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Across from the dance…hall the whining of the fiddle came； high and
gay； feet blurred the talk of voices； and voices rose above the trampling of
feet。 Here and there some lurking form stumbled through the dark among
the rubbish； and clearest sound of all； the light crack of billiard balls
reached dry and far into the night Barker contemplated the stars and calm
splendid dimness of the plain。 〃'Though every prospect pleases； and only
man is vile；'〃 he quoted。 〃But don't tell the Republican party I said so。〃
〃It's awful true； though； Doc。 I'm vile myself。 Yu' don't know。 Why； I
didn't know！〃
And then they sat down to confidences and whiskey； for so long as the
world goes round a man must talk to a man sometimes； and both must
drink over it。 The cow…puncher unburdened himself to the Governor； and
the Governor filled up his friend's glass with the Eastern whiskey； and
nodded his spectacles； and listened； and advised； and said he should have
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done the same； and like the good Governor that he was； never remembered
he was Governor at all with political friends here who had begged a word
or two。 He became just Dr。 Barker again； the young hospital surgeon （the
hospital that now stood a ruin）； and Lin was again his patientLin； the
sun…burnt free…lance of nineteen； reckless； engaging； disobedient； his leg
broken and his heart light； with no Jessamine or conscience to rob his salt
of its savor。 While he now told his troubles； the quadrilles fiddled away
careless as ever； and the crack of the billiard balls sounded as of old。
〃Nobody has told you about this； I expect；〃 said the lover。 He brought
forth the little pistol； 〃Neighbor。〃 He did not hand it across to Barker； but
walked over to Barker's chair； and stood holding it for the doctor to see。
When Barker reached for it to see better； since it was half hidden in the
cow…puncher's big hand； Lin yielded it to him； but still stood and soon
drew it back。 〃I take it around；〃 he said； 〃and when one of those stories
comes along； like there's plenty of； that she wants to get rid of me； I just
kind o' take a look at 'Neighbor' when I'm off where it's handy； and it busts
the story right out of my mind。 I have to tell you what a fool I am。〃
〃The whiskey's your side；〃 said Barker。 〃Go on。〃
〃But； Doc； my courage has quit me。 They see what I'm thinking about
just like I was a tenderfoot trying his first bluff。 I can't stick it out no more；
and I'm going to see her； come what will。
I've got to。 I'm going to ride right up to her window and shoot off
'Neighbor；' and if she don't come out I'll know〃
A knocking came at the Governor's room； and Judge Slaghammer
entered。 〃Not been to our dance； Governor？〃 said he。
The Governor thought that perhaps he was tired； that perhaps this
evening he must forego the pleasure。
〃It may be wiser。 In your position it may be advisable；〃 said the
coroner。 〃They're getting on rollers over there。 We do not like trouble in
Drybone； but trouble comes to usas everywhere。〃
〃Shooting；〃 suggested his Excellency； recalling his hospital practice。
〃Well； Governor； you know how it is。 Our boys are as big…hearted as
any in this big…hearted Western country。 You know； Governor。 Those
generous； warm…blooded spirits are ever ready for anything。〃
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〃Especially after Mrs。 Slaghammer's whiskey；〃 remarked the
Governor。
The coroner shot a shrewd eye at Wyoming's chief executive。 It was
not politically harmonious to be reminded that but for his wife's liquor a
number of fine young men； with nothing save youth untrained and health
the matter with them； would to…day be riding their horses instead of
sleeping on the hill。 But the coroner wanted support in the next campaign。
〃Boys will be boys；〃 said he。 〃They ain't pulled any guns to…night。 But I
come away； though。 Some of 'em's making up pretty free to Mrs。 Lusk。 It
ain't suitable for me to see too much。 Lusk says he's after you；〃 he
mentioned incidentally to Lin。 〃He's fillin' up； and says he's after you。〃
McLean nodded placidly； and with scant politeness。 He wished this visitor
would go。 But Judge Slaghammer had noticed the whiskey。 He filled
himself a glass。 〃Governor； it has my compliments；〃 said he。 〃Ambrosier。
Honey…doo。〃
〃Mrs。 Slaghammer seems to have a large gathering；〃 said Barker。
〃Good boys； good boys！〃 The judge blew importantly； and waved his
arm。 〃Bull…whackers； cow…punchers； mule…skinners； tin…horns。 All
spending generous。 Governor； once more！ Ambrosier。 Honey…doo。〃 He
settled himself deep in a chair； and closed his eyes。
McLean rose abruptly。 〃Good…night；〃 said he。 〃I'm going to Separ。〃
〃Separ！〃 exclaimed Slaghammer； rousing slightly。 〃Oh； stay with us；
stay with us。〃 He closed his eyes again； but sustained his smile of office。
〃You know how well I wish you；〃 said Barker to Lin。 〃I'll just see you
start。〃
Forthwith the friends left the coroner quiet beside his glass； and
walked toward the horses through Drybone's gaping quadrangle。 The dead
ruins loomed among the lights of the card…halls； and always the keen
jockey cadences of the fiddle sang across the night。 But a calling and
confusion were set up； and the tune broke off。
〃Just like old times！〃 said his Excellency。 〃Where's the dump…pile！〃 It
was where it should be； close by； and the two stepped behind it to be
screened from wandering bullets。 〃A man don't forget his habits；〃 declared
the Governor。 〃Makes me feel young again。〃
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〃Makes me feel old；〃 said McLean。 〃Hark！〃
〃Sounds like my name；〃 said Barker。 They listened。 〃Oh yes。 Of
course。 That's it。 They're shouting for the doctor。 But we'll just spare them
a minute or so to finish their excitement。〃
〃I didn't hear any shooting；〃 said McLean。 〃It's something； though。〃
As they waited； no shots came； but still the fiddle was silent； and the
murmur of many voices grew in the dance…hall； while single voices
wandered ou