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worse than photographs。 It is not the lungs of every man that can produce
these effects； nor even from armies； eagles； or mules were such sounds
ever heard on earth。 The cow…puncher invented them。 And when the last
cow…puncher is laid to rest （if that； alas！ have not already befallen）
the yells will be forever gone。 Singularly enough； the cattle appeared to
appreciate them。 Tommy always did them very badly； and that was plain
even at this distance。 Nor did he give us a homestretch； after all。 The
bald…faced horse made a number of evolutions and returned beside the
wagon。
〃Showin' off；〃 remarked Lin。 〃Tommy's showin' off。〃 Suspicion crossed his
face； and then certainty。 〃Why； we might have knowed that！〃 he exclaimed；
in dudgeon。 〃It's her。〃 He hastened outside for a better look； and I came
to the door myself。 〃That's what it is；〃 said he。 〃It's the girl。 Oh yes。
That's Taylor's buckskin pair he traded Balaam for。 She come by the stage
all right yesterday； yu' see； but she has been too tired to travel； yu'
see； or else； maybe； Taylor wanted to rest his buckskinsthey're
four…year…olds。 Or elseanyway； they laid over last night at Powder
River； and Tommy he has just laid over too； yu' see； holdin' the mail
back on us twenty…four hoursand that's your postmaster！〃
It was our postmaster； and this he had done； quite as the virtuously
indignant McLean surmised。 Had I taken the same interest in the new girl；
I suppose that I too should have felt virtuously indignant。
Lin and I stood outside to receive the travellers。 As their cavalcade
drew near； Mr。 McLean grew silent and watchful； his whole attention
focused upon the Taylors' vehicle。 Its approach was joyous。 Its gear made
a cheerful clanking； Taylor cracked his whip and encouragingly chirruped
to his buckskins； and Tommy's apparatus jingled musically。 For Tommy wore
upon himself and his saddle all the things you can wear in the Wild West。
Except that his hair was not long； our postmaster might have conducted a
show and minted gold by exhibiting his romantic person before the eyes of
princes。 He began with a black…and…yellow rattlesnake skin for a
hat…band； he continued with a fringed and beaded shirt of buckskin； and
concluded with large； tinkling spurs。 Of course； there were things
between his shirt and his heels； but all leather and deadly weapons。 He
had also a riata； a cuerta； and tapaderos； and frequently employed these
Spanish names for the objects。 I wish that I had not lost Tommy's
photograph in Rocky Mountain costume。 You must understand that he was
really pretty； with blue eyes； ruddy cheeks； and a graceful figure； and；
besides； he had twenty…four hours' start of poor dusty Lin； whose best
clothes were elsewhere。
You might have supposed that it would be Mrs。 Taylor who should present
us to her friend from Sidney； Nebraska； but Tommy on his horse undertook
the office before the wagon had well come to a standstill。 〃Good friends
of mine； and gentlemen； both；〃 said he to Miss Peck； and to us； 〃A lady
whose acquaintance will prove a treat to our section。〃
We all bowed at each other beneath the florid expanse of these
recommendations； and I was proceeding to murmur something about its being
a long journey and a fine day when Miss Peck cut me short； gaily：
〃Well；〃 she exclaimed to Tommy； 〃I guess I'm pretty near ready for them
eggs you've spoke so much about。〃
I have not often seen Mr。 McLean lose his presence of mind。 He needed
merely to exclaim； 〃Why； Tommy； you told me your hens had not been laying
since Christmas！〃 and we could have sat quiet and let Tommy try to find
all the eggs that he could。 But the new girl was a sore embarrassment to
the cow…puncher's wits。 Poor Lin stood by the wheels of the wagon。 He
looked up at Miss Peck； he looked over at Tommy； his features assumed a
rueful expression； and he wretchedly blurted；
〃Why； Tommy； I've been and eat 'em。〃
〃Well； if that ain't！〃 cried Miss Peck。 She stared with interest at Lin
as he now assisted her to descend。
〃All？〃 faltered Tommy。 〃Not the four nests？〃
〃I've had three meals； yu' know；〃 Lin reminded him； deprecatingly。
〃I helped him；〃 said I。 〃Ten innocent； fresh eggs。 But we have left some
ham。 Forgive us； please。〃
〃I declare！〃 said Miss Peck； abruptly； and rolled her sluggish； inviting
eyes upon me。 〃You're a case； too； I expect。〃
But she took only brief note of me； although it was from head to foot。 In
her stare the dull shine of familiarity grew vacant； and she turned back
to Lin McLean。 〃You carry that；〃 said she； and gave the pleased
cow…puncher a hand valise。
〃I'll look after your things； Miss Peck；〃 called Tommy； now springing
down from his horse。 The egg tragedy had momentarily stunned him。
〃You'll attend to the mail first； Mr。 Postmaster！〃 said the lady； but
favoring him with a look from her large eyes。 〃There's plenty of
gentlemen here。〃 With that her glance favored Lin。 She went into the
cabin； he following her close； with the Taylors and myself in the rear。
〃Well； I guess I'm about collapsed！〃 said she； vigorously； and sank upon
one of Tommy's chairs。
The fragile article fell into sticks beneath her； and Lin leaped to her
assistance。 He placed her upon a firmer foundation。 Mrs。 Taylor brought a
basin and towel to bathe the dust from her face； Mr。 Taylor produced
whiskey； and I found sugar and hot water。 Tommy would doubtless have done
something in the way of assistance or restoratives； but he was gone to
the stable with the horses。
〃Shall I get your medicine from the valise； deary？〃 inquired Mrs。 Taylor。
〃Not now；〃 her visitor answered； and I wondered why she should take such
a quick look at me。
〃We'll soon have yu' independent of medicine；〃 said Lin； gallantly。 〃Our
climate and scenery here has frequently raised the dead。〃
〃You're a case； anyway！〃 exclaimed the sick lady with rich conviction。
The cow…puncher now sat himself on the edge of Tommy's bed； and； throwing
one leg across the other； began to raise her spirits with cheerful talk。
She steadily watched himhis face sometimes； sometimes his lounging；
masculine figure。 While he thus devoted his attentions to her； Taylor
departed to help Tommy at the stable； and good Mrs。 Taylor； busy with
supper for all of us in the kitchen； expressed her joy at having her old
friend of childhood for a visit after so many years。
〃Sickness has changed poor Katie some；〃 said she。 〃But I'm hoping she'll
get back her looks on Bear Creek。〃
〃She seems less feeble than I had understood；〃 I remarked。
〃Yes； indeed！ I do believe she's feeling stronger。 She was that tired and
down yesterday with the long stage…ride； and it is so lonesome！ But
Taylor and I heartened her up； and Tommy came with the mail； and to…day
she's real spruced…up like； feeling she's among friends。〃
〃How long will she stay？〃 I inquired。
〃Just as long as ever she wants！ Me and Katie hasn't met since