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never recognized before how light a weight was Shorty； and here was
Chalkeye； who knew better； talking religion after two glasses。 Presently
this attack of noticing his friends' shortcomings mastered him； and his
mind； according to its wont； changed at a stroke。 〃I'm celebrating no
Christmas with this crowd；〃 said the inner man； and when they had next
remembered Lin McLean in their hilarity he was gone。
Governor Barker； finishing his purchases at half…past three； went to meet
a friend come from Evanston。 Mr。 McLean was at the railway station；
buying a ticket for Denver。
〃Denver！〃 exclaimed the amazed Governor。
〃That's what I said；〃 stated Mr。 McLean； doggedly。
〃Gee whiz！〃 went his Excellency。 〃What are you going to do there？〃
〃Get good and drunk。〃
〃Can't you find enough whiskey in Cheyenne？〃
〃I'm drinking champagne this trip。〃
The cow…puncher went out on the platform and got aboard； and the train
moved off。 Barker had walked out too in his surprise； and as he stared
after the last car； Mr。 McLean waved his wide hat defiantly and went
inside the door。
〃And he says he's got maturity；〃 Barker muttered。 〃I've known him since
seventy…nine； and he's kept about eight years old right along。〃 The
Governor was cross； and sorry； and presently crosser。 His jokes about
Lin's marriage came back to him and put him in a rage with the departed
fool。 〃Yes； about eight。 Or six；〃 said his Excellency； justifying himself
by the past。 For he had first known Lin； the boy of nineteen； supreme in
length of limb and recklessness； breaking horses and feeling for an early
mustache。 Next； when the mustache was nearly accomplished； he had mended
the boy's badly broken thigh at Drybone。 His skill （and Lin's utter
health） had wrought so swift a healing that the surgeon overflowed with
the pride of science； and over the bandages would explain the human body
technically to his wild…eyed and flattered patient。 Thus young Lin heard
all about tibia； and comminuted； and other glorious new words； and when
sleepless would rehearse them。 Then； with the bone so nearly knit that
the patient might leave the ward on crutches to sit each morning in
Barker's room as a privilege； the disobedient child of twenty…one had
slipped out of the hospital and hobbled hastily to the hog ranch； where
whiskey and variety waited for a languishing convalescent。 Here he grew
gay； and was soon carried back with the leg refractured。 Yet Barker's
surgical rage was disarmed； the patient was so forlorn over his doctor's
professional chagrin。
〃I suppose it ain't no better this morning； Doc？〃 he had said； humbly；
after a new week of bed and weights。
〃Your right leg's going to be shorter。 That's all。〃
〃Oh； gosh！ I've been and spoiled your comminuted fee…mur！ Ain't I a
son…of…a…gun？〃
You could not chide such a boy as this； and in time's due course he had
walked jauntily out into the world with legs of equal length after all
and in his stride the slightest halt possible。 And Doctor Barker had
missed the child's conversation。 To…day his mustache was a perfected
thing； and he in the late end of his twenties。
〃He'll wake up about noon to…morrow in a dive； without a cent；〃 said
Barker。 〃Then he'll come back on a freight and begin over again。〃
At the Denver station Lin McLean passed through the shoutings and
omnibuses； and came to the beginning of Seventeenth Street； where is the
first saloon。 A customer was ordering Hot Scotch； and because he liked
the smell and had not thought of the mixture for a number of years； Lin
took Hot Scotch。 Coming out upon the pavement； he looked across and saw a
saloon opposite with brighter globes and windows more prosperous。 That
should have been his choice； lemon peel would undoubtedly be fresher over
there； and over he went at once； to begin the whole thing properly。 In
such frozen weather no drink could be more timely； and he sat； to enjoy
without haste its mellow fitness。 Once again on the pavement； he looked
along the street toward up…town beneath the crisp； cold electric lights；
and three little bootblacks gathered where he stood and cried 〃Shine？
Shine？〃 at him。 Remembering that you took the third turn to the right to
get the best dinner in Denver； Lin hit on the skilful plan of stopping at
all Hot Scotches between； but the next occurred within a few yards； and
it was across the street。 This one being attained and appreciated； he
found that he must cross back again or skip number four。 At this rate he
would not be dining in time to see much of the theatre； and he stopped to
consider。 It was a German place he had just quitted； and a huge light
poured out on him from its window； which the proprietor's father…land
sentiment had made into a show。 Lights shone among a well…set pine
forest； where beery； jovial gnomes sat on roots and reached upward to
Santa Claus； he； grinning； fat； and Teutonic； held in his right hand
forever a foaming glass； and forever in his left a string of sausages
that dangled down among the gnomes。 With his American back to this； the
cow…puncher； wearing the same serious； absent face he had not changed
since he ran away from himself at Cheyenne； considered carefully the Hot
Scotch question； and which side of the road to take and stick to； while
the little bootblacks found him once more and cried； 〃Shine？ Shine？〃
monotonous as snow…birds。 He settled to stay over here with the
south…side Scotches； and the little one…note song reaching his attention；
he suddenly shoved his foot at the nearest boy； who lightly sprang away。
〃Dare you to touch him！〃 piped a snow…bird； dangerously。 They were in
short trousers； and the eldest enemy； it may be； was ten。
〃Don't hit me；〃 said Mr。 McLean 〃I'm innocent。〃
〃Well； you leave him be；〃 said one。
〃What's he layin' to kick you for； Billy？ 'Tain't yer pop； is it？〃
〃New！〃 said Billy； in scorn。 〃Father never kicked me。 Don't know who he
is。〃
〃He's a special！〃 shrilled the leading bird； sensationally。 〃He's got a
badge； and he's goin' to arrest yer。〃
Two of them hopped instantly to the safe middle of the street； and
scattered with practiced strategy； but Billy stood his ground。 〃Dare you
to arrest me！〃 said he。
〃What'll you give me not to？〃 inquired Lin； and he put his hands in his
pockets； arms akimbo。
〃Nothing； I've done nothing；〃 announced Billy； firmly。 But even in the
last syllable his voice suddenly failed； a terror filled his eyes； and
he； too； sped into the middle of the street。
〃What's he claim you lifted？〃 inquired the leader； with eagerness。 〃Tell
him you haven't been inside a store to…day。 We can prove it！〃 they
screamed to the special officer。
〃Say；〃 said the slow…spoken Lin from the pavement； 〃you're poor judges of
a badge； you fellows。〃
His tone pleased them where they stood； wide apart from each other。
Mr。 McLean also remained stationary in the bluish illumination of the
window。