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experience been hers； perhaps she would not have written to Mr。 McLean
the friendly and singular letter in which she hoped he was well； and said
that she was very well； and how was dear little Billy？ She was glad Mr。
McLean had stayed away。 That was just like his honorable nature； and what
she expected of him。 And she was perfectly happy at Separ； and 〃yours
sincerely and always； 'Neighbor。' 〃Postscript。 Talking of Billy Luskif
Lin was busy with gathering the cattle； why not send Billy down to stop
quietly with her。 She would make him a bed in the ticket…office； and
there she would be to see after him all the time。 She knew Lin did not
like his adopted child to be too much in cow…camp with the men。 She would
adopt him； too； for just as long as convenient to Linuntil the school
opened on Bear Creek； if Lin so wished。 Jessamine wrote a good deal about
how much better care any woman can take of a boy of Billy's age than any
man knows。 The stage…coach brought the answer to this remarkably soon
young Billy with a trunk and a letter of twelve pages in pencil and ink
the only writing of this length ever done by Mr。 McLean。
〃I can write a lot quicker than Lin；〃 said Billy； upon arriving。 〃He was
fussing at that away late by the fire in camp； an' waked me up crawling
in our bed。 An' then he had to finish it next night when he went over to
the cabin for my clothes。〃
〃You don't say！〃 said Jessamine。 And Billy suffered her to kiss him
again。
When not otherwise occupied Jessamine took the letter out of its locked
box and read it； or looked at it。 Thus the first days had gone finely at
Separ； the weather being beautiful and Billy much out…of…doors。 But
sometimes the weather changes in Wyoming； and now it was that Miss
Jessamine learned the talents of childhood。
Soon after breakfast this stormy morning Billy observed the twelve pages
being taken out of their box； and spoke from his sudden brain。 〃Honey
Wiggin says Lin's losing his grip about girls；〃 he remarked。 〃He says you
couldn't 'a' downed him onced。 You'd 'a' had to marry him。 Honey says Lin
ain't worked it like he done in old times。〃
〃Now I shouldn't wonder if he was right；〃 said Jessamine； buoyantly。 〃And
that being the case； I'm going to set to work at your things till it
clears； and then we'll go for our ride。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Billy。 When does a man get too old to marry？〃
〃I'm only a girl； you see。 I don't know。〃
〃Yes。 Honey said he wouldn't 'a' thought Lin was that old。 But I guess he
must be thirty。〃
〃Old！〃 exclaimed Jessamine。 And she looked at a photograph upon her
table。
〃But Lin ain't been married very much；〃 pursued Billy。 〃Mother's the only
one they speak of。 You don't have to stay married always； do you？〃
〃It's better to；〃 said Jessamine。
〃Ah； I don't think so；〃 said Billy； with disparagement。 〃You ought to see
mother and father。 I wish you would leave Lin marry you； though；〃 said
the boy； coming to her with an impulse of affection。 〃Why won't you if he
don't mind？〃
She continued to parry him； but this was not a very smooth start for
eight in the morning。 Moments of lull there were； when the telegraph
called her to the front room； and Billy's young mind shifted to inquiries
about the cipher alphabet。 And she gained at least an hour teaching him
to read various words by the sound。 At dinner； too； he was refreshingly
silent。 But such silences are unsafe； and the weather was still bad。 Four
o'clock found them much where they had been at eight。
〃Please tell me why you won't leave Lin marry you。〃 He was at the window；
kicking the wall。
〃That's nine times since dinner；〃 she replied； with tireless good humor。
〃Now if you ask me twelve〃
〃You'll tell？〃 said the boy； swiftly。
She broke into a laugh。 〃No。 I'll go riding and you'll stay at home。 When
I was little and would ask things beyond me； they only gave me three
times。〃
〃I've got two more； anyway。 Ha…ha！〃
〃Better save 'em up； though。〃
〃What did they do to you？ Ah； I don't want to go a…riding。 It's nasty all
over。〃 He stared out at the day against which Separ's doors had been
tight closed since morning。 Eight hours of furious wind had raised the
dust like a sea。 〃I wish the old train would come；〃 observed Billy；
continuing to kick the wall。 〃I wish I was going somewheres。〃 Smoky；
level； and hot； the south wind leapt into Separ across five hundred
unbroken miles。 The plain was blanketed in a tawny eclipse。 Each minute
the near buildings became invisible in a turbulent herd of clouds。 Above
this travelling blur of the soil the top of the water…tank alone rose
bulging into the clear sun。 The sand spirals would lick like flames along
the bulk of the lofty tub； and soar skyward。 It was not shipping season。
The freight…cars stood idle in a long line。 No cattle huddled in the
corrals。 No strangers moved in town。 No cow…ponies dozed in front of the
saloon。 Their riders were distant in ranch and camp。 Human noise was
extinct in Separ。 Beneath the thunder of the sultry blasts the place lay
dead in its flapping shroud of dust。 〃Why won't you tell me？〃 droned
Billy。 For some time he had been returning； like a mosquito brushed away。
〃That's ten times；〃 said Jessamine； promptly。
〃Oh； goodness！ Pretty soon I'll not be glad I came。 I'm about twiced as
less glad now。〃
〃Well；〃 said Jessamine； 〃there's a man coming to…day to mend the
government telegraph…line between Drybone and McKinney。 Maybe he would
take you back as far as Box Elder； if you want to go very much。 Shall I
ask him？〃
Billy was disappointed at this cordial seconding of his mood。 He did not
make a direct rejoinder。 〃I guess I'll go outside now；〃 said he； with a
threat in his tone。
She continued mending his stockings。 Finished ones lay rolled at one side
of her chair； and upon the other were more waiting her attention。
〃And I'm going to turn back hand…springs on top of all the freight…cars；〃
he stated； more loudly。
She indulged again in merriment； laughing sweetly at him； and without
restraint。
〃And I'm sick of what you all keep a…saying to me！〃 he shouted。 〃Just as
if I was a baby。〃
〃Why； Billy； who ever said you were a baby？〃
〃All of you do。 Honey； and Lin； and you； now； and everybody。 What makes
you say 'that's nine times； Billy； oh； Billy； that's ten times；' if you
don't mean I'm a baby？ And you laugh me off； just like they do； and just
like I was a regular baby。 You won't tell me〃
〃Billy； listen。 Did nobody ever ask you something you did not want to
tell them？〃
〃That's not a bit the same； becausebecausebecause I treat 'em square
and because it's not their business。 But every time I ask anybody 'most
anything； they say I'm not old enough to understand； and I'll be ten
soon。 And it is my business when it's about the kind of a mother I'm
agoing to have。 Suppose I quit acting square； an' told 'em； when they
bothered me； they weren't