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aside with competent blasphemy； and tossing off some infamous whiskey；
cantered away in the full self…conscious strut of the frontier。 But here was
not the moment； the abashed cow…puncher could make no such parade in
this place。 The people brushed by him back and forth； busy upon their
errands； and aware of him scarcely more than if he had been a spirit
looking on from the helpless dead； and so； while these weaving needs and
kindnesses of man were within arm's touch of him； he was locked outside
with his impulses。 Barker had； in the natural press of customers； long
parted from him； to become immersed in choosing and rejecting； and now；
with a fair part of his mission accomplished； he was ready to go on to the
next place； and turned to beckon McLean。 He found him obliterated in a
corner beside a life…sized image of Santa Claus； standing as still as the
frosty saint。
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〃He looks livelier than you do；〃 said the hearty Governor。 〃'Fraid it's
been slow waiting。〃
〃No；〃 replied the cow…puncher； thoughtfully。 〃No； I guess not。〃
This uncertainty was expressed with such gentleness that Barker
roared。 〃You never did lie to me；〃 he said； 〃long as I've known you。 Well；
never mind。 I've got some real advice to ask you now。〃
At this Mr。 McLean's face grew more alert。 〃Say Doc；〃 said he； 〃what
do yu' want for Christmas that nobody's likely to give yu'？〃
〃A big practicebig enough to interfere with my politics。〃
〃What else？ Things and truck； I mean。〃
〃Ohnothing I'll get。 People don't give things much to fellows like
me。〃
〃Don't they？ Don't they？〃
〃Why； you and Santa Claus weren't putting up any scheme on my
stocking？〃
〃Well〃
〃I believe you're in earnest！〃 cried his Excellency。 〃That's simply
rich！〃 Here was a thing to relish！ The Frontier comes to town 〃heeled for a
big time；〃 finds that presents are all the rage； and must immediately give
somebody something。 Oh； childlike； miscellaneous Frontier！ So thought
the good…hearted Governor； and it seems a venial misconception。 〃My
dear fellow；〃 he added； meaning as well as possible； 〃I don't want you to
spend your money on me。〃
〃I've got plenty all right；〃 said Lin； shortly。
〃Plenty's not the point。 I'll take as many drinks as you please with you。
You didn't expect anything from me？〃
〃That ain'tthat don't〃
〃There！ Of course you didn't。 Then； what are you getting proud about？
Here's our shop。〃 They stepped in from the street to new crowds and
counters。 〃Now；〃 pursued the Governor； 〃this is for a very particular friend
of mine。 Here they are。 Now； which of those do you like best？〃
They were sets of Tennyson in cases holding little volumes equal in
number； but the binding various； and Mr。 McLean reached his decision
after one look。 〃That；〃 said he； and laid a large muscular hand upon the
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Laureate。 The young lady behind the counter spoke out acidly； and Lin
pulled the abject hand away。 His taste； however； happened to be sound； or；
at least； it was at one with the Governor's； but now they learned that there
was a distressing variance in the matter of price。
The Governor stared at the delicate article of his choice。 〃I know that
Tennyson is what sheis what's wanted；〃 he muttered； and； feeling himself
nudged； looked around and saw Lin's extended fist。 This gesture he took
for a facetious sympathy； and； dolorously grasping the hand； found himself
holding a lump of bills。 Sheer amazement relaxed him； and the cow…
puncher's matted wealth tumbled on the floor in sight of all people。 Barker
picked it up and gave it back。 〃No； no； no！〃 he said； mirthful over his own
inclination to be annoyed； 〃you can't do that。 I'm just as much obliged；
Lin；〃 he added。
〃Just as a loan； Docsome of it。 I'm grass…bellied with spot…cash。〃
A giggle behind the counter disturbed them both； but the sharp young
lady was only dusting。 The Governor at once paid haughtily for
Tennyson's expensive works； and the cow…puncher pushed his
discountenanced savings back into his clothes。 Making haste to leave the
book department of this shop； they regained a mutual ease； and the
Governor became waggish over Lin's concern at being too rich。 He
suggested to him the list of delinquent taxpayers and the latest census from
which to select indigent persons。 He had patients； too； whose inveterate
pennilessness he could swear cheerfully to〃since you want to bolt from
your own money；〃 he remarked。
〃Yes； I'm a green horse；〃 assented Mr。 McLean； gallantly； 〃ain't used
to the looks of a twenty…dollar bill； and I shy at 'em。〃
From his facethat jocular maskone might have counted him the
most serene and careless of vagrants； and in his words only the ordinary
voice of banter spoke to the Governor。 A good woman； it may well be；
would have guessed before this the sensitive soul in the blundering body；
but Barker saw just the familiar； whimsical； happy…go…lucky McLean of
old days； and so he went gayly and innocently on； treading upon holy
ground。 〃I've got it！〃 he exclaimed； 〃give your wife something。〃
The ruddy cow…puncher grinned。 He had passed through the world of
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woman with but few delays； rejoicing in informal and transient
entanglements； and he welcomed the turn which the conversation seemed
now to be taking。 〃If you'll give me her name and address；〃 said he； with
the future entirely in his mind。
〃Why； Laramie！〃 and the Governor feigned surprise。
〃Say； Doc；〃 said Lin； uneasily； 〃none of 'em ain't married me since I
saw yu' last。〃
〃Then she hasn't written from Laramie；〃 said the hilarious Governor；
and Mr。 McLean understood and winced in his spirit deep down。 〃Gee
whiz！〃 went on Barker； 〃I'll never forget you and Lusk that day！〃
But the mask fell now。 〃You're talking of his wife； not mine；〃 said the
cow…puncher very quietly； and smiling no more； 〃and； Doc； I'm going to
say a word to yu'； for I know yu've always been my good friend。 I'll never
forget that day myselfbut I don't want to be reminded of it。〃
〃I'm a fool； Lin；〃 said the Governor； generous instantly。 〃I never
supposed〃
〃I know yu' didn't； Doc。 It ain't you that's the fool。 And in a wayin a
way〃 Lin's speech ended among his crowding memories； and Barker；
seeing how wistful his face had turned； waited。 〃But I ain't quite the same
fool I was before that happened to me；〃 the cow…puncher resumed；
〃though maybe my actions don't show to be wiser。 I know that there was
better luck than a man like me had any call to look for。〃
The sobered Barker said； simply； 〃Yes； Lin。〃 He was put to thinking by
these words from the unsuspected inner man。
Out in the Bow Leg country Lin McLean had met a woman with thick；
red cheeks； calling herself by a maiden name； and this was his