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never heard it before；〃 he said； severely。
〃And you call yourself a California miner？〃
〃I do。〃
It was impossible for Miss Porter to misunderstand his curt speech
and unsocial manner。 She stared at him and colored slightly。
Lifting her reins lightly； she said： 〃You certainly do not seem
like most of the miners I have met。〃
〃Nor you like any girl from the East I ever met；〃 he responded。
〃What do you mean？〃 she asked； checking her horse。
〃What I say；〃 he answered； doggedly。 Reasonable as this reply was；
it immediately struck him that it was scarcely dignified or manly。
But before he could explain himself Miss Porter was gone。
He met her again that very evening。 The trial had been summarily
suspended by the appearance of the Sheriff of Calaveras and his
posse； who took Joe from that self…constituted tribunal of Blazing
Star and set his face southward and toward authoritative although
more cautious justice。 But not before the evidence of the previous
inquest had been read； and the incident of the ring again delivered
to the public。
It is said the prisoner burst into an incredulous laugh and asked
to see this mysterious waif。 It was handed to him。 Standing in
the very shadow of the gallows treewhich might have been one of
the pines that sheltered the billiard room in which the Vigilance
Committee held their conclavethe prisoner gave way to a burst of
merriment； so genuine and honest that the judge and jury joined in
automatic sympathy。 When silence was restored an explanation was
asked by the Judge。 But there was no response from the prisoner
except a subdued chuckle。
〃Did this ring belong to you？〃 asked the Judge； severely； the jury
and spectators craning their ears forward with an expectant smile
already on their faces。 But the prisoner's eyes only sparkled
maliciously as he looked around the court。
〃Tell us； Joe；〃 said a sympathetic and laughter…loving juror； under
his breath。 〃Let it out and we'll make it easy for you。〃
〃Prisoner；〃 said the Judge； with a return of official dignity；
〃remember that your life is in peril。 Do you refuse？〃
Joe lazily laid his arm on the back of his chair with （to quote the
words of an animated observer） 〃the air of having a Christian hope
and a sequence flush in his hand；〃 and said： 〃Well； as I reckon I'm
not up yer for stealin' a ring that another man lets on to have
found； and as fur as I kin see； hez nothin' to do with the case； I
do！〃 And as it was here that the Sheriff of Calaveras made a
precipitate entry into the room； the mystery remained unsolved。
The effect of this freshly…important ridicule on the sensitive mind
of Cass might have been foretold by Blazing Star had it ever taken
that sensitiveness into consideration。 He had lost the good humor
and easy pliability which had tempted him to frankness； and he had
gradually become bitter and hard。 He had at first affected
amusement over his own vanished day dreamhiding his virgin
disappointment in his own breast； but when he began to turn upon
his feelings he turned upon his comrades also。 Cass was for a
while unpopular。 There is no ingratitude so revolting to the human
mind as that of the butt who refuses to be one any longer。 The man
who rejects that immunity which laughter generally casts upon him
and demands to be seriously considered deserves no mercy。
It was under these hard conditions that Cass Beard； convicted of
overt sentimentalism； aggravated by inconsistency； stepped into the
Red Chief coach that evening。 It was his habit usually to ride
with the driver； but the presence of Hornsby and Miss Porter on the
box seat changed his intention。 Yet he had the satisfaction of
seeing that neither had noticed him； and as there was no other
passenger inside； he stretched himself on the cushion of the back
seat and gave way to moody reflections。 He quite determined to
leave Blazing Star； to settle himself seriously to the task of
money getting； and to return to his comrades； some day； a
sarcastic； cynical； successful man； and so overwhelm them with
confusion。 For poor Cass had not yet reached that superiority of
knowing that success would depend upon his ability to forego his
past。 Indeed； part of his boyhood had been cast among these men；
and he was not old enough to have learned that success was not to
be gauged by their standard。 The moon lit up the dark interior of
the coach with a faint poetic light。 The lazy swinging of the
vehicle that was bearing him awayalbeit only for a night and a
daythe solitude； the glimpses from the window of great distances
full of vague possibilities； made the abused ring potent as that of
Gyges。 He dreamed with his eyes open。 From an Alnaschar vision he
suddenly awoke。 The coach had stopped。 The voices of men； one in
entreaty； one in expostulation； came from the box。 Cass mechanically
put his hand to his pistol pocket。
〃Thank you； but I INSIST upon getting down。〃
It was Miss Porter's voice。 This was followed by a rapid； half…
restrained interchange of words between Hornsby and the driver。
Then the latter said； gruffly；
〃If the lady wants to ride inside； let her。〃
Miss Porter fluttered to the ground。 She was followed by Hornsby。
〃Just a minit； Miss；〃 he expostulated； half shamedly； half
brusquely； 〃ye don't onderstand me。 I only〃
But Miss Porter had jumped into the coach。
Hornsby placed his hand on the handle of the door。 Miss Porter
grasped it firmly from the inside。 There was a slight struggle。
All of which was part of a dream to the boyish Cass。 But he awoke
from ita man！ 〃Do you；〃 he asked； in a voice he scarcely
recognized himself；〃Do you want this man inside？〃
〃No！〃
Cass caught at Hornsby's wrist like a young tiger。 But alas！ what
availed instinctive chivalry against main strength？ He only
succeeded in forcing the door open in spite of Miss Porter's
superior strategy； andI fear I must add； muscle alsoand threw
himself passionately at Hornsby's throat； where he hung on and
calmly awaited dissolution。 But he had； in the onset； driven
Hornsby out into the road and the moonlight。
〃Here！ Somebody take my lines。〃 The voice was 〃Mountain
Charley's；〃 the driver。 The figure that jumped from the box and
separated the struggling men belonged to this singularly direct
person。
〃You're riding inside？〃 said Charley； interrogatively； to Cass。
Before he could reply Miss Porter's voice came from the window。
〃He is！〃
Charley promptly bundled Cass into the coach。
〃And YOU？〃 to Hornsby； 〃onless you're kalkilatin' to take a little
'pasear' you're booked OUTSIDE。 Get up。〃
It is probable that Charley assisted Mr。 Hornsby as promptly to his
seat； for the next moment the coach was rolling on。
Meanwhile Cass； by reason of his forced entry； had been deposited
in Miss Porter's lap； whence； freeing himself； he had attempted to
climb over the