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I had found Lin here at Riverside in the morning。 At my horse's approach
to the cabin； it was he and not the postmaster who had come precipitately
out of the door。
〃I'm turruble pleased to see yu'；〃 he had said； immediately。
〃What's happened？〃 said I； in some concern at his appearance。
And he piteously explained： 〃Why； I've been here all alone since
yesterday！〃
This was indeed all； and my hasty impressions of shooting and a corpse
gave way to mirth over the child and his innocent grievance that he had
blurted out before I could get off my horse。
Since when； I inquired of him； had his own company become such a shock to
him？
〃As to that；〃 replied Mr。 McLean； a thought ruffled； 〃when a man expects
lonesomeness he stands it like he stands anything else； of course。 But
when he has figured on finding companysay〃 he broke off （and
vindictiveness sparkled in his eye）〃when you're lucky enough to catch
yourself alone； why； I suppose yu' just take a chair and chat to yourself
for hours。You've not seen anything of Tommy？〃 he pursued with interest。
I had not； and forthwith Lin poured out to me the pent…up complaints and
sociability with which he was bursting。 The foreman had sent him over
here with a sackful of letters for the post； and to bring back the week's
mail for the ranch。 A day was gone now； and nothing for a man to do but
sit and sit。 Tommy was overdue fifteen hours。 Well； you could have
endured that； but the neighbors had all locked their cabins and gone to
Buffalo。 It was circus week in Buffalo。 Had I ever considered the money
there must be in the circus business？ Tommy had taken the outgoing
letters early yesterday。 Nobody had kept him waiting。 By all rules he
should have been back again last night。 Maybe the stage was late reaching
Powder River； and Tommy had had to lay over for it。 Well； that would
justify him。 Far more likely he had gone to the circus himself and taken
the mail with him。 Tommy was no type of man for postmaster。 Except
drawing the allowance his mother in the East gave him first of every
month； he had never shown punctuality that Lin could remember。 Never had
any second thoughts； and awful few first ones。 Told bigger lies than a
small man ought； also。
〃Has successes； though；〃 said I； wickedly。
〃Huh！〃 went on Mr。 McLean。 〃Successes！ One ice…cream…soda success。 And
she〃Lin's still wounded male pride made him plaintive〃why； even that
girl quit him； once she got the chance to appreciate how insignificant he
was as compared with the size of his words。 No； sir。 Not one of 'em
retains interest in Tommy。〃
Lin was unsaddling and looking after my horse； just because he was glad
to see me。 Since our first acquaintance； that memorable summer of
Pitchstone Canyon when he had taken such good care of me and such bad care
of himself； I had learned pretty well about horses and camp craft in
general。 He was an entire boy then。 But he had been East since； East by a
route of his own discoveringand from his account of that journey it had
proved； I think； a sort of spiritual experience。 And then the years of
our friendship were beginning to roll up。 Manhood of the body he had
always richly possessed； and now； whenever we met after a season's
absence and spoke those invariable words which all old friends upon this
earth use to each other at meeting〃You haven't changed； you haven't
changed at all！〃I would wonder if manhood had arrived in Lin's boy
soul。 And so to…day； while he attended to my horse and explained the
nature of Tommy （a subject he dearly loved just now）； I looked at him and
took an intimate； superior pride in feeling how much more mature I was
than he； after all。
There's nothing like a sense of merit for making one feel aggrieved； and
on our return to the cabin Mr。 McLean pointed with disgust to some
firewood。
〃Look at those sorrowful toothpicks；〃 said he： 〃Tommy's work。〃
So Lin； the excellent hearted； had angrily busied himself； and chopped a
pile of real logs that would last a week。 He had also cleaned the stove；
and nailed up the bed； the pillow…end of which was on the floor。 It
appeared the master of the house had been sleeping in it the reverse way
on account of the slant。 Thus had Lin cooked and dined alone； supped
alone； and sat over some old newspapers until bed…time alone with his
sense of virtue。 And now here it was long after breakfast； and no Tommy
yet。
〃It's good yu' come this forenoon；〃 Lin said to me。 〃I'd not have had the
heart to get up another dinner just for myself。 Let's eat rich！〃
Accordingly； we had richly eaten； Lin and I。 He had gone out among the
sheds and caught some eggs （that is how he spoke of it）； we had opened a
number of things in cans； and I had made my famous dish of evaporated
apricots； in which I managed to fling a suspicion of caramel throughout
the stew。
〃Tommy'll be hot about these；〃 said Lin； joyfully； as we ate the eggs。
〃He don't mind what yu' use of his canned goodspickled salmon and
truck。 He is hospitable all right enough till it comes to an egg。 Then
he'll tell any lie。 But shucks！ Yu' can read Tommy right through his
clothing。 'Make yourself at home； Lin；' says he； yesterday。 And he showed
me his fresh milk and his stuff。 'Here's a new ham；' says he； 'too bad my
damned hens ain't been layin'。 The sons…o'guns have quit on me ever since
Christmas。' And away he goes to Powder River for the mail。 'You swore too
heavy about them hens；' thinks I。 Well； I expect he may have travelled
half a mile by the time I'd found four nests。〃
I am fond of eggs； and eat them constantlyand in Wyoming they were
always a luxury。 But I never forget those that day； and how Lin and I
enjoyed them thinking of Tommy。 Perhaps manhood was not quite established
in my own soul at that timeand perhaps that is the reason why it is the
only time I have ever known which I would live over again； those years
when people said； 〃You are old enough to know better〃and one didn't
care！
Salmon； apricots； eggs； we dealt with them all properly； and I had some
cigars。 It was now that the news came back into my head。
〃What do you think of〃 I began； and stopped。
I spoke out of a long silence； the slack； luxurious silence of digestion。
I got no answer； naturally； from the torpid Lin； and then it occurred to
me that he would have asked me what I thought； long before this； had he
known。 So； observing how comfortable he was； I began differently。
〃What is the most important event that can happen in this country？〃 said
I。
Mr。 McLean heard me where he lay along the floor of the cabin on his
back； dozing by the fire； but his eyes remained closed。 He waggled one
limp； open hand slightly at me； and torpor resumed her dominion over him。
〃I want to know what you consider the most important event that can
happen in this country；〃 said I； again； enunciating each word with slow
clearness。
The throat and lips of Mr。 McLean