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the Rocky Mountains before the wire fence； and the Declaration of
Independence。 And then this Governor； beside being young； almost as
young as Lin McLean or the Chief Justice （who lately had celebrated his
thirty…second birthday）； had in his doctoring days at Drybone known the
cow…puncher with that familiarity which lasts a lifetime without breeding
contempt； accordingly he now laid a hand on Lin's tall shoulder and drew
him among the petticoats and toys。
Christmas filled the windows and Christmas stirred in mankind。
Cheyenne； not over…zealous in doctrine or litanies； and with the opinion
that a world in the hand is worth two in the bush； nevertheless was
flocking together； neighbor to think of neighbor； and every one to
remember the children； a sacred assembly； after all； gathered to rehearse
unwittingly the articles of its belief； the Creed and Doctrine of the Child。
Lin saw them hurry and smile among the paper fairies； they questioned
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and hesitated； crowded and made decisions； failed utterly to find the right
thing； forgot and hastened back； suffered all the various desperations of
the eleventh hour； and turned homeward； dropping their parcels with that
undimmed good…will that once a year makes gracious the universal human
face。 This brotherhood swam and beamed before the cow…puncher's
brooding eyes； and in his ears the greeting of the season sang。 Children
escaped from their mothers and ran chirping behind the counters to touch
and meddle in places forbidden。 Friends dashed against each other with
rabbits and magic lanterns； greeted in haste； and were gone； amid the
sound of musical boxes。
Through this tinkle and bleating of little machinery the murmur of the
human heart drifted in and out of McLean's hearing； fragments of home
talk； tendernesses； economies； intimate first names； and dinner hours； and
whether it was joy or sadness； it was in common； the world seemed knit in
a single skein of home ties。 Two or three came by whose purses must have
been slender； and whose purchases were humble and chosen after much
nice adjustment； and when one plain man dropped a word about both ends
meeting； and the woman with him laid a hand on his arm； saying that his
children must not feel this year was different； Lin made a step toward
them。 There were hours and spots where he could readily have descended
upon them at that； played the role of clinking affluence； waved thanks
aside with competent blasphemy； and tossing off some infamous whiskey；
cantered away in the full self…conscious strut of the frontier。 But here was
not the moment； the abashed cow…puncher could make no such parade in
this place。 The people brushed by him back and forth； busy upon their
errands； and aware of him scarcely more than if he had been a spirit
looking on from the helpless dead； and so； while these weaving needs and
kindnesses of man were within arm's touch of him； he was locked outside
with his impulses。 Barker had； in the natural press of customers； long
parted from him； to become immersed in choosing and rejecting； and now；
with a fair part of his mission accomplished； he was ready to go on to the
next place； and turned to beckon McLean。 He found him obliterated in a
corner beside a life…sized image of Santa Claus； standing as still as the
frosty saint。
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〃He looks livelier than you do；〃 said the hearty Governor。 〃'Fraid it's
been slow waiting。〃
〃No；〃 replied the cow…puncher； thoughtfully。 〃No； I guess not。〃
This uncertainty was expressed with such gentleness that Barker
roared。 〃You never did lie to me；〃 he said； 〃long as I've known you。 Well；
never mind。 I've got some real advice to ask you now。〃
At this Mr。 McLean's face grew more alert。 〃Say Doc；〃 said he； 〃what
do yu' want for Christmas that nobody's likely to give yu'？〃
〃A big practicebig enough to interfere with my politics。〃
〃What else？ Things and truck； I mean。〃
〃Ohnothing I'll get。 People don't give things much to fellows like
me。〃
〃Don't they？ Don't they？〃
〃Why； you and Santa Claus weren't putting up any scheme on my
stocking？〃
〃Well〃
〃I believe you're in earnest！〃 cried his Excellency。 〃That's simply
rich！〃 Here was a thing to relish！ The Frontier comes to town 〃heeled for a
big time；〃 finds that presents are all the rage； and must immediately give
somebody something。 Oh； childlike； miscellaneous Frontier！ So thought
the good…hearted Governor； and it seems a venial misconception。 〃My
dear fellow；〃 he added； meaning as well as possible； 〃I don't want you to
spend your money on me。〃
〃I've got plenty all right；〃 said Lin； shortly。
〃Plenty's not the point。 I'll take as many drinks as you please with you。
You didn't expect anything from me？〃
〃That ain'tthat don't〃
〃There！ Of course you didn't。 Then； what are you getting proud about？
Here's our shop。〃 They stepped in from the street to new crowds and
counters。 〃Now；〃 pursued the Governor； 〃this is for a very particular friend
of mine。 Here they are。 Now； which of those do you like best？〃
They were sets of Tennyson in cases holding little volumes equal in
number； but the binding various； and Mr。 McLean reached his decision
after one look。 〃That；〃 said he； and laid a large muscular hand upon the
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Laureate。 The young lady behind the counter spoke out acidly； and Lin
pulled the abject hand away。 His taste； however； happened to be sound； or；
at least； it was at one with the Governor's； but now they learned that there
was a distressing variance in the matter of price。
The Governor stared at the delicate article of his choice。 〃I know that
Tennyson is what sheis what's wanted；〃 he muttered； and； feeling himself
nudged； looked around and saw Lin's extended fist。 This gesture he took
for a facetious sympathy； and； dolorously grasping the hand； found himself
holding a lump of bills。 Sheer amazement relax