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〃makin' our beds down anywheres； and eatin' the same old chuck every
day。 So we've shook fried beef and heifer's delight； and we're goin' to feed
high。〃
Then Mr。 McLean overflowed with talk and pungent confidences； for
the holidays already rioted in his spirit； and his tongue was loosed over
their coming rites。
〃We've soured on scenery；〃 he finished； in his drastic idiom。 〃We're
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sick of moonlight and cow…dung； and we're heeled for a big time。〃
〃Call on me；〃 remarked the Governor； cheerily； 〃when you're ready for
bromides and sulphates。〃
〃I ain't box…headed no more；〃 protested Mr。 McLean； 〃I've got
maturity； Doc； since I seen yu' at the rain…making； and I'm a heap older
than them hospital days when I bust my leg on yu'。 Three or four glasses
and quit。 That's my rule。〃
〃That your rule； too？〃 inquired the Governor of Shorty； Chalkeye； and
Dollar Bill。 These gentlemen of the saddle were sitting quite
expressionless upon their horses。
〃We ain't talkin'； we're waitin'；〃 observed Chalkeye； and the three
cynics smiled amiably。
〃Well； Doc； see yu' again；〃 said Mr。 McLean。 He turned to accompany
his brother cow…punchers； but in that particular moment Fate descended or
came up from whatever place she dwells in and entered the body of the
unsuspecting Governor。
〃What's your hurry？〃 said Fate； speaking in the official's hearty
manner。 〃Come along with me。〃
〃Can't do it。 Where are yu' goin'？〃
〃Christmasing；〃 replied Fate。
〃Well； I've got to feed my horse。 Christmasing； yu' say？〃
〃Yes； I'm buying toys。〃
〃Toys！ You？ What for？〃
〃Oh； some kids。〃
〃Yourn？〃 screeched Lin； precipitately。
His Excellency the jovial Governor opened his teeth in pleasure at this；
for he was a bachelor； and there were fifteen upon his list； which he held
up for the edification of the hasty McLean。 〃Not mine； I'm happy to say。
My friends keep marrying and settling； and their kids call me uncle； and
climb around and bother； and I forget their names； and think it's a girl； and
the mother gets mad。 Why； if I didn't remember these little folks at
Christmas they'd be wonderingnot the kids； they just break your toys and
don't notice； but the mother would wonder'What's the matter with Dr。
Barker？ Has Governor Barker gone back on us？'that's where the strain
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comes！〃 he broke off； facing Mr。 McLean with another spacious laugh。
But the cow…puncher had ceased to smile； and now； while Barker ran
on exuberantly； McLean's wide…open eyes rested upon him； singular and
intent； and in their hazel depths the last gleam of jocularity went out。
〃That's where the strain comes； you see。 Two sets of acquaintances。
Grateful patients and loyal voters； and I've got to keep solid with both
outfits； especially the wives and mothers。 They're the people。 So it's drums；
and dolls； and sheep on wheels； and games； and monkeys on a stick； and
the saleslady shows you a mechanical bear； and it costs too much； and you
forget whether the Judge's second girl is Nellie or Susie； andwell； I'm
just in for my annual circus this afternoon！ You're in luck。 Christmas don't
trouble a chap fixed like you。〃
Lin McLean prolonged the sentence like a distant echo。
〃A chap fixed like you！〃 The cow…puncher said it slowly to himself。
〃No； sure。〃 He seemed to be watching Shorty； and Chalkeye； and Dollar
Bill going down the road。 〃That's a new ideaChristmas；〃 he murmured；
for it was one of his oldest； and he was recalling the Christmas when he
wore his first long trousers。
〃Comes once a year pretty regular；〃 remarked the prosperous
Governor。 〃Seems often when you pay the bill。〃
〃I haven't made a Christmas gift；〃 pursued the cow…puncher； dreamily；
〃not forforLord！ it's a hundred years； I guess。 I don't know anybody
that has any right to look for such a thing from me。〃 This was indeed a
new idea； and it did not stop the chill that was spreading in his heart。
〃Gee whiz！〃 said Barker； briskly； 〃there goes twelve o'clock。 I've got to
make a start。 Sorry you can't come and help me。 Good…bye！〃
His Excellency left the rider sitting motionless； and forgot him at once
in his own preoccupation。 He hastened upon his journey to the shops with
the list； not in his pocket； but held firmly； like a plank in the imminence of
shipwreck。 The Nellies and Susies pervaded his mind； and he struggled
with the presentiment that in a day or two he would recall some omitted
and wretchedly important child。 Quick hoof…beats made him look up； and
Mr。 McLean passed like a wind。 The Governor absently watched him go；
and saw the pony hunch and stiffen in the check of his speed when Lin
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overtook his companions。 Down there in the distance they took a side
street； and Barker rejoicingly remembered one more name and wrote it as
he walked。 In a few minutes he had come to the shops； and met face to
face with Mr。 McLean。
〃The boys are seein' after my horse；〃 Lin rapidly began； 〃and I've got
to meet 'em sharp at one。 We're twelve weeks shy on a square meal； yu' see；
and this first has been a date from 'way back。 I'd like to〃 Here Mr。
McLean cleared his throat； and his speech went less smoothly。 〃Doc； I'd
like just for a while to watch yu' gettin'them monkeys； yu' know。〃
The Governor expressed his agreeable surprise at this change of mind；
and was glad of McLean's company and judgment during the impending
selections。 A picture of a cow…puncher and himself discussing a couple of
dolls rose nimbly in Barker's mental eye； and it was with an imperfect
honesty that he said； 〃You'll help me a heap。〃
And Lin； quite sincere； replied； 〃Thank yu'。〃
So together these two went Christmasing in the throng。 Wyoming's
Chief Executive knocked elbows with the spurred and jingling waif； one
man as good as another in that raw； hopeful； full…blooded cattle era； which
now the sobered West remembers as the days of its fond youth。 For one
man has been as good as another in three placesParadise before the Fall；
the Rocky Mountains before