseversourrelationswithagun。'An'tharuponStevepullshispistolan'takesholdofthetrey-fullboy'sbridle。"'Ifthar'sonethingmakesmemorewearythananother，'saysthetrey-fullboy，'it'sagunplay；an'
toavoidsechexhibitionsIfreelyreturnsyourplunder。Butyouan'
medon'tplaykyardsnomore。'
"Whereupon，thetrey-fullboygetsoffhishoss，an'Steve，allowin'
thedebateisclosed，putsuphisgun。Steveispreematoor。Thenextsecond，'bang!'goesthetrey-fullboy'ssix-shooter，thebulletgetsSteveintheneck，withthemheavenlyresultsIyeretoforeonfolds，an'atfirstdrinktimethatevenin'wehasahastybutsuccessfulfooneral。
"'Idon'treckon，'saysWatPeacock，whoisrangeboss，'thar'sneedofhavin'anylaw-suitsaboutthisyerekillin'。IknowsSteveforlongan'likeshim。ButI'myeretoannouncethatthemideeshefostersconcerinin'thevalyooofpokerhands，onreasonablean'
plumbextrav'gantastheyshorelyis，absolootelypreecloodedSteve'sreachin'tooldage。An'Stevehaswarnin's。OncewhenhetriestogethislifeinsureddowninAustin，he'srefoosed。
"'"Inafive-handgame，tablestakes，whatisapairofacesworthbeforethedraw？"isoneofthemquestionsthatcompanyasks。
"'"Tablestakes？"saysSteve。"Everychipyou'vegot。"
"'"Thatsettlesit，saysthecompany；"wedon'twantnosechresk。
Tharneverissechrecklessness!Youwon'tliveayear；you'reluckytobealiverightnow。"An'theydeclinestoinsureSteve。'
"However，"continuedmyfriendmusingly，"I'vebeenputtin'ituptomyself，thatmightylikelyIdoeswrongtotellyoutheseyeretales。Whichyou'reignorantofcowfolks，an'formetogoonloadin'ofsechrevelationsmebbygivesyouimpressionsthat'saloterroneous。NowIreckonsfromthatoneeepisodeyouhalffiggerscowpeopleismorosean'ferociousasabunch？"
Astheoldgentlemangavehistonestheinflectionofinquiry，I
hastenedtointerposediversflatteringdenials。Hisrecitalshadinspiredanadmirationforcowmenratherthanthereverse。
Thissettingforthofmyapprovalpleasedhim。HegavemehiswordthatIinnosortassumedtoomuchinthematter。Cowmen，heasserted，werealight-heartedbrood；over-cheerful，perhaps，attimes，andseekingamusementinwaysbeyondtheunderstandingoftheEast；butsafe，upright，andofsplendidgenerosity。Eagertocorrectwithinmeanymal-effectsofthetragedyjusttold，herecalledthestoryofaTucsondayofmerryrelaxationwithDaveTutt。Heopinedthatitfurnishedapictureofthepeopleofcowsinlighter，brightercolors，andsogavemedetailswithasketchygladness。
"Whichyou'reacc'rateinthemthoughts，"hesaid，referringtomywordthatIheldcowfolktobeengagingcharacters。Afterelevatinghisspiritwithaclove，Hewentforward。"Tharain'tmuchpawan'
bellowtoacowboy。Speakin'gen'ral，an'notallowin'fortheminflooenceswhichdisturbsnone——Iadvertstomescalan'monte，an'
sechabnormalities——he'spassivean'easy；nomoreharmintohimthanajackrabbit。
"Ofcoursehehashismoodstobemerry，an'mebbythar'shourswhenhe'sgaytothep'intofover-play。Buthisheart'sasstraightasariflebar'leverytime。
"It'sadayIputsinwithDaveTuttwhichmakeswhattheseyerelaw-sharpscalls'acaseinp'int，'an'whichIrelateswithoutreserve。Itgivesyousomenotionofhowacowboy，havin'aleesurehour，onbucklesan'ishappynacheral。
"ThisyereispriortoDaveweddin'TucsonJennie。I'mpirootin'
'roundTucsonwithDaveatthetime，Dave'sworkin'asmallbunchofcattle，'wayoverneartheCowSprings，an'isinTucsonforarest。
We'vebeensloshin''roundtheOrientalallday，findin'newvirchoosinthewhiskey，an'amoosin'ourse'fsatourownexpense，whenaboutfifthdrinktimeintheevenin'Daveallowshe'ssomesickofsechrevels，an'concloodshe'llp'intoutamongthe'dobys，sorto'explorin'thingsupalot。Whichwetharupongoesinconcert。
"Iain'tfrothin'atthemouthnonetogomyse'f，notseein'
reelaxationinpokin'aboutpermiscusamongapasselofMexicans，an'meloathin'of'emfrombirth；butIgoes，aimin'torideherdonDave。Whichhisdisp'sitionissomefreean'various；an'bein'
amongMexicans，thata-way，he'sliabletomixhimse'fintotrouble。
NotthatDaveisbad，nonewhatever；butbein'sevenoreightdrinkswinner，an'ofthatOrientalwhiskey，too，itbroadenshiman'makeshimfeelfriendly，an'deloodeshimintoclaimin'acquaintancewithpeopleheneverdoesknow，an'refoosin'toonderstandhowtheyshowssymptomsofdoubt。Sowecapersalong；Davewarblin''TheDeathofSamBass'inthecoyotekey。
"Thesenorasan'senoritas，hearin'therow，wouldlookoutan'
smile，an'Davewouldwavehisbighatan'whoopfromglee。Ifhestartstoward'em，aimin'forapowwow——whichhedoesfrequent，bein'amightyamiablegentthata-way——theycarolsforthasquawkimmediatean'shetsthedoor。Davegoeson。Mebbyhegivesthedoorakickortwo，a-proclaimin'ofhisdiscontent。
"Allatonce，whilewe'reprowlin'uponeofthemspaciousalleysaMexicanthinksisastreet，wecomesuponaEytalianwithamusicoutfitwhichhe'sgrindin'。Thisyeremusicain'tsobad，an'I
hearsaheapworsestrains。AssoonasDaveseeshimhetriestofiggeronadance，butthe'localtalent'declinestodancewithhim。
"'Inwhichevent，'saysDave，'Iplaysalonehand。"
"SoDaveputsupasmalldance，likeaNavajo，accompanyin'ofhimse'fwithoutcriessameasaInjun。ButtheEytaliandon'tplayDave'skindofmusic，an'thebaileecomestoahalt。
"'Whateveristhematterwiththisyeretune-box，anyhow？'saysDave。'Gimmethemusicforagreen-corndance，an'don'tmakenodelay。'"'Thisyeregentcan'tplaynogreen-corndance，'Isays。
"'Hecan't，can'the？'saysDave；'waittillheropesatitonce。I
knowsthisgentofyore。ImeetshimtwoyearsagoinElPaso；whichmean'himshorelyshakesupthatvillage。'
"'Whateverishisname，then？'Iasks。
"'AntonioMarino，'saystheEytalian。
"'Merino？'saysDave；'that'sright。Irecallsit，'causeitmakesmethinkatthejumphe'sasheepman，an'Igetsplumbhostile。'
"'Ineverseesyou，'saystheEytalian。
"'Yesyoudo，'saysDave；'youjestthinkyoudidn'tseeme。Wedrinkstogether，an'goesoutan'shootsupthecamp，arman'arm。'
"ButtheEytalianinsistshenevermeetsDave。ThismakesDaveuglyalot，an'beforeIgetstobuttinan'stopit，heoutswithhissix-shooter，an'putsaholeintothemusic-box。'
"'TheseyeretunesIhearssofar，'saysDave，'istoofrivolous；I
figgersthatoughtersober'emdownawholelot。'
"WhenDaveshoots，theEytalianpartyheavesthestrapofhishewgagoverhishead，an'flies。Davegrabsthemusic-box，keepin'itfromfallin'，an'thenbeginsturnin'thecranktotryit。Itplaysallright，onlyeverynowan'thenthar'saholeintothemelodylikeit'slostatooth。
"'Thisyere'sgoodenoughforadog!'saysDave，a-twistin'awayonthehandle。'Where'sthisyereMerino？Whateveristhematterwiththatshorthorn？Whydon'thestandhishand？'
"ButMerinoain'tnoomerousnomore；soDaveallowsit'sashametoletitgothata-way，an'Mexicanssufferin'formelody。Withthathestrapsonthetune-box，an'roams'roundfromone'dobytoanother，turnin'itloose。
"'HowlongdoesMerinodealhistunes，'saysDave，'beforehec'llects？However，Imakesnewroolesforthegame，rightyere。I
playsthesecadencesfiveminutes；an'thenIgetsactionon'emforfive。IsplitsevenwiththeseMexicans，whichisshorelyfair。'
"SoDavetwistsawayforfiveminutes，an'mea-timin'ofhim，an'
thenleansthehewgagupag'ina'doby，an'startsintomakearound-up。He'lltackleahousehold，sorto'terrorisin'at'emwithhisgun；an'tharuponthemembersgetsthatgeneroustheyevennegotiatesloansan'thruststhemproceedsonDave。That'sright；
they'rethatambitioustodonate。
"Onetimeherunsuponabandoftenderfeet，who'sskallyhootin'
'round；an'theycomesupan'bendstheiry'earsa-while。They'returnin'togojestbeforec'llectin'time。
"'Holdon，'saysDave，pickin'uphisColt'soffenthetopofthehewgag；'don'tgetcoldfeet。WhichI'veseenpeopleturnthatkyardinchurch，butyoubetyoudon'tjumpnogameofminethata-way。
You-alllineupag'inthewalltharontilItuckstheblanketsinonthisyereoutbreakinFflat，an'I'llbewithyou。'
"WhenDavewindsup，hegoesalongthelineofthemtremblin'
towerists，an'theycontreebutes'levendollars。
"'Theyaimstogostampedin'offwiththemnocturnes，an''peggios，an'arias，an'neversaynothin'，'saysDave；'buttheycan'tworknotwistlikethat，an'mea-ridin'herd；nonewhatever。'
"Davecarriesonsim'larforthreehours；an'whatonsplits，an'
whatonbetshewins，he'soverahundreddollarsahead。Butatlasthe'splumbfatigued，an'allowshe'llquitan'callitaday。Sohepacksthetom-tomdowntoFranklin'soffice。FranklinismarshalofTucson，an'Daveturnsoverthelayoutan'themoney，an'tellsFranklintoroundupMerinoan'enrichhimtharwith。
"'WhereisthisyereDago？'saysFranklin。
"'HoweverdoIknow？'saysDave。'LastInotesofhim，he'scanterin'offamongthescenerylikeantelopes。'
"It'satthisp'intMerinocomestoview。Hestartsintobeaheapdejectedaboutthatbullet；butwhenhegetsDave'sdonationthata-
way，hishopesrevives。Hebeginstoregyarditasaheapgoodscheme。
"'Butyou'llhavetocirkleuptothealcalde，Tutt，'saysFranklin。
'Iain'tshorenoneyouain'tbeenbreakin'somelaw。'
"Davegrumbles，an'allowsTucsonisgettin'aheaptoostaidforhim。
"'It'sgettin'so，'saysDave，'afreeAmericancitizendon'tobtainnoencouragements。YereIputsinhalfaday，amassin'wealthforaforeigngentwhoissettin'inbadluck；an'elevatin'Mexicans，whoshorelyneedsit，an'forafinishI'mlaidforbythemarshallikeafelon。'
"Well，we-allgoessurgin'overtothealcalde's。Franklin，Davean'
thealcaldedoesaheapofpokin'abouttoseewhatevercrimes，ifany，Dave'sdone。Whichtheygetsbythecaptureofthehewgag，an'