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to be happy。 Sure enough。 But not happy along with Miss Second Best。'
〃Lin； she looked at me that piercin'！
〃And I goes on； for I was wound away up。 'And he will be happy； too；'
I says。 'Miss Second Best will have a talk with him about your picture and
little 〃Neighbor；〃 which he'll not send back to yus； because the hurt in his
heart is there。 And he will keep 'em out of sight somewheres after his talk
with Miss Second Best。' Lin； Lin； I laughed at them words of mine； but I
was that wound up I was strange to myself。 And she watchin' me that way！
And I says to her： 'Miss Second Best will not be the crazy thing to think I
am any wife of his standing in her way。 He will tell her about me。 He will
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tell how onced he thought he was solid married to me till Lusk came back；
and she will drop me out of sight along with the rest that went nameless。
They was not uncomprehensible to you； was they？ You have learned
something by livin'； I guess！ And Linyour Lin； not mine； nor never mine
in heart for a day so deep as he's yourn right now he has been gaygay
as any I've knowed。 Why； look at that face of his！ Could a boy with a face
like that help bein' gay？ But that don't touch what's the true Lin deep down。
Nor will his deep…down love for you hinder him like it will hinder you。
Don't you know men and us is different when it comes to passion？ We're
all one thing then； but they ain't simple。 They keep along with lots of other
things。 I can't make yus know； and I guess it takes a woman like I have
been to learn their nature。 But you did know he loved you； and you sent
him away； and you'll be homeless in yer house when he has done the right
thing by himself and found another girl。'
〃Lin； all the while I was talkin' all I knowed to her； without knowin'
what I'd be sayin' next； for it come that unexpected； she was lookin' at me
with them steady eyes。 And all she says when I quit was； 'If I saw him I
would tell him to find a home。'〃
〃Didn't she tell yu' she'd made me promise to keep away from seeing
her？〃 asked the cow…puncher
Mrs。 Lusk laughed。 〃Oh； you innocent！〃 said she。
〃She said if I came she would leave Separ；〃 muttered McLean；
brooding。
Again the large woman laughed out； but more harshly。
〃I have kept my promise；〃 Lin continued。
〃Keep it some more。 Sit here rotting in your chair till she goes away。
Maybe she's gone。〃
〃What's that？〃 said Lin。 But still she only laughed harshly。 〃I could be
there by to…morrow night；〃 he murmured。 Then his face softened。 〃She
would never do such a thing！〃 he said； to himself。
He had forgotten the woman at the table。 While she had told him
matters that concerned him he had listened eagerly。 Now she was of no
more interest than she had been before her story was begun。 She looked at
his eyes as he sat thinking and dwelling upon his sweetheart。 She looked at
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him； and a longing welled up into her face。 A certain youth and heavy
beauty relighted the features。
〃You are the same； same Lin everyways；〃 she said。 〃A woman is too
many for you still； Lin！〃 she whispered。
At her summons he looked up from his revery。
〃Lin； I would not have treated you so。〃
The caress that filled her voice was plain。 His look met hers as he sat
quite still； his arms on the table。 Then he took his turn at laughing。
〃You！〃 he said。 〃At least I've had plenty of education in you。〃
〃Lin； Lin； don't talk that brutal to me to…day。 If yus knowed how near I
come shooting myself with 'Neighbor。' That would have been funny！
〃I knowed yus wanted to tear that pistol out of my hand because it was
hern。 But yus never did such things to me； fer there's a gentleman in you
somewheres； Lin。 And yus didn't never hit me； not even when you come to
know me well。 And when I seen you so unexpected again to…night； and
you just the same old Lin； scaring Lusk with shooting them chickens； so
comic and splendid； I could 'a' just killed Lusk sittin' in the wagon。 Say；
Lin； what made yus do that； anyway？〃
〃I can't hardly say；〃 said the cow…puncher。 〃Only noticing him so
turruble anxious to quit mewell； a man acts without thinking。〃
〃You always did； Lin。 You was always a comical genius。 Lin； them
were good times。〃
〃Which times？〃
〃You know。 You can't tell me you have forgot。〃
〃I have not forgot much。 What's the sense in this？〃
〃Yus never loved me！〃 she exclaimed。
〃Shucks！〃
〃Lin； Lin； is it all over？ You know yus loved me on Bear Creek。 Say
you did。 Only say it was once that way。〃 And as he sat； she came and put
her arms round his neck。 For a moment he did not move； letting himself be
held； and then she kissed him。 The plates crashed as he beat and struck her
down upon the table。 He was on his feet； cursing himself。 As he went out
of the door； she lay where she had fallen beneath his fist； looking after him
and smiling。
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McLean walked down Box Elder Creek through the trees toward the
stable； where Lusk had gone to put the horse in the wagon。 Once he leaned
his hand against a big cotton…wood； and stood still with half…closed eyes。
Then he continued on his way。 〃Lusk！〃 he called； presently； and in a few
steps more； 〃Lusk！〃 Then； as he came slowly out of the trees to meet the
husband he began； with quiet evenness； 〃Your wife wants to know〃 But
he stopped。 No husband was there。 Wagon and horse were not there。 The
door was shut。 The bewildered cow…puncher looked up the stream where
the road went； and he looked down。 Out of the sky where daylight and
stars were faintly shining together sounded the long cries of the night
hawks as they sped and swooped to their hunting in the dusk。 From among
the trees by the stream floated a cooler air； and distant and close by
sounded the splashing water。 About the meadow where Lin stood his
horses fed； quietly crunching。 He went to the door； looked in； and shut it
again。 He walked to his shed and stood contemplating his own wagon
alone there。 Then he lifted away a piece of trailing vine from the gate of
the corral； while the turkeys moved their heads and watched him from the
roof。 A rope was hanging from the corral； and seeing it； he dropped the
vine。 He opened the corral gate； and walked quickly back into the middle
of the field； where the horses saw him and his rope； and scattered。 But he
ran and herded them； whirling the rope； and so drove them into the corral；
and flung his noose over two。 He dragged two saddlesmen's saddles
from the stable； and next he was again at his cabin door with the horses
saddled。 She was sitting quite still by the table where she had sat during
the meal； nor did she speak or move when she saw him look in at the door。
〃Lusk has gone；〃 said he。 〃I don't know what he expected you would
do； or I would do。 But we will catch him before he gets to Drybone。〃
She looked at him with her dumb stare。 〃Gone？〃 she said。
〃Get up and ride；〃 said McLean。 〃You are going to Drybone。〃
〃Drybone？〃 she echoed。 Her voice was toneless and dull。
He made no more explanations to her； but went qui