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〃Lickin' postage…stamps；〃 Mr。 McLean suggested； sourly。
〃You lick them and I cancel them；〃 answered the postmaster； and it
does not seem a powerful rejoinder。 But Miss Peck uttered her laugh。
〃That's one on you；〃 she told Lin。 And throughout this meal it was
Tommy who had her favor。 She partook of his generous supplies； she
listened to his romantic inventions； the trails he had discovered； the bears
he had slain； and after supper it was with Tommy； and not with Lin； that
she went for a little walk。
〃Katie was ever a tease；〃 said Mrs。 Taylor of her childhood friend； and
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Mr。 Taylor observed that there was always safety in numbers。 〃She'll get
used to the ways of this country quicker than our little school…marm；〃 said
he。
Mr。 McLean said very little； but read the new…arrived papers。 It was
only when bedtime dispersed us； the ladies in the cabin and the men
choosing various spots outside； that he became talkative again for a while。
We lay in the blankwe had spread on some soft； dry sand in preference to
the stable； where Taylor and Tommy had gone。 Under the contemplative
influence of the stars； Lin fell into generalization。
〃Ever notice；〃 said he； 〃how whiskey and lyin' act the same on a
man？〃
I did not feel sure that I had。
〃Just the same way。 You keep either of 'em up long enough； and yu' get
to require it。 If Tommy didn't lie some every day； he'd get sick。〃
I was sleepy； but I murmured assent to this； and trusted he would not
go on。
〃Ever notice；〃 said he； 〃how the victims of the whiskey and lyin' habit
get to increasing the dose？〃
〃Yes；〃 said I。
〃Him roping six bears！〃 pursued Mr。 McLean； after further
contemplation。 〃Or any bear。 Ever notice how the worser a man's lyin' the
silenter other men'll get？ Why's that； now？〃
I believe that I made a faint sound to imply that I was following him。
〃Men don't get took in。 But ladies now； they〃
Here he paused again； and during the next interval of contemplation I
sank beyond his reach。
In the morning I left Riverside for Buffalo； and there or thereabouts I
remained for a number of weeks。 Miss Peck did not enter my thoughts； nor
did I meet any one to remind me of her； until one day I stopped at the
drug…store。 It was not for drugs； but gossip； that I went。 In the daytime
there was no place like the apothecary's for meeting men and hearing the
news。 There I heard how things were going everywhere； including Bear
Creek。
All the cow…punchers liked the new girl up there； said gossip。 She was
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a great addition to society。 Reported to be more companionable than the
school…marm； Miss Molly Wood； who had been raised too far east； and
showed it。 Vermont； or some such dude place。 Several had been in town
buying presents for Miss Katie Peck。 Tommy Postmaster had paid high for
a necklace of elk…tushes the government scout at McKinney sold him。 Too
bad Miss Peck did not enjoy good health。 Shorty had been in only
yesterday to get her medicine again。 Third bottle。 Had I heard the big joke
on Lin McLean？ He had promised her the skin of a big bear he knew the
location of； and Tommy got the bear。
Two days after this I joined one of the roundup camps at sunset。 They
had been working from Salt Creek to Bear Creek； and the Taylor ranch
was in visiting distance from them again； after an interval of gathering and
branding far across the country。 The Virginian； the gentle…voiced
Southerner； whom I had last seen lingering with Miss Wood； was in camp。
Silent three…quarters of the time； as was his way； he sat gravely watching
Lin McLean。 That person seemed silent also； as was not his way quite so
much。
〃Lin；〃 said the Southerner； 〃I reckon you're failin'。〃
Mr。 McLean raised a sombre eye； but did not trouble to answer further。
〃A healthy man's laigs ought to fill his pants；〃 pursued the Virginian。
The challenged puncher stretched out a limb and showed his muscles with
young pride。
〃And yu' cert'nly take no comfort in your food；〃 his ingenious friend
continued； slowly and gently。
〃I'll eat you a match any day and place yu' name；〃 said Lin。
〃It ain't sca'cely hon'able；〃 went on the Virginian； 〃to waste away
durin' the round…up。 A man owes his strength to them that hires it。 If he is
paid to rope stock he ought to rope stock； and not leave it dodge or pull
away。〃
〃It's not many dodge my rope；〃 boasted Lin； imprudently。
〃Why； they tell me as how that heifer of the Sidney…Nebraska brand
got plumb away from yu'； and little Tommy had to chase afteh her。〃
Lin sat up angrily amid the laughter； but reclined again。 〃I'll improve；〃
said he； 〃if yu' learn me how yu' rope that Vermont stock so handy。 Has
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she promised to be your sister yet？〃 he added。
〃Is that what they do？〃 inquired the Virginian； serenely。 〃I have never
got related that way。 Why； that'll make Tommy your brother…in…law； Lin！〃
And now； indeed； the camp laughed a loud； merciless laugh。
But Lin was silent。 Where everybody lives in a glass…house the victory
is to him who throws the adroitest stone。 Mr。 McLean was readier witted
than most； but the gentle； slow Virginian could be a master when he chose。
〃Tommy has been recountin' his wars up at the Taylors'；〃 he now told
the camp。 〃He has frequently campaigned with General Crook； General
Miles； and General Ruger； all at onced。 He's an exciting fighter； in
conversation； and kep' us all scared for mighty nigh an hour。 Miss Peck
appeared interested in his statements。〃
〃What was you doing at the Taylors' yourself？〃 demanded Lin。
〃Visitin' Miss Wood；〃 answered the Virginian； with entire ease。 For he
also knew when to employ the plain truth as a bluff。 〃You'd ought to write
to Tommy's mother； Lin； and tell her what a dare…devil her son is gettin' to
be。 She would cut off his allowance and bring him home； and you would
have the runnin' all to yourself。〃
〃I'll fix him yet；〃 muttered Mr。 McLean。 〃Him and his wars。〃
With that he rose and left us。
The next afternoon he informed me that if I was riding up the creek to
spend the night he would go for company。 In that direction we started；
therefore； without any mention of the Taylors or Miss Peck。 I was puzzled。
Never had I seen him thus disconcerted by woman。 With him woman had
been a transient disturbance。 I had witnessed a series of flighty romances；
where the cow…puncher had come； seen； often conquered； and moved on。
Nor had his affairs been of the sort to teach a young man respect。 I am
putting it rather mildly。
For the first part of our way this afternoon he was moody； and after
that began to speak with appalling wisdom about life。 Life； he said； was a
serious matter。 Did I realize that？ A man was liable to forget it。 A man was
liable to go sporting and helling around till he waked up some day and
found all his best pleasures had become just a business。 No interest； no
surprise； no nov