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took the horses to the stable。 He sat down to tea at the hotel； and found
the meal consisted of black potatoes； gray tea； and a guttering dish of
fat pork。 But his appetite was good； and he remarked to himself that
inside the first hour he was in Boston he would have steamed Duxbury
clams。 Of Sabina he never thought again； and it is likely that she found
others to take his place。 Fort Washakie was one hundred and fifty miles
from the railway； and men there were many and girls were few。
The next morning the other passengers entered the stage with resignation；
knowing the thirty…six hours of evil that lay before them。 Lin climbed up
beside the driver。 He had a new trunk now。
〃Don't get full； Lin；〃 said the clerk； putting the mail…sacks in at the
store。
〃My plans ain't settled that far yet；〃 replied Mr。 McLean。
〃Leave it out of them；〃 said the voice of the bishop； laughing； inside
the stage。
It was a cool； fine air。 Gazing over the huge plain down in which lies
Fort Washakie； Lin heard the faint notes of the trumpet on the parade
ground； and took a good…bye look at all things。 He watched the American
flag grow small； saw the circle of steam rising away down by the hot
springs； looked at the bad lands beyond； chemically pink and rose amid
the vast； natural； quiet…colored plain。 Across the spreading distance
Indians trotted at wide spaces； generally two large bucks on one small
pony； or a squaw and pappoosea bundle of parti…colored rags。 Presiding
over the whole rose the mountains to the west； serene； lifting into the
clearest light。 Then once again came the now tiny music of the trumpet。
〃When do yu' figure on comin' back？〃 inquired the driver。
〃Oh； I'll just look around back there for a spell；〃 said Lin。 〃About a
month； I guess。〃
He had seven hundred dollars。 At Lander the horses are changed； and
during this operation Lin's friends gathered and said； where was any
sense in going to Boston when you could have a good time where you were？
But Lin remained sitting safe on the stage。 Toward evening； at the bottom
of a little dry gulch some eight feet deep； the horses decided it was a
suitable place to stay。 It was the bishop who persuaded them to change
their minds。 He told the driver to give up beating； and unharness。 Then
they were led up the bank； quivering； and a broken trace was spliced with
rope。 Then the stage was forced on to the level ground； the bishop
proving a strong man； familiar with the gear of vehicles。 They crossed
through the pass among the quaking asps and the pines； and； reaching
Pacific Springs； came down again into open country。 That afternoon the
stage put its passengers down on the railroad platform at Green River；
this was the route in those days before the mid…winter catastrophes of
frozen passengers led to its abandonment。 The bishop was going west。 His
robes had passed him on the up stage during the night。 When the reverend
gentleman heard this he was silent for a very short moment； and then
laughed vigorously in the baggage…room。
〃I can understand how you swear sometimes；〃 he said to Lin McLean； 〃but I
can't； you see。 Not even at this。〃
The cow…puncher was checking his own trunk to Omaha。
〃Good…bye and good luck to you；〃 continued the bishop； giving his hand to
Lin。 〃And look heredon't you think you might leave that 'getting full'
out of your plans？〃
Lin gave a slightly shamefaced grin。 〃I don't guess I can； sir；〃 he said。
〃I'm givin' yu' straight goods； yu' see；〃 he added
〃That's right。 But you look like a man who could stop when he'd had
enough。 Try that。 You're man enoughand come and see me whenever we're
in the same place。〃
He went to the hotel。 There were several hours for Lin to wait。 He walked
up and down the platform till the stars came out and the bright lights of
the town shone in the saloon windows。 Over across the way piano…music
sounded through one of the many open doors。
〃Wonder if the professor's there yet？〃 said Lin； and he went across the
railroad tracks。 The bartender nodded to him as he passed through into
the back room。 In that place were many tables； and the flat clicking and
rattle of ivory counters sounded pleasantly through the music。 Lin did
not join the stud…poker game。 He stood over a table at which sat a dealer
and a player； very silent； opposite each other； and whereon were painted
sundry cards； numerals； and the colors red and black in squares。 The
legend 〃Jacks pay〃 was also clearly painted。 The player placed chips on
whichever insignia of fortune he chose； and the dealer slid cards （quite
fairly） from the top of a pack that lay held within a skeleton case made
with some clamped bands of tin。 Sometimes the player's pile of chips rose
high； and sometimes his sumptuous pillar of gold pieces was lessened by
one。 It was very interesting and pretty to see； Lin had much better have
joined the game of stud…poker。 Presently the eye of the dealer met the
eye of the player。 After that slight incident the player's chip pile
began to rise； and rose steadily； till the dealer made admiring comments
on such a run of luck。 Then the player stopped； cashed in； and said
good…night； having nearly doubled the number of his gold pieces。
〃Five dollars' worth；〃 said Lin； sitting down in the vacant seat。 The
chips were counted out to him。 He played with unimportant shiftings of
fortune until a short while before his train was due； and then；
singularly enough； he discovered he was one hundred and fifty dollars
behind the game。
〃I guess I'll leave the train go without me；〃 said Lin； buying five
dollars〃 worth more of ivory counters。 So that train came and went；
removing eastward Mr。 McLean's trunk。
During the hour that followed his voice grew dogged and his remarks
briefer； as he continually purchased more chips from the now surprised
and sympathetic dealer。 It was really wonderful how steadily Lin lost
just as steadily as his predecessor had won after that meeting of eyes
early in the evening。
When Lin was three hundred dollars out； his voice began to clear of its
huskiness and a slight humor revolved and sparkled in his eye。 When his
seven hundred dollars had gone to safer hands and he had nothing left at
all but some silver fractions of a dollar； his robust cheerfulness was
all back again。 He walked out and stood among the railroad tracks with
his hands in his pockets； and laughed at himself in the dark。 Then his
fingers came on the check for Omaha； and he laughed loudly。 The trunk by
this hour must be nearing Rawlins； it was going east anyhow。
〃I'm following it； you bet；〃 he declared； kicking the rail。 〃Not yet
though。 Nor I'll not go to Washakie to have 'em josh me。 And yonder lays
Boston。〃 He stretched his arm and pointed eastward。 Had he seen another
man going on in this fashion alone in the dark； among side…tracked
freight cars； he would have pitied the poor fool。 〃And I guess Boston'll
have to get along with