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said he。 〃Come over to my room awhile。〃
〃I used to sleep all night onced；〃 said McLean； as they went。 〃Then I
come to know different。 But I'd never have believed just mere thoughts
could make yu'make yu' feel like the steam was only half on。 I eat； yu'
know！〃 he stated； suddenly。 〃And I expect one or two in camp lately have
not found my muscle lacking。 Feel me； Doc。〃
Barker dutifully obeyed； and praised the excellent sinews。
Across from the dance…hall the whining of the fiddle came； high and gay；
feet blurred the talk of voices； and voices rose above the trampling of
feet。 Here and there some lurking form stumbled through the dark among
the rubbish； and clearest sound of all； the light crack of billiard balls
reached dry and far into the night Barker contemplated the stars and calm
splendid dimness of the plain。 〃'Though every prospect pleases； and only
man is vile；'〃 he quoted。 〃But don't tell the Republican party I said so。〃
〃It's awful true； though； Doc。 I'm vile myself。 Yu' don't know。 Why； I
didn't know！〃
And then they sat down to confidences and whiskey； for so long as the
world goes round a man must talk to a man sometimes； and both must drink
over it。 The cow…puncher unburdened himself to the Governor； and the
Governor filled up his friend's glass with the Eastern whiskey； and
nodded his spectacles； and listened； and advised； and said he should have
done the same； and like the good Governor that he was； never remembered
he was Governor at all with political friends here who had begged a word
or two。 He became just Dr。 Barker again； the young hospital surgeon （the
hospital that now stood a ruin）； and Lin was again his patientLin；
the sun…burnt free…lance of nineteen； reckless； engaging； disobedient；
his leg broken and his heart light； with no Jessamine or conscience to
rob his salt of its savor。 While he now told his troubles； the quadrilles
fiddled away careless as ever； and the crack of the billiard balls
sounded as of old。
〃Nobody has told you about this； I expect；〃 said the lover。 He brought
forth the little pistol； 〃Neighbor。〃 He did not hand it across to Barker；
but walked over to Barker's chair； and stood holding it for the doctor to
see。 When Barker reached for it to see better； since it was half hidden
in the cow…puncher's big hand； Lin yielded it to him； but still stood and
soon drew it back。 〃I take it around；〃 he said； 〃and when one of those
stories comes along； like there's plenty of； that she wants to get rid of
me； I just kind o' take a look at 'Neighbor' when I'm off where it's
handy； and it busts the story right out of my mind。 I have to tell you
what a fool I am。〃
〃The whiskey's your side；〃 said Barker。 〃Go on。〃
〃But； Doc； my courage has quit me。 They see what I'm thinking about just
like I was a tenderfoot trying his first bluff。 I can't stick it out no
more； and I'm going to see her； come what will。
I've got to。 I'm going to ride right up to her window and shoot off
'Neighbor；' and if she don't come out I'll know〃
A knocking came at the Governor's room； and Judge Slaghammer entered。
〃Not been to our dance； Governor？〃 said he。
The Governor thought that perhaps he was tired； that perhaps this evening
he must forego the pleasure。
〃It may be wiser。 In your position it may be advisable；〃 said the
coroner。 〃They're getting on rollers over there。 We do not like trouble
in Drybone； but trouble comes to usas everywhere。〃
〃Shooting；〃 suggested his Excellency； recalling his hospital practice。
〃Well； Governor； you know how it is。 Our boys are as big…hearted as any
in this big…hearted Western country。 You know； Governor。 Those generous；
warm…blooded spirits are ever ready for anything。〃
〃Especially after Mrs。 Slaghammer's whiskey；〃 remarked the Governor。
The coroner shot a shrewd eye at Wyoming's chief executive。 It was not
politically harmonious to be reminded that but for his wife's liquor a
number of fine young men； with nothing save youth untrained and health
the matter with them； would to…day be riding their horses instead of
sleeping on the hill。 But the coroner wanted support in the next
campaign。 〃Boys will be boys；〃 said he。 〃They ain't pulled any guns
to…night。 But I come away； though。 Some of 'em's making up pretty free to
Mrs。 Lusk。 It ain't suitable for me to see too much。 Lusk says he's after
you；〃 he mentioned incidentally to Lin。 〃He's fillin' up； and says he's
after you。〃 McLean nodded placidly； and with scant politeness。 He wished
this visitor would go。 But Judge Slaghammer had noticed the whiskey。 He
filled himself a glass。 〃Governor； it has my compliments；〃 said he。
〃Ambrosier。 Honey…doo。〃
〃Mrs。 Slaghammer seems to have a large gathering；〃 said Barker。
〃Good boys； good boys！〃 The judge blew importantly； and waved his arm。
〃Bull…whackers； cow…punchers； mule…skinners； tin…horns。 All spending
generous。 Governor； once more！ Ambrosier。 Honey…doo。〃 He settled himself
deep in a chair； and closed his eyes。
McLean rose abruptly。 〃Good…night；〃 said he。 〃I'm going to Separ。〃
〃Separ！〃 exclaimed Slaghammer； rousing slightly。 〃Oh； stay with us； stay
with us。〃 He closed his eyes again； but sustained his smile of office。
〃You know how well I wish you；〃 said Barker to Lin。 〃I'll just see you
start。〃
Forthwith the friends left the coroner quiet beside his glass； and walked
toward the horses through Drybone's gaping quadrangle。 The dead ruins
loomed among the lights of the card…halls； and always the keen jockey
cadences of the fiddle sang across the night。 But a calling and confusion
were set up； and the tune broke off。
〃Just like old times！〃 said his Excellency。 〃Where's the dump…pile！〃 It
was where it should be； close by； and the two stepped behind it to be
screened from wandering bullets。 〃A man don't forget his habits；〃
declared the Governor。 〃Makes me feel young again。〃
〃Makes me feel old；〃 said McLean。 〃Hark！〃
〃Sounds like my name；〃 said Barker。 They listened。 〃Oh yes。 Of course。
That's it。 They're shouting for the doctor。 But we'll just spare them a
minute or so to finish their excitement。〃
〃I didn't hear any shooting；〃 said McLean。 〃It's something； though。〃
As they waited； no shots came； but still the fiddle was silent； and the
murmur of many voices grew in the dance…hall； while single voices
wandered outside； calling the doctor's name。
〃I'm the Governor on a fishing…trip；〃 said he。 〃But it's to be done； I
suppose。〃
They left their dump…hill and proceeded over to the dance。 The musician
sat high and solitary upon two starch…boxes； fiddle on knee； staring and
waiting。 Half the floor was bare； on the other half the revellers were
densely clotted。 At the crowd's outer rim the young horsemen； flushed and
swaying； retained their gaudy dance partners strongly by the waist； to be
ready when the music should resume。 〃What is it？〃 they asked。 〃Who is
it？〃 And they looked in across heads an