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and asked her after Lin McLean's health； and till I've saw how the likes of
her talks to the likes of me。〃
He made a feeble protest that this would do no one any good。
〃Sew yourself up； James Lusk。 If it has been your idea I come with yus
clear from Laramie to watch yus plant telegraph…poles in the sage…brush；
why you're off。 I ain't heard much 'o Lin since the day he learned it was
you and not him that was my husband。 And I've come back in this country
to have a look at my old friendsand〃 （she laughed loudly and nodded at
the station） 〃my old friends' new friends！〃
Thus ordered； the husband wandered away to find his wagon and the
horse。
Jessamine； in the office； had finished her station duties and returned to
her needle。 She sat contemplating the scorched sock of Billy's； and heard a
heavy step at the threshold。 She turned； and there was the large woman
with the feather quietly surveying her。 The words which the stranger spoke
then were usual enough for a beginning。 But there was something of threat
in the strong animal countenance； something of laughter ready to break out。
Much beauty of its kind had evidently been in the face； and now； as
substitute for what was gone； was the brag look of assertion that it was
still all there。 Many stranded travellers knocked at Jessamine's door； and
now； as always； she offered the hospitalities of her neat abode； the only
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room in Separ fit for a woman。 As she spoke； and the guest surveyed and
listened； the door blew shut with a crash。
Outside； in a shed； Billy had placed the wagon between himself and
his father。
〃How you have grown！〃 the man was saying； and he smiled。 〃Come；
shake hands。 I did not think to see you here。〃
〃Dare you to touch me！〃 Billy screamed。 〃No； I'll never come with you。
Lin says I needn't to。〃
The man passed his hand across his forehead； and leaned against the
wheel。 〃Lord； Lord！〃 he muttered。
His son warily slid out of the shed and left him leaning there。
PART II
Lin McLean； bachelor； sat out in front of his cabin； looking at a small
bright pistol that lay in his hand。 He held it tenderly； cherishing it； and did
not cease slowly to polish it。 Revery filled his eyes； and in his whole face
was sadness unmasked； because only the animals were there to perceive
his true feelings。 Sunlight and waving shadows moved together upon the
green of his pasture； cattle and horses loitered in the opens by the stream。
Down Box Elder's course； its valley and golden…chimneyed bluffs widened
away into the level and the blue of the greater valley。 Upstream the
branches and shining； quiet leaves entered the mountains where the rock
chimneys narrowed to a gateway； a citadel of shafts and turrets； crimson
and gold above the filmy emerald of the trees。 Through there the road
went up from the cotton…woods into the cool quaking asps and pines； and
so across the range and away to Separ。 Along the ridge…pole of the new
stable； two hundred yards down…stream； sat McLean's turkeys； and cocks
and hens walked in front of him here by his cabin and fenced garden。 Slow
smoke rose from the cabin's chimney into the air； in which were no sounds
but the running water and the afternoon chirp of birds。 Amid this
framework of a home the cow…puncher sat； lonely； inattentive； polishing
the treasured weapon as if it were not already long clean。 His target stood
some twenty steps in front of hima small cottonwood…tree； its trunk
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chipped and honeycombed with bullets which he had fired into it each day
for memory's sake。 Presently he lifted the pistol and looked at its name
the word 〃Neighbor〃 engraved upon it。
〃I wonder；〃 said he； aloud； 〃if she keeps the rust off mine？〃 Then he
lifted it slowly to his lips and kissed the word 〃Neighbor。〃
The clank of wheels sounded on the road； and he put the pistol quickly
down。 Dreaminess vanished from his face。 He looked around alertly； but
no one had seen him。 The clanking was still among the trees a little
distance up Box Elder。 It approached deliberately； while he watched for
the vehicle to emerge upon the open where his cabin stood； and then they
came； a man and a woman。 At sight of her Mr。 McLean half rose； but sat
down again。 Neither of them had noticed him； sitting as they were in
silence and the drowsiness of a long drive。 The man was weak…faced； with
good looks sallowed by dissipation； and a vanquished glance of the eye。
As the woman had stood on the platform at Separ； so she sat now； upright；
bold； and massive。 The brag of past beauty was a habit settled upon her
stolid features。 Both sat inattentive to each other and to everything around
them。 The wheels turned slowly and with a dry； dead noise； the reins
bellied loosely to the shafts； the horse's head hung low。 So they drew close。
Then the man saw McLean； and color came into his face and went away。
〃Good…evening；〃 said he； clearing his throat。 〃We heard you was in
cow…camp。〃
The cow…puncher noted how he tried to smile； and a freakish change
crossed his own countenance。 He nodded slightly； and stretched his legs
out as he sat。
〃You look natural；〃 said the woman； familiarly。
〃Seem to be fixed nice here；〃 continued the man。 〃Hadn't heard of it。
Well； we'll be going along。 Glad to have seen you。〃
〃Your wheel wants greasing；〃 said McLean； briefly； his eye upon the
man。
〃Can't stop。 I expect she'll last to Drybone。 Good…evening。〃
〃Stay to supper；〃 said McLean； always seated on his chair。
〃Can't stop； thank you。 I expect we can last to Drybone。〃 He twitched
the reins。
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McLean levelled a pistol at a chicken； and knocked off its head。
〃Better stay to supper；〃 he suggested； very distinctly。
〃It's business； I tell you。 I've got to catch Governor Barker before he〃
The pistol cracked； and a second chicken shuffled in the dust。 〃Better
stay to supper；〃 drawled McLean。
The man looked up at his wife。
〃So yus need me！〃 she broke out。 〃Ain't got heart enough in yer
played…out body to stand up to a man。 We'll eat here。 Get down。〃
The husband stepped to the ground。 〃I didn't suppose you'd want〃
〃Ho！ want？ What's Lin； or you； or anything to me？ Help me out。〃
Both men came forward。 She descended； leaning heavily upon each；
her blue staring eyes fixed upon the cow…puncher。
〃No； yus ain't changed；〃 she said。 〃Same in your looks and same in
your actions。 Was you expecting you could scare me； you； Lin McLean？〃
〃I just wanted chickens for supper；〃 said he。
Mrs。 Lusk gave a hard high laugh。 〃I'll eat 'em。 It's not I that cares。 As
for〃 She stopped。 Her eye had fallen upon the pistol and the name
〃Neighbor。〃 〃As for you；〃 she continued to Mr。 Lusk； 〃don't you be
standing dumb same as the horse。〃
〃Better take him to the stable； Lusk；〃 said McLean。
He picked the chickens up； showed the woman to the best chair in his
room； and went into his kitchen to cook supper