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〃Yes； Doc； I'll go there； I know。 But don't yu'don't let's while she's
I'm going to be glad about this； Doc； after awhile； but〃
At the sight of a new…comer in the door； he stopped in what his soul
was stammering to say。 〃What do you want； Judge？〃 he inquired； coldly。
〃I understand；〃 began Slaghammer to Barker〃I am informed〃
〃Speak quieter； Judge；〃 said the cow…puncher。
〃I understand；〃 repeated Slaghammer； more official than ever； 〃that
there was a case for the coroner。〃
〃You'll be notified；〃 put in McLean again。 〃Meanwhile you'll talk quiet
in this room。〃
Slaghammer turned； and saw the breathing mass on the bed。
〃You are a little early； Judge；〃 said Barker； 〃but〃
〃But your ten dollars are safe；〃 said McLean。
The coroner shot one of his shrewd glances at the cow…puncher； and
sat down with an amiable countenance。 His fee was； indeed； ten dollars；
and he was desirous of a second term。
〃Under the apprehension that it had already occurredthe
misapprehensionI took steps to impanel a jury；〃 said he； addressing both
Barker and McLean。 〃They areahwaiting outside。 Responsible men；
Governor； and have sat before。 Drybone has few responsible men to…night；
but I procured these at a little game where they wereahlosing。 You may
go back； gentlemen；〃 said he； going to the door。 〃I will summon you in
proper time。〃 He looked in the room again。 〃Is the husband not intending
〃
〃That's enough； Judge；〃 said McLean。 〃There's too many here without
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adding him。〃
〃Judge；〃 spoke a voice at the door； 〃ain't she ready yet？〃
〃She is still passing away；〃 observed Slaghammer； piously。
〃Because I was thinking；〃 said the man 〃I was justYou see； us jury
is dry and dead broke。 Doggonedest cards I've held this year； andJudge；
would there be anything out of the way in me touching my fee in advance；
if it's a sure thing？〃
〃I see none； my friend；〃 said Slaghammer； benevolently； 〃since it must
be。〃 He shook his head and nodded it by turns。 Then； with full…blown
importance； he sat again； and wrote a paper； his coroner's certificate。 Next
door； in Albany County； these vouchers brought their face value of five
dollars to the holder； but on Drybone's neutral soil the saloons would
always pay four for them； and it was rare that any jury…man could
withstand the temptation of four immediate dollars。 This one gratefully
received his paper； and； cherishing it like a bird in the hand； he with his
colleagues bore it where they might wait for duty and slake their thirst。
In the silent room sat Lin McLean； his body coming to life more
readily than his shaken spirit。 Barker； seeing that the cow…puncher meant
to watch until the end； brought the whiskey to him。 Slaghammer drew
documents from his pocket to fill the time； but was soon in slumber over
them。 In all precincts of the quadrangle Drybone was keeping it up late。
The fiddle； the occasional shouts； and the crack of the billiard…balls
travelled clear and far through the vast darkness outside。 Presently steps
unsteadily drew near； and round the corner of the door a voice； plaintive
and diffident； said； 〃Judge； ain't she most pretty near ready？〃
〃Wake up； Judge！〃 said Barker。 〃Your jury has gone dry again。〃
The man appeared round the doora handsome； dishevelled fellow
with hat in hand； balancing himself with respectful anxiety。 Thus was a
second voucher made out； and the messenger strayed back happy to his
friends。 Barker and McLean sat wakeful； and Slaghammer fell at once to
napping。 From time to time he was roused by new messengers； each
arriving more unsteady than the last； until every juryman had got his fee
and no more messengers came。 The coroner slept undisturbed in his chair。
McLean and Barker sat。 On the bed the mass； with its pink ribbons；
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breathed and breathed； while moths flew round the lamp； tapping and
falling with light sounds。 So did the heart of the darkness wear itself away；
and through the stone…cold air the dawn began to filter and expand。
Barker rose； bent over the bed； and then stood。 Seeing him； McLean
stood also。
〃Judge；〃 said Barker； quietly； 〃you may call them now。〃 And with
careful steps the judge got himself out of the room to summon his jury。
For a short while the cow…puncher stood looking down upon the
woman。 She lay lumped inher gaudiness； the ribbons darkly stained by the
laudanum； but into the stolid； bold features death had called up the faint…
colored ghost of youth； and McLean remembered all his Bear Creek days。
〃Hind sight is a turruble clear way o' seein' things；〃 said he。 〃I think I'll
take a walk。〃
〃Go；〃 said Barker。 〃The jury only need me； and I'll join you。〃
But the jury needed no witness。 Their long waiting and the advance
pay had been too much for these responsible men。 Like brothers they had
shared each others' vouchers until responsibility had melted from their
brains and the whiskey was finished。 Then； no longer entertained and
growing weary of Drybone； they had remembered nothing but their distant
beds。 Each had mounted his pony； holding trustingly to the saddle； and
thus； unguided； the experienced ponies had taken them right。 Across the
wide sagebrush and up and down the river they were now asleep or riding；
dispersed irrevocably。 But the coroner was here。 He duly received Barker's
testimony； brought his verdict in； and signed it； and even while he was
issuing to himself his own proper voucher for ten dollars came Chalkeye
and Toothpick Kid on their ponies； galloping； eager in their hopes and
good wishes for Mrs。 Lusk。 Life ran strong in them both。 The night had
gone well with them。 Here was the new day going to be fine。 It must be
well with everybody。
〃You don't say！〃 they exclaimed； taken aback。 〃Too bad。〃
They sat still in their saddles； and upon their reckless； kindly faces
thought paused for a moment。 〃Her gone！〃 they murmured。 〃Hard to get
used to the idea。 What's anybody doing about the coffin？〃
〃Mr。 Lusk；〃 answered Slaghammer； 〃doubtless〃
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〃Lusk！ He'll not know anything this forenoon。 He's out there in the
grass。 She didn't think nothing of him。 Tell Billnot Dollar Bill； Jerky Bill；
yu' know； he's over the bridgeto fix up a hearse； and we'll be back。〃 The
two drove their spurs in with vigorous heels； and instantly were gone
rushing up the road to the graveyard。
The fiddle had lately ceased； and no dancers stayed any longer in the
hall。 Eastward the rose and gold began to flow down upon the plain over
the tops of the distant hills。 Of the revellers； many had never gone to bed；
and many now were already risen from their excesses to revive in the cool
glory of the morning。 Some were drinking to stay their hunger until
breakfast； some splashed and sported in the river； calling and joking； and
across the river some