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noticed him step to his own。
〃Why； I didn't know you were lame！〃 cried she。
〃Shucks！〃 said Lin。 〃It don't cramp my style any。〃 He had sprung on
his horse； ridden beside her； leaned and kissed her before she got any
measure of his activity。
〃That's how；〃 said he； and they took their homeward way galloping。
〃No；〃 Lin continued； 〃Frank and me never quarrelled。 I just thought I'd
have a look at this Western country。 Frank； he thought dry…goods was good
enough for him； and so we're both satisfied； I expect。 And that's a lot of
years now。 Whoop ye！〃 he suddenly sang out； and fired his six…shooter at a
jack…rabbit； who strung himself out flat and flew over the earth。
Both dismounted at the parade…ground gate； and he kissed her again
when she was not looking； upon which she very properly slapped him； and
he took the horses to the stable。 He sat down to tea at the hotel； and found
the meal consisted of black potatoes； gray tea； and a guttering dish of fat
pork。 But his appetite was good； and he remarked to himself that inside the
first hour he was in Boston he would have steamed Duxbury clams。 Of
Sabina he never thought again； and it is likely that she found others to take
his place。 Fort Washakie was one hundred and fifty miles from the railway；
and men there were many and girls were few。
The next morning the other passengers entered the stage with
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resignation； knowing the thirty…six hours of evil that lay before them。 Lin
climbed up beside the driver。 He had a new trunk now。
〃Don't get full； Lin；〃 said the clerk； putting the mail…sacks in at the
store。
〃My plans ain't settled that far yet；〃 replied Mr。 McLean。
〃Leave it out of them；〃 said the voice of the bishop； laughing； inside
the stage。
It was a cool； fine air。 Gazing over the huge plain down in which lies
Fort Washakie； Lin heard the faint notes of the trumpet on the parade
ground； and took a good…bye look at all things。 He watched the American
flag grow small； saw the circle of steam rising away down by the hot
springs； looked at the bad lands beyond； chemically pink and rose amid
the vast； natural； quiet…colored plain。 Across the spreading distance Indians
trotted at wide spaces； generally two large bucks on one small pony； or a
squaw and pappoosea bundle of parti…colored rags。 Presiding over the
whole rose the mountains to the west； serene； lifting into the clearest light。
Then once again came the now tiny music of the trumpet。
〃When do yu' figure on comin' back？〃 inquired the driver。
〃Oh； I'll just look around back there for a spell；〃 said Lin。 〃About a
month； I guess。〃
He had seven hundred dollars。 At Lander the horses are changed； and
during this operation Lin's friends gathered and said； where was any sense
in going to Boston when you could have a good time where you were？ But
Lin remained sitting safe on the stage。 Toward evening； at the bottom of a
little dry gulch some eight feet deep； the horses decided it was a suitable
place to stay。 It was the bishop who persuaded them to change their minds。
He told the driver to give up beating； and unharness。 Then they were led
up the bank； quivering； and a broken trace was spliced with rope。 Then the
stage was forced on to the level ground； the bishop proving a strong man；
familiar with the gear of vehicles。 They crossed through the pass among
the quaking asps and the pines； and； reaching Pacific Springs； came down
again into open country。 That afternoon the stage put its passengers down
on the railroad platform at Green River； this was the route in those days
before the mid…winter catastrophes of frozen passengers led to its
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abandonment。 The bishop was going west。 His robes had passed him on
the up stage during the night。 When the reverend gentleman heard this he
was silent for a very short moment； and then laughed vigorously in the
baggage…room。
〃I can understand how you swear sometimes；〃 he said to Lin McLean；
〃but I can't； you see。 Not even at this。〃
The cow…puncher was checking his own trunk to Omaha。
〃Good…bye and good luck to you；〃 continued the bishop； giving his
hand to Lin。 〃And look heredon't you think you might leave that 'getting
full' out of your plans？〃
Lin gave a slightly shamefaced grin。 〃I don't guess I can； sir；〃 he said。
〃I'm givin' yu' straight goods； yu' see；〃 he added
〃That's right。 But you look like a man who could stop when he'd had
enough。 Try that。 You're man enoughand come and see me whenever
we're in the same place。〃 He went to the hotel。 There were several hours
for Lin to wait。 He walked up and down the platform till the stars came out
and the bright lights of the town shone in the saloon windows。 Over across
the way piano…music sounded through one of the many open doors。
〃Wonder if the professor's there yet？〃 said Lin； and he went across the
railroad tracks。 The bartender nodded to him as he passed through into the
back room。 In that place were many tables； and the flat clicking and rattle
of ivory counters sounded pleasantly through the music。 Lin did not join
the stud…poker game。 He stood over a table at which sat a dealer and a
player； very silent； opposite each other； and whereon were painted sundry
cards； numerals； and the colors red and black in squares。 The legend
〃Jacks pay〃 was also clearly painted。 The player placed chips on
whichever insignia of fortune he chose； and the dealer slid cards （quite
fairly） from the top of a pack that lay held within a skeleton case made
with some clamped bands of tin。 Sometimes the player's pile of chips rose
high； and sometimes his sumptuous pillar of gold pieces was lessened by
one。 It was very interesting and pretty to see； Lin had much better have
joined the game of stud…poker。 Presently the eye of the dealer met the eye
of the player。 After that slight incident the player's chip pile began to rise；
and rose steadily； till the dealer made admiring comments on such a run of
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luck。 Then the player stopped； cashed in； and said good…night； having
nearly doubled the number of his gold pieces。
〃Five dollars' worth；〃 said Lin； sitting down in the vacant seat。 The
chips were counted out to him。 He played with unimportant shiftings of
fortune until a short while before his train was due； and then； singularly
enough； he discovered he was one hundred and fifty dollars behind the
game。
〃I guess I'll leave the train go without me；〃 said Lin； buying five
dollars〃 worth more of ivory counters。 So that train came and went；
removing eastward Mr。 McLean's trunk。
During the hour that followed his voice grew dogged and his remarks
briefer； as he continually purchased more chips from the now surprised
and sympathetic dealer。 It was really wonderful how steadily Lin lost just
as steadily as his predecessor had won after that meeting of eyes early in
the evening。
When Lin was three hun