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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 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？ and did they like good whiskey？
They drank his whiskey； but it was not well to have mentioned that about
the bandits。 Both were aware that when shaved and washed of their
round…up grime they could look very engaging。 The two cow…punchers rode
out； not angry； but grieved that a man come here to dwell among them
should be so tactless。
〃If we don't get him used to us；〃 observed the Virginian； 〃he and his
pop…gun will be guttin' some blameless man。〃
Forthwith the cattle country proceeded to get the agent used to it。 The
news went over the sage…brush from Belle Fourche to Sweetwater； and
playful； howling horsemen made it their custom to go rioting with pistols
round the ticket office； educating the agent。 His lungs improved； and he
came dimly to smile at this life which he did not understand。 But the
company discerned no humor whatever in having its water…tank perforated；
which happened twice； and sheriffs and deputies and other symptoms of
authority began to invest Separ。 Now what should authority do upon these
free plains； this wilderness of do…as…you…please； where mere breathing
the air was like inebriation？ The large； headlong children who swept in
from the sage…brush and out again meant nothing that they called harm
until they found themselves resisted。 Then presently happened that affair
of the cow…catcher； and later a too…zealous marshal； come about a
mail…car they had side…tracked and held with fiddles； drink； and
petticoats； met his death accidentally； at which they were sincerely
sorry for about five minutes。 They valued their own lives as little； and
that lifts them forever from baseness at least。 So the company；
concluding such things must be endured for a while yet； wrote their
letter； and you have seen how wrong the letter went。 All it would do
would be from now on to fasten upon Separ its code of recklessness； to
make shooting the water…tank （for example） part of a gentleman's
deportment when he showed himself in town。
It was not now the season of heavy shipping； to…night their work would be
early finished； and then they were likely to play after their manner。 To
arrive in such a place on her way to her brother； the felon in jail； made
the girl's journey seem doubly forlorn to me as I wandered down to the
corrals。
A small； bold voice hailed me。 〃Hello； you！〃 it said； and here was Billy
Lusk； aged nine； in boots and overalls； importantly useless with a stick；
helping the men prod the steers at the chute。
〃Thought you were at school；〃 said I。
〃Ah； school's quit；〃 returned Billy； and changed the subject。 〃Say； Lin's
hunting you。 He's angling to eat at the hotel。 I'm grubbing with the
outfit。〃 And Billy resumed his specious activity。
Mr。 McLean was in the ticket…office； where the newspaper had transiently
reminded him of politics。 〃Wall Street；〃 he was explaining to the agent；
〃has been lunched on by them Ross…childs； and they're moving on。 Feeding
along to Chicago。 We want〃 Here he noticed me and； dragging his gauntlet
off； shook my hand with his lusty grasp。
〃Your eldest son just said you were in haste to find me；〃 I remarked。
〃Lose you； he meant。 The kid gets his words twisted。〃
〃Didn't know you were a father； Mr。 McLean；〃 simpered the agent。
Lin fixed his eye on the man。 〃And you don't know it now；〃 said he。 Then
he removed his eye。 〃Let's grub；〃 he added to me。 My friend did not walk
to the hotel； but slowly round and about； with a face overcast。 〃Billy is
a good kid；〃 he said at length； and； stopping； began to kick small mounds
in the dust。 Politics floated lightly over him； but here was a matter
dwelling with him； heavy and real。 〃He's dead stuck on being a
cow…puncher；〃 he presently said。
〃Some day〃 I began。
〃He don't want to wait that long；〃 Lin said； and smiled affectionately。
〃And； anyhow； what is 'some day'？ Some day we punchers will not be here。
The living will be scattered； and the deadwell； they'll be all right。
Have yu' studied the wire fence？ It's spreading to catch us like nets do
the salmon in the Columbia River。 No more salmon； no more cow…punchers；〃
stated Mr。 McLean； sententiously； and his words made me sad； though I
know that progress cannot spare land and water for such things。 〃But
Billy；〃 Lin resumed； 〃has agreed to school again when it starts up in the
fall。 He takes his medicine because I want him to。〃 Affection crept anew
over the cow…puncher's face。 〃He can learn books with the quickest when
he wants； that Bear Creek school…marm says。 But he'd ought to have a
regular mother tilltill I can do for him； yu' know。 It's onwholesome
him seeing and hearing the boysand me； and me when I forget！but
shucks！ how can I fix it？ Billy was sure enough dropped and deserted。 But
when I found him the little calf could run and notice like everything！〃
〃I should hate your