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I am good American； and not bounded by my own farm either。 No
sectional line； or Mason and Dixon； or Missouri River tattoos me。 But you；
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when you say United States； you mean United Kentucky！〃
〃Did you ever！〃 said she； staring at what was Greek to heras it is to
most Americans。 〃And so if you had a sister back East； and she and you
were all there was of you any more； and she hadn't seen you sincenot
since you first took to staying out nights； and she started to visit you； you'd
not tell her 'Fie for shame'？〃
〃I'd travel my money's length to meet her！〃 said I。
A wave of pain crossed her face。 〃Nate didn't know；〃 she said then；
lightly。 〃You see； Nate's only a boy； and regular thoughtless about
writing。〃
Ah！ So this Nate never wrote； and his sister loved and championed
him！ Many such stray Nates and Bobs and Bills galloped over Wyoming；
lost and forgiven。
〃I'm starting for him in the Buffalo stage；〃 continued the girl。
〃Then I'll have your company on a weary road；〃 said I； for my journey
was now to that part of the cattle country。
〃To Buffalo？〃 she said； quickly。 〃Then maybe youmaybeMy
brother is Nate Buckner。〃 She paused。 〃Then you're not acquainted with
him？〃
〃I may have seen him；〃 I answered； slowly。 〃But faces and names out
here come and go。〃
I knew him well enough。 He was in jail； convicted of forgery last week；
waiting to go to the penitentiary for five years。 And even this wild border
community that hated law courts and punishments had not been sorry； for
he had cheated his friends too often； and the wide charity of the sage…brush
does not cover that sin。 Beneath his pretty looks and daring skill with
horses they had found vanity and a cold； false heart； but his sister could
not。 Here she was； come to find him after lonely years； and to this one soul
that loved him in the world how was I to tell the desolation and the
disgrace？ I was glad to hear her ask me if the stage went soon after supper。
〃Now isn't that a bother？〃 said she； when I answered that it did not
start till morning。 She glanced with rueful gayety at the hotel。 〃Never
mind；〃 she continued； briskly； 〃I'm used to things。 I'll just sit up
somewhere。 Maybe the agent will let me stay in the office。 You're sure all
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that shooting's only jollification？〃
〃Certain；〃 I said。 〃But I'll go and see。〃
〃They always will have their fun；〃 said she。 〃But I hate to have a poor
boy get hurteven him deserving it！〃
〃They use pistols instead of fire…crackers；〃 said I。 〃But you must never
sleep in that office。 I'll see what we can do。〃
〃Why； you're real kind！〃 she exclaimed； heartily。 And I departed；
wondering what I ought to do。
Perhaps I should have told you before that Separ was a place oncea
sort of place； but you will relish now； I am convinced； the pithy fable of its
name。
Midway between two sections of this still unfinished line that； rail
after rail and mile upon mile； crawled over the earth's face visibly during
the constructing hours of each new day； lay a camp。 To this point these
unjoined pieces were heading； and here at length they met。 Camp
Separation it had been fitly called； but how should the American railway
man afford time to say that？ Separation was pretty and apt； but needless；
and with the sloughing of two syllables came the brief； businesslike result…
…Separ。 Chicago； 1137…1/2 miles。 It was labelled on a board large almost as
the hut station。 A Y…switch； two sidings； the fat water…tank and steam…
pump； and a section…house with three trees before it composed the north
side。 South of the track were no trees。 There was one long siding by the
corrals and cattle…chute； there were a hovel where plug tobacco and
canned goods were for sale； a shed where you might get your horse shod； a
wire fence that at shipping times enclosed bales of pressed hay； the hotel；
the stage stable； and the little stationsome seven shanties all told。
Between them were spaces of dust； the immediate plains engulfed them；
and through their midst ran the far…vanishing railroad； to which they hung
like beads on a great string from horizon to horizon。 A great east…and…west
string； one end in the rosy sun at morning； and one in the crimson sun at
night。 Beyond each sky…line lay cities and ports where the world went on
out of sight and hearing。 This lone steel thread had been stretched across
the continent because it was the day of haste and hope； when dollars
seemed many and hard times were few； and from the Yellowstone to the
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Rio Grande similar threads were stretching； and little Separs by dispersed
hundreds hung on them； as it were in space eternal。 Can you wonder that
vigorous young men with pistols should； when they came to such a place；
shoot them off to let loose their unbounded joy of living？
And yet it was not this merely that began the custom； but an error of
the agent's。 The new station was scarce created when one morning Honey
Wiggin with the Virginian had galloped innocently in from the round…up to
telegraph for some additional cars。
〃I'm dead on to you！〃 squealed the official； dropping flat at the sight of
them； and bang went his gun at them。 They； most naturally； thought it was
a maniac； and ran for their lives among the supports of the water…tank；
while he remained anchored with his weapon； crouched behind the railing
that fenced him and his apparatus from the laity； and some fifteen strategic
minutes passed before all parties had crawled forth to an understanding；
and the message was written and paid for and comfortably despatched。
The agent was an honest creature； but of tame habits； sent for the sake of
his imperfect lungs to this otherwise inappropriate air。 He had lived chiefly
in mid…West towns； a serious reader of our comic weeklies； hence the
apparition of Wiggin and the Virginian had reminded him sickeningly of
bandits。 He had express money in the safe； he explained to them； and this
was a hard old country； wasn't it？ a