"Whatwasyouthinkin'about，Jim？"
Jimwasatrifleawkwardforthemoment。
"Nothin'，"heanswered。"OnlyIwasthinkin'justhowfunnyitwas——allthemjoolsathishouse。Whatmadeyouask？"
"Nothin'。Iwasjustwonderin'，thatwasall。"
Thesilencesettleddown，brokenbyanoccasionallowandnervousgiggleonthepartofJim。Hewasovercomebythespreadofgems。Itwasnotthathefelttheirbeauty。Hewasunawarethattheywerebeautifulinthemselves。Butinthemhisswiftimaginationvisionedthejoysoflifetheywouldbuy，andallthedesiresandappetitesofhisdiseasedmindandsicklyfleshweretickledbythepromisetheyextended。Hebuildedwondrous，orgy-hauntedcastlesoutoftheirbrilliantfires，andwasappalledatwhathebuilded。Thenitwasthathegiggled。Itwasalltooimpossibletobereal。Andyettheretheyblazedonthetablebeforehim，fanningtheflameofthelustofhim，andhegiggledagain。
"Iguesswemightaswellcount'em，"Mattsaidsuddenly，tearinghimselfawayfromhisownvisions。"Youwatchmean'seethatit'ssquare，becauseyouan'mehasgottobeonthesquare，Jim。Understand？"
Jimdidnotlikethis，andbetrayeditinhiseyes，whileMattdidnotlikewhathesawinhispartner'seyes。
"Understand？"Mattrepeated，almostmenacingly。
"Ain'twealwaysbensquare？"theotherreplied，onthedefensivebecauseofthetreacheryalreadywhisperinginhim。
"Itdon'tcostnothin'，bein'squareinhardtimes，"Mattretorted。"It'sbein'squareinprosperitythatcounts。Whenweain'tgotnothin'，wecan'thelpbein'square。We'reprosperousnow，an'we'vegottobebusinessmen——honestbusinessmen。Understand？"
"That'sthetalkforme，"Jimapproved，butdeepdowninthemeagresoulofhim，——andinspiteofhim，——wantonandlawlessthoughtswerestirringlikechainedbeasts。
Mattsteppedtothefoodshelfbehindthetwo-burnerkerosenecookingstove。Heemptiedtheteafromapaperbag，andfromasecondbagemptiedsomeredpeppers。Returningtothetablewiththebags，heputintothemthetwosizesofsmalldiamonds。Thenhecountedthelargegemsandwrappedthemintheirtissuepaperandchamoisskin。
"Hundredan'forty-sevengood-sizedones，"washisinventory；"twentyrealbigones；twobigboysandonewhopper；an'acoupleoffistfulsofteenyonesan'dust。"
HelookedatJim。
"Correct，"wastheresponse。
Hewrotethecountoutonaslipofmemorandumpaper，andmadeacopyofit，givingonesliptohispartnerandretainingtheother。
"Justforreference，"hesaid。
Againhehadrecoursetothefoodshelf，whereheemptiedthesugarfromalargepaperbag。Intothishethrustthediamonds，largeandsmall，wrappeditupinabandannahandkerchief，andstoweditawayunderhispillow。Thenhesatdownontheedgeofthebedandtookoffhisshoes。
"An'youthinkthey'reworthahundredthousan'？"Jimasked，pausingandlookingupfromtheunlacingofhisshoe。
"Sure，"wastheanswer。"Iseenadance-housegirldowninArizonaonce，withsomebigsparklersonher。Theywasn'treal。Shesaidiftheywasshewouldn'tbedancin'。Saidthey'dbeworthalloffiftythousan'，an'
shedidn'thaveadozenof'emalltold。"
"Who'dworkforalivin'？"Jimtriumphantlydemanded。"Pickan'shovelwork!"hesneered。"Worklikeadogallmylife，an'saveallmywages，an'Iwouldn'thavehalfasmuchaswegottonight。"
"Dishwashin'saboutyourmeasure，an'youcouldn'tgetmore'ntwentyamonthan'board。Yourfiggersis'wayoff，butyourpointiswelltaken。
Letthemthatlikesit，work。IroderangeforthirtyamonthwhenIwasyoungan'foolish。Well，I'molder，an'Iain'tridin'range。"
Hegotintobedononeside。Jimputoutthelightandfollowedhiminontheotherside。
"How'syourarmfeel？"Jimqueriedamiably。
Suchconcernwasunusual，andMattnotedit，andreplied——
"Iguessthere'snodangerofhydrophoby。Whatmadeyouask？"
Jimfeltinhimselfaguiltystir，andunderhisbreathhecursedtheother'swayofaskingdisagreeablequestions；butaloudheanswered——
"Nothin'，onlyyouseemedscaredofitatfirst。Whatareyougoin'todowithyourshare，Matt？"
"BuyacattleranchinArizonaan'setdownan'payothermentoriderangeforme。There'ssomeseveralI'dliketoseeaskin'ajobfromme，damnthem!An'nowyoushutyourface，Jim。It'llbesometimebeforeIbuythatranch。JustnowI'mgoin'tosleep。"
ButJimlaylongawake，nervousandtwitching，rollingaboutrestlesslyandrollinghimselfwideawakeeverytimehedozed。Thediamondsstillblazedunderhiseyelids，andthefireofthemhurt。Matt，inspiteofhisheavynature，sleptlightly，likeawildanimalalertinitssleep；andJimnoticed，everytimehemoved，thathispartner'sbodymovedsufficientlytoshowthatithadreceivedtheimpressionandthatitwastremblingonthevergeofawakening。Forthatmatter，Jimdidnotknowwhetherornot，frequently，theotherwasawake。Once，quietly，betokeningcompleteconsciousness，Mattsaidtohim:"Aw，gotosleep，Jim。Don'tworryaboutthemjools。They'llkeep。"AndJimhadthoughtthatatthatparticularmomentMatthadbeensurelyasleep。
InthelatemorningMattwasawakewithJim'sfirstmovement，andthereafterheawokeanddozedwithhimuntilmidday，whentheygotuptogetherandbegandressing。
"I'mgoin'outtogetapaperan'somebread，"Mattsaid。"Youboilthecoffee。"
AsJimlistened，unconsciouslyhisgazeleftMatt'sfaceandrovedtothepillow，beneathwhichwasthebundlewrappedinthebandannahandkerchief。
OntheinstantMatt'sfacebecamelikeawildbeast's。
"Lookhere，Jim，"hesnarled。"You'vegottoplaysquare。Ifyoudomedirt，I'llfixyou。Understand？I'deatyou，Jim。Youknowthat。I'dbiterightintoyourthroatan'eatyoulikethatmuchbeefsteak。"
Hissunburnedskinwasblackwiththesurgeofbloodinit，andhistobacco-stainedteethwereexposedbythesnarlinglips。Jimshiveredandinvoluntarilycowered。Therewasdeathinthemanhelookedat。Onlythenightbeforethatblack-facedmanhadkilledanotherwithhishands，andithadnothurthissleep。AndinhisownheartJimwasawareofasneakingguilt，ofatrainofthoughtthatmeritedallthatwasthreatened。
Mattpassedout，leavinghimstillshivering。Thenahatredtwistedhisownface，andhesoftlyhurledsavagecursesatthedoor。Herememberedthejewels，andhastenedtothebed，feelingunderthepillowforthebandannabundle。Hecrusheditwithhisfingerstomakecertainthatitstillcontainedthediamonds。AssuredthatMatthadnotcarriedthemaway，helookedtowardthekerosenestovewithaguiltystart。Thenhehurriedlylightedit，filledthecoffee-potatthesink，andputitovertheflame。
ThecoffeewasboilingwhenMattreturned，andwhilethelattercutthebreadandputasliceofbutteronthetable，Jimpouredoutthecoffee。
Itwasnotuntilhesatdownandhadtakenafewsipsofthecoffee，thatMattpulledoutthemorningpaperfromhispocket。
"Wewaswayoff，"hesaid。"ItoldyouIdidn'tdastfiggerouthowfatitwas。Lookatthat。"
Hepointedtothehead-linesonthefirstpage。
"SWIFTNEMESISONBUJANNOFF'STRACK，"theyread。"MURDEREDINHISSLEEP
AFTERROBBINGHISPARTNER。"
"Thereyouhaveit!"Mattcried。"Herobbedhispartner——robbedhimlikeadirtythief。"
"Halfamillionofjewelsmissin'，"Jimreadaloud。HeputthepaperdownandstaredatMatt。
"That'swhatItoldyou，"thelattersaid。"Whatinhelldoweknowaboutjools？Halfamillion!——an'thebestIcouldfiggeritwasahundredthousan'。Goonan'readtherestofit。"
Theyreadonsilently，theirheadssidebyside，theuntouchedcoffeegrowingcold；andeverandanononeortheotherburstforthwithsomesalientprintedfact。
"I'dliketoseenMetzner'sfacewhenheopenedthesafeatthestorethismornin'，"Jimgloated。
"HehitthehighplacesrightawayforBujannoff'shouse，"Mattexplained。
"Goonan'read。"
"WastohavesailedlastnightattenontheSajodafortheSouthSeas——
steamshipdelayedbyextrafreight——"
"That'swhywecaught'minbed，"Mattinterrupted。"Itwasjustluck——
likepickin'afifty-to-onewinner。"
"Sajodasailedatsixthismornin'——"
"Hedidn'tcatchher，"Mattsaid。"Isawhisalarm-clockwassetatfive。
That'dgiven'mplentyoftime……onlyIcomealongan'putthekiboshonhistime。Goon。"
"AdolphMetznerindespair——thefamousHaythornepearlnecklace——
magnificentlyassortedpearls——valuedbyexpertsatfromfiftytoseventythousan'dollars。"
Jimbrokeofftoswearvilelyandsolemnly，concludingwith，"Thosedamnoyster-eggsworthallthatmoney!"
Helickedhislipsandadded，"Theywasbeautiesan'nomistake。"
"BigBraziliangem，"hereadon。"Eightythousan'dollars——manyvaluablegemsofthefirstwater——severalthousan'smalldiamondswellworthfortythousan'。"
"Whatyoudon'tknowaboutjoolsisworthknowin'，"Mattsmiledgood-
humouredly。
"Theoryofthesleuths，"Jimread。"Thievesmusthaveknown——cleverlykeptwatchonBujannoff'sactions——musthavelearnedhisplanandtrailedhimtohishousewiththefruitsofhisrobbery——"
"Clever——hell!"Mattbrokeout。"That'sthewayreputationsismade……
inthenoospapers。How'dweknowhewasrobbin'hispardner？"
"Anyway，we'vegotthegoods，"Jimgrinned。"Let'slookat'emagain。"
Heassuredhimselfthatthedoorwaslockedandbolted，whileMattbroughtoutthebundleinthebandannaandopeneditonthetable。
"Ain'ttheybeauties，though!"Jimexclaimedatsightofthepearls；andforatimehehadeyesonlyforthem。"Accordin'totheexperts，worthfromfiftytoseventythousan'dollars。"
"An'womenlikethemthings，"Mattcommented。"An'they'lldoeverythingtoget'em——sellthemselves，commitmurder，anything。"
"Justlikeyouan'me。"
"Notonyourlife，"Mattretorted。"I'llcommitmurderfor'em，butnotfortheirownsakes，butforsakeofwhatthey'llgetme。That'sthedifference。Womenwantthejoolsforthemselves，an'Iwantthejoolsforthewomenan'suchthingsthey'llgetme。"
"Luckythatmenan'womendon'twantthesamethings，"Jimremarked。
"That'swhatmakescommerce，"Mattagreed；"peoplewantin'differentthings。"
InthemiddleoftheafternoonJimwentouttobuyfood。Whilehewasgone，Mattclearedthetableofthejewels，wrappingthemupasbeforeandputtingthemunderthepillow。Thenhelightedthekerosenestoveandstartedtoboilwaterforcoffee。Afewminuteslater，Jimreturned。
"Mostsurprising，"heremarked。"Streets，an'stores，an'peoplejustliketheyalwayswas。Nothin'changed。An'mewalkingalongthroughitallamillionaire。Nobodylookedatmean'guessedit。"
Mattgruntedunsympathetically。Hehadlittlecomprehensionofthelighterwhimsandfanciesofhispartner'simagination。
"Didyougetaporterhouse？"hedemanded。
"Sure，an'aninchthick。It'sapeach。Lookatit。"
Heunwrappedthesteakandhelditupfortheother'sinspection。Thenhemadethecoffeeandsetthetable，whileMattfriedthesteak。
"Don'tputontoomuchofthemredpeppers，"Jimwarned。"Iain'tusedtoyourMexicancookin'。Youalwaysseasontoohot。"
Mattgruntedalaughandwentonwithhiscooking。Jimpouredoutthecoffee，butfirst，intothenickedchinacup，heemptiedapowderhehadcarriedinhisvestpocketwrappedinarice-paper。Hehadturnedhisbackforthemomentonhispartner，buthedidnotdaretoglancearoundathim。
Mattplacedanewspaperonthetable，andonthenewspapersetthehotfrying-pan。Hecutthesteakinhalf，andservedJimandhimself。
"Eatherwhileshe'shot，"hecounselled，andwithknifeandforksettheexample。
"She'sadandy，"wasJim'sjudgment，afterhisfirstmouthful。"ButItellyouonethingstraight。I'mnevergoin'tovisityouonthatArizonaranch，soyouneedn'taskme。"
"What'sthematternow？"Mattasked。
"Hell'sthematter，"wastheanswer。"TheMexicancookin'onyourranch'dbetoomuchforme。IfI'vegothella-comin'inthenextlife，I'mnotgoin'totormentmyinsidesinthisone。Damnedpeppers!"
Hesmiled，expelledhisbreathforciblytocoolhisburningmouth，dranksomecoffee，andwentoneatingthesteak。
"Whatdoyouthinkaboutthenextlifeanyway，Matt？"heaskedalittlelater，whilesecretlyhewonderedwhytheotherhadnotyettouchedhiscoffee。
"Ain'tnonextlife，"Mattanswered，pausingfromthesteaktotakehisfirstsipofcoffee。"Norheavennorhell，nornothin'。Yougetallthat'scomin'righthereinthislife。"
"An'afterward？"Jimqueriedoutofhismorbidcuriosity，forheknewthathelookeduponamanthatwassoontodie。"An'afterward？"herepeated。
"Didyoueverseeamantwoweeksdead？"theotherasked。
Jimshookhishead。
"Well，Ihave。Hewaslikethisbeefsteakyouan'meiseatin'。Itwasoncesteercavortin'overthelandscape。Butnowit'sjustmeat。That'sall，justmeat。An'that'swhatyouan'mean'allpeoplecometo——meat。"
Mattgulpeddownthewholecupofcoffee，andrefilledthecup。
"Areyouscaredtodie？"heasked。
Jimshookhishead。"What'stheuse？Idon'tdieanyway。Ipassonan'
liveagain——"
"Togostealin'，an'lyin'an'snivellin'throughanotherlife，an'goonthatwayforeveran'everan'ever？"Mattsneered。
"MaybeI'llimprove，"Jimsuggestedhopefully。"Maybestealin'won'tbenecessaryinthelifetocome。"
Heceasedabruptly，andstaredstraightbeforehim，afrightenedexpressiononhisface。
"What'sthematter!"Mattdemanded。
"Nothin'。Iwasjustwonderin'"——Jimreturnedtohimselfwithaneffort——
"aboutthisdyin'，thatwasall。"
Buthecouldnotshakeoffthefrightthathadstartledhim。Itwasasifanunseenthingofgloomhadpassedhimby，castinguponhimtheintangibleshadowofitspresence。Hewasawareofafeelingofforeboding。
Somethingominouswasabouttohappen。Calamityhoveredintheair。Hegazedfixedlyacrossthetableattheotherman。Hecouldnotunderstand。
Wasitthathehadblunderedandpoisonedhimself？No，Matthadthenickedcup，andhehadcertainlyputthepoisoninthenickedcup。
Itwasallhisownimagination，washisnextthought。Ithadplayedhimtricksbefore。Fool!Ofcourseitwas。Ofcoursesomethingwasabouttohappen，butitwasabouttohappentoMatt。HadnotMattdrunkthewholecupofcoffee？
Jimbrightenedupandfinishedhissteak，soppingbreadinthegravywhenthemeatwasgone。
"WhenIwasakid——"hebegan，butbrokeoffabruptly。
Againtheunseenthingofgloomhadfluttered，andhisbeingwasvibrantwithpremonitionofimpendingmisfortune。Hefeltadisruptiveinfluenceatworkinthefleshofhim，andinallhismusclestherewasaseemingthattheywereabouttobegintotwitch。Hesatbacksuddenly，andassuddenlyleanedforwardwithhiselbowsonthetable。Atremorrandimlythroughthemusclesofhisbody。Itwaslikethefirstrustlingofleavesbeforetheoncomingofwind。Heclenchedhisteeth。Itcameagain，aspasmodictensingofhismuscles。Heknewpanicattherevoltwithinhisbeing。Hismusclesnolongerrecognizedhismasteryoverthem。Againtheyspasmodicallytensed，despitethewillofhim，forhehadwilledthattheyshouldnottense。Thiswasrevolutionwithinhimself，thiswasanarchy；
andtheterrorofimpotencerushedupinhimashisfleshgrippedandseemedtoseizehiminaclutch，chillsrunningupanddownhisbackandsweatstartingonhisbrow。Heglancedabouttheroom，andallthedetailsofitsmotehimwithastrangesenseoffamiliarity。Itwasasthoughhehadjustreturnedfromalongjourney。Helookedacrossthetableathispartner。Mattwaswatchinghimandsmiling。AnexpressionofhorrorspreadoverJim'sface。
"MyGod，Matt!"hescreamed。"Youain'tdopedme？"
Mattsmiledandcontinuedtowatchhim。Intheparoxysmthatfollowed，Jimdidnotbecomeunconscious。Hismusclestensedandtwitchedandknotted，hurtinghimandcrushinghimintheirsavagegrip。Andinthemidstofitall，itcametohimthatMattwasactingqueerly。Hewastravellingthesameroad。Thesmilehadgonefromhisface，andtherewasonitanintentexpression，asifhewerelisteningtosomeinnertaleofhimselfandtryingtodivinethemessage。Mattgotupandwalkedacrosstheroomandbackagain，thensatdown。
"Youdidthis，Jim，"hesaidquietly。
"ButIdidn'tthinkyou'dtrytofixME，"Jimansweredreproachfully。
"Oh，Ifixedyouallright，"Mattsaid，withteethclosetogetherandshiveringbody。"Whatdidyougiveme？"
"Strychnine。"
"SameasIgaveyou，"Mattvolunteered。"It'sahellofamess，ain'tit？"
"You'relyin'，Matt，"Jimpleaded。"Youain'tdopedme，haveyou？"
"Isuredid，Jim；an'Ididn'toverdoseyou，neither。Icookeditinasneatasyoupleaseinyourhalftheporterhouse——Holdon!Where'reyougoin'？"
Jimhadmadeadashforthedoor，andwasthrowingbackthebolts。Mattspranginbetweenandshovedhimaway。
"Drugstore，"Jimpanted。"Drugstore。"
"Noyoudon't。You'llstayrighthere。Thereain'tgoin'tobeanyrunnin'outan'makin'apoisonplayonthestreet——notwithallthemjoolsreposin'underthepillow。Savve？Evenifyoudidn'tdie，you'dbeinthehandsofthepolicewithawholelotofexplanationscomin'。Emeticsisthestuffforpoison。I'mjustasbadbitasyou，an'I'mgoin'totakeaemetic。That'sallthey'dgiveyouatadrugstore，anyway。"
HethrustJimbackintothemiddleoftheroomandshottheboltsintoplace。Ashewentacrossthefloortothefoodshelf，hepassedonehandoverhisbrowandflungoffthebeadedsweat。Itspatteredaudiblyonthefloor。JimwatchedagonizedlyasMattgotthemustard-canandacupandranforthesink。Hestirredacupfulofmustardandwateranddrankitdown。Jimhadfollowedhimandwasreachingwithtremblinghandsfortheemptycup。AgainMattshovedhimaway。Ashemixedasecondcupful，hedemanded——
"D'youthinkonecup'lldoforme？YoucanwaittillI'mdone。"
Jimstartedtotottertowardthedoor，butMattcheckedhim。
"Ifyoumonkeywiththatdoor，I'lltwistyourneck。Savve？YoucantakeyourswhenI'mdone。An'ifitsavesyou，I'lltwistyourneck，anyway。
Youain'tgotnochance，nohow。Itoldyoumanytimeswhatyou'dgetifyoudidmedirt。"
"Butyoudidmedirt，too，"Jimarticulatedwithaneffort。
Mattwasdrinkingthesecondcupful，anddidnotanswer。ThesweathadgotintoJim'seyes，andhecouldscarcelyseehiswaytothetable，wherehegotacupforhimself。ButMattwasmixingathirdcupful，and，asbefore，thrusthimaway。
"ItoldyoutowaittillIwasdone，"Mattgrowled。"Getoutamyway。"
AndJimsupportedhistwitchingbodybyholdingontothesink，thewhileheyearnedtowardtheyellowishconcoctionthatstoodforlife。Itwasbysheerwillthathestoodandclungtothesink。Hisfleshstrovetodoublehimupandbringhimtothefloor。Mattdrankthethirdcupful，andwithdifficultymanagedtogettoachairandsitdown。Hisfirstparoxysmwaspassing。Thespasmsthatafflictedhimweredyingaway。Thisgoodeffectheascribedtothemustardandwater。Hewassafe，atanyrate。Hewipedthesweatfromhisface，and，intheintervalofcalm，foundroomforcuriosity。Helookedathispartner。
AspasmhadshakenthemustardcanoutofJim'shands，andthecontentswerespilleduponthefloor。Hestoopedtoscoopsomeofthemustardintothecup，andthesucceedingspasmdoubledhimuponthefloor。Mattsmiled。
"Staywithit，"heencouraged。"It'sthestuffallright。It'sfixedmeup。"
Jimheardhimandturnedtowardhimastrickenface，twistedwithsufferingandpleading。Spasmnowfollowedspasmtillhewasinconvulsions，rollingonthefloorandyellowinghisfaceandhairinthemustard。
Mattlaughedhoarselyatthesight，butthelaughbrokemidway。Atremorhadrunthroughhisbody。Anewparoxysmwasbeginning。Hearoseandstaggeredacrosstothesink，where，withprobingforefinger，hevainlystrovetoassisttheactionoftheemetic。Intheend，heclungtothesinkasJimhadclung，filledwiththehorrorofgoingdowntothefloor。
Theother'sparoxysmhadpassed，andhesatup，weakandfainting，tooweaktorise，hisforeheaddripping，hislipsfleckedwithafoammadeyellowbythemustardinwhichhehadrolled。Herubbedhiseyeswithhisknuckles，andgroansthatwerelikewhinescamefromhisthroat。
"Whatareyousnifflin'about？"Mattdemandedoutofhisagony。"Allyougottodoisdie。An'whenyoudieyou'redead。"
"I……ain't……snifflin'……it's……the……mustard……
stingin'……my……eyes，"Jimpantedwithdesperateslowness。
Itwashislastsuccessfulattemptatspeech。Thereafterhebabbledincoherently，pawingtheairwithshakingarmstillafreshconvulsionstretchedhimonthefloor。
Mattstruggledbacktothechair，and，doubleduponit，withhisarmsclaspedabouthisknees，hefoughtwithhisdisintegratingflesh。Hecameoutoftheconvulsioncoolandweak。Helookedtoseehowitwentwiththeother，andsawhimlyingmotionless。
Hetriedtosoliloquize，tobefacetious，tohavehislastgrimlaughatlife，buthislipsmadeonlyincoherentsounds。Thethoughtcametohimthattheemetichadfailed，andthatnothingremainedbutthedrugstore。
Helookedtowardthedooranddrewhimselftohisfeet。Therehesavedhimselffromfallingbyclutchingthechair。Anotherparoxysmhadbegun。
Andinthemidstoftheparoxysm，withhisbodyandallthepartsofitflyingapartandwrithingandtwistingbackagainintoknots，heclungtothechairandshoveditbeforehimacrossthefloor。Thelastshredsofhiswillwereleavinghimwhenhegainedthedoor。Heturnedthekeyandshotbackonebolt。Hefumbledforthesecondbolt，butfailed。Thenheleanedhisweightagainstthedoorandsliddowngentlytothefloor。
CREATEDHETHEM
Shemethimatthedoor。
"Ididnotthinkyouwouldbesoearly。"
"Itishalfpasteight。"Helookedathiswatch。"Thetrainleavesat9。12。"
Hewasverybusinesslike，untilhesawherlipstrembleassheabruptlyturnedandledtheway。
"It'llbeallright，littlewoman，"hesaidsoothingly。"DoctorBodineau'stheman。He'llpullhimthrough，you'llsee。"
Theyenteredtheliving-room。Hisglancequestedapprehensivelyabout，thenturnedtoher。
"Where'sAl？"
Shedidnotanswer，butwithasuddenimpulsecameclosetohimandstoodmotionless。Shewasaslender，dark-eyedwoman，inwhosefacewasstampedthestrainandstressofliving。Butthefinelinesandthehauntedlookintheeyeswerenotthehandiworkofmereworry。Heknewwhosehandiworkitwasashelookeduponit，andsheknewwhensheconsultedhermirror。
"It'snouse，Mary，"hesaid。Heputhishandonhershoulder。"We'vetriedeverything。It'sawretchedbusiness，Iknow，butwhatelsecanwedo？You'vefailed。DoctorBodineau'sallthat'sleft。"
"IfIhadanotherchance……"shebeganfalteringly。
"We'vethreshedthatallout，"heansweredharshly。"You'vegottobuckup，now。Youknowwhatconclusionwearrivedat。Youknowyouhaven'ttheghostofahopeinanotherchance。"
Sheshookherhead。"Iknowit。Butitisterrible，thethoughtofhisgoingawaytofightitoutalone。"
"Hewon'tbealone。There'sDoctorBodineau。Andbesides，it'sabeautifulplace。"
Sheremainedsilent。
"Itistheonlything，"hesaid。
"Itistheonlything，"sherepeatedmechanically。
Helookedathiswatch。"Where'sAl？"
"I'llsendhim。"
Whenthedoorhadclosedbehindher，hewalkedovertothewindowandlookedout，drummingabsentlywithhisknucklesonthepane。
"Hello。"
Heturnedandrespondedtothegreetingofthemanwhohadjustentered。
Therewasaperceptibledragtotheman'sfeetashewalkedacrosstowardthewindowandpausedirresolutelyhalfway。
"I'vechangedmymind，George，"heannouncedhurriedlyandnervously。"I'mnotgoing。"
Hepluckedathissleeve，shuffledwithhisfeet，droppedhiseyes，andwithastrongeffortraisedthemagaintoconfronttheother。
Georgeregardedhimsilently，hisnostrilsdistendingandhisleanfingersunconsciouslycrookinglikeaneagle'stalonsabouttoclutch。
Inlineandfeature，therewasmuchofresemblancebetweenthetwomen；andyet，inthestrongestresemblancestherewasaradicaldifference。Theirswerethesameblackeyes，butthoseofthemanatthewindowweresharpandstraightlooking，whilethoseofthemaninthemiddleoftheroomwerecloudyandfurtive。Hecouldnotfacetheother'sgaze，andcontinuallyandvainlystruggledwithhimselftodoso。Thehighcheekboneswiththehollowsbeneathwerethesame，yetthetextureofthehollowsseemeddifferent。Thethin-lippedmouthswerefromthesamemould，butGeorge'slipswerefirmandmuscular，whileAl'sweresoftandloose——thelipsofanasceticturnedvoluptuary。Therewasalsoasagatthecorners。Hisfleshhintedofgrossness，especiallysointheeagle-likeaquilinenosethatmustoncehavebeenliketheother's，butthathadlosttheausteritytheother'sstillretained。
Alfoughtforsteadinessinthemiddleofthefloor。Thesilencebotheredhim。Hehadafeelingthathewasabouttobeginswayingbackandforth。
Hemoistenedhislipswithhistongue。
"I'mgoingtostay，"hesaiddesperately。
Hedroppedhiseyesandpluckedagainathissleeve。
"Andyouareonlytwenty-sixyearsold，"Georgesaidatlast。"Youpoor，feebleoldman。"
"Don'tbesosureofthat，"Alretorted，withaflashofbelligerence。
"Doyourememberwhenweswamthatmileandahalfacrossthechannel？"
"Well，andwhatofit？"AsullenexpressionwascreepingacrossAl'sface。
"Anddoyourememberwhenweboxedinthebarnafterschool？"
"Icouldtakeallyougaveme。"
"AllIgaveyou!"George'svoicerosemomentarilytoahigherpitch。"Youlickedmefourafternoonsoutoffive。YouweretwiceasstrongasI——
threetimesasstrong。AndnowI'dbeafraidtolandonyouwithasofacushion；you'dcrumpleuplikealastyear'sleaf。You'ddie，youpoor，miserableoldman。"
"Youneedn'tabusemejustbecauseI'vechangedmymind，"theotherprotested，thehintofawhineinhisvoice。
Hiswifeentered，andhelookedappealinglytoher；butthemanatthewindowstrodesuddenlyuptohimandburstout——
"Youdon'tknowyourownmindfortwosuccessiveminutes!Youhaven'tanymind，youspineless，crawlingworm!"
"Youcan'tmakemeangry。"Alsmiledwithcunning，andglancedtriumphantlyathiswife。"Youcan'tmakemeangry，"herepeated，asthoughtheideawerethoroughlygratifyingtohim。"Iknowyourgame。
It'smystomach，Itellyou。Ican'thelpit。BeforeGod，Ican't!Isn'titmystomach，Mary？"
SheglancedatGeorgeandspokecomposedly，thoughshehidatremblinghandinafoldofherskirt。
"Isn'tittime？"sheaskedsoftly。
Herhusbandturneduponhersavagely。"I'mnotgoingtogo!"hecried。
"That'sjustwhatI'vebeentelling……him。AndItellyouagain，allofyou，I'mnotgoing。Youcan'tbullyme。"
"Why，Al，dear，yousaid——"shebegan。
"NevermindwhatIsaid!"hebrokeout。"I'vesaidsomethingelserightnow，andyou'veheardit，andthatsettlesit。"
HewalkedacrosstheroomandthrewhimselfwithemphasisintoaMorrischair。Buttheothermanwasswiftlyuponhim。Thetalon-likefingersgrippedhisshoulders，jerkedhimtohisfeet，andheldhimthere。
"You'vereachedthelimit，Al，andIwantyoutounderstandit。I'vetriedtotreatyoulike……likemybrother，buthereafterIshalltreatyoulikethethingthatyouare。Doyouunderstand？"
Theangerinhisvoicewascold。Theblazeinhiseyeswascold。Itwasvastlymoreeffectivethananyoutburst，andAlcringedunderitandundertheclutchinghandthatwasbruisinghisshouldermuscles。
"Itisonlybecauseofmethatyouhavethishouse，thatyouhavethefoodyoueat。Yourposition？Anyothermanwouldhavebeenshownthedoorayearago——twoyearsago。Ihaveheldyouinit。Yoursalaryhasbeencharity。Ithasbeenpaidoutofmypocket。Mary……herdresses……
thatgownshehasonismadeover；shewearsthediscardeddressesofhersisters，ofmywife。Charity——doyouunderstand？Yourchildren——theyarewearingthediscardedclothesofmychildren，ofthechildrenofmyneighbourswhothinktheclotheswenttosomeorphanasylum。Anditisanorphanasylum……oritsoonwillbe。"
Heemphasizedeachpointwithanunconscioustighteningofhisgripontheshoulder。Alwassquirmingwiththepainofit。Thesweatwasstartingoutonhisforehead。
"Nowlistenwelltome，"hisbrotherwenton。"Inthreeminutesyouwilltellmethatyouaregoingwithme。Ifyoudon't，Maryandthechildrenwillbetakenawayfromyou——to-day。Youneedn'tevercometotheoffice。
Thishousewillbeclosedtoyou。AndinsixmonthsIshallhavethepleasureofburyingyou。Youhavethreeminutestomakeupyourmind。"
Almadeastranglingmovement，andreachedupwithweakfingerstotheclutchinghand。
"Myheart……letmego……you'llbethedeathofme，"hegasped。
ThehandthrusthimdownforciblyintotheMorrischairandreleasedhim。
Theclockonthemantletickedloudly。Georgeglancedatit，andatMary。
Shewasleaningagainstthetable，unabletoconcealhertrembling。Hebecameunpleasantlyawareofthefeelingofhisbrother'sfingersonhishand。Quiteunconsciouslyhewipedthebackofthehanduponhiscoat。
Theclocktickedoninthesilence。ItseemedtoGeorgethattheroomreverberatedwithhisvoice。Hecouldhearhimselfstillspeaking。
"I'llgo，"camefromtheMorrischair。
Itwasaweakandshakenvoice，anditwasaweakandshakenmanthatpulledhimselfoutoftheMorrischair。Hestartedtowardthedoor。
"Whereareyougoing？"Georgedemanded。
"Suitcase，"cametheresponse。"Mary'llsendthetrunklater。I'llbebackinaminute。"
Thedoorclosedafterhim。Amomentlater，struckwithsuddensuspicion，Georgewasopeningthedoor。Heglancedin。Hisbrotherstoodatasideboard，inonehandadecanter，intheotherhand，bottomupandtohislips，awhiskyglass。
AcrosstheglassAlsawthathewasobserved。Itthrewhimintoapanic。
Hastilyhetriedtorefilltheglassandgetittohislips；butglassanddecanterweresentsmashingtothefloor。Hesnarled。Itwaslikethesoundofawildbeast。Butthegriponhisshouldersubduedandfrightenedhim。Hewasbeingpropelledtowardthedoor。
"Thesuitcase，"hegasped。"It'sthereinthatroom。Letmegetit。"
"Where'sthekey？"hisbrotherasked，whenhehadbroughtit。
"Itisn'tlocked。"
Thenextmomentthesuitcasewasspreadopen，andGeorge'shandwassearchingthecontents。Fromonesideitbroughtoutabottleofwhisky，fromtheothersideaflask。Hesnappedthecaseto。
"Comeon，"hesaid。"Ifwemissonecar，wemissthattrain。"
Hewentoutintothehallway，leavingAlwithhiswife。Itwaslikeafuneral，Georgethought，ashewaited。
Hisbrother'sovercoatcaughtontheknobofthefrontdooranddelayeditsclosinglongenoughforMary'sfirstsobtocometotheirears。George'slipswereverythinandcompressedashewentdownthesteps。Inonehandhecarriedthesuitcase。Withtheotherhandheheldhisbrother'sarm。
Astheynearedthecorner，heheardtheelectriccarablockaway，andurgedhisbrotheron。Alwasbreathinghard。Hisfeetdraggedandshuffled，andheheldback。
"AhellofabrotherYOUare，"hepanted。
Forreply，hereceivedaviciousjerkonhisarm。Itremindedhimofhischildhoodwhenhewashurriedalongbysomeangrygrown-up。Andlikeachild，hehadtobehelpedupthecarstep。Hesankdownonanoutsideseat，panting，sweating，overcomebytheexertion。HefollowedGeorge'seyesasthelatterlookedhimupanddown。
"AhellofabrotherYOUare，"wasGeorge'scommentwhenhehadfinishedtheinspection。
MoisturewelledintoAl'seyes。
"It'smystomach，"hesaidwithself-pity。
"Idon'twonder，"wastheretort。"Burntoutlikethecraterofavolcano。
Ferventheatisn'tacircumstance。"
Thereaftertheydidnotspeak。Whentheyarrivedatthetransferpoint，Georgecametohimselfwithastart。Hesmiled。Withfixedgazethatdidnotseethehousesthatstreamedacrosshisfieldofvision，hehadhimselfbeensunkdeepinself-pity。Hehelpedhisbrotherfromthecar，andlookeduptheintersectingstreet。Thecartheyweretotakewasnotinsight。
Al'seyeschanceduponthecornergroceryandsaloonacrosstheway。Atoncehebecamerestless。Hishandspassedbeyondhiscontrol，andheyearnedhungrilyacrossthestreettothedoorthatswungopenevenashelookedandletinahappypilgrim。Andinthatinstanthesawthewhite-
jacketedbartenderagainstanarrayofglitteringglass。Quiteunconsciouslyhestartedtocrossthestreet。
"Holdon。"George'shandwasonhisarm。
"Iwantsomewhisky，"heanswered。
"You'vealreadyhadsome。"
"Thatwashoursago。Goon，George，letmehavesome。It'sthelastday。
Don'tshutoffonmeuntilwegetthere——Godknowsitwillbesoonenough。"
Georgeglanceddesperatelyupthestreet。Thecarwasinsight。
"Thereisn'ttimeforadrink，"hesaid。
"Idon'twantadrink。Iwantabottle。"Al'svoicebecamewheedling。
"Goon，George。It'sthelast，theverylast。"
"No。"ThedenialwasasfinalasGeorge'sthinlipscouldmakeit。
Alglancedattheapproachingcar。Hesatdownsuddenlyonthecurbstone。
"What'sthematter？"hisbrotherasked，withmomentaryalarm。
"Nothing。Iwantsomewhisky。It'smystomach。"
"Comeonnow，getup。"
Georgereachedforhim，butwasanticipated，forhisbrothersprawledflatonthepavement，oblivioustothedirtandtothecuriousglancesofthepassers-by。Thecarwasclangingitsgongatthecrossing，ablockaway。
"You'llmissit，"Algrinnedfromthepavement。"Anditwillbeyourfault。"
George'sfistsclenchedtightly。
"FortwocentsI'dgiveyouathrashing。"
"Andmissthecar，"wasthetriumphantcommentfromthepavement。
Georgelookedatthecar。Itwashalfwaydowntheblock。Helookedathiswatch。Hedebatedasecondlonger。
"Allright，"hesaid。"I'llgetit。Butyougetonthatcar。Ifyoumissit，I'llbreakthebottleoveryourhead。"
Hedashedacrossthestreetandintothesaloon。Thecarcameinandstopped。Therewerenopassengerstogetoff。Aldraggedhimselfupthestepsandsatdown。Hesmiledastheconductorrangthebellandthecarstarted。Theswingingdoorofthesaloonburstopen。Clutchinginhishandthesuitcaseandapintbottleofwhisky，Georgestartedinpursuit。
Theconductor，hishandonthebellcord，waitedtoseeifitwouldbenecessarytostop。Itwasnot。Georgeswunglightlyaboard，satdownbesidehisbrother，andpassedhimthebottle。
"Youmighthavegotaquart，"Alsaidreproachfully。
Heextractedthecorkwithapocketcorkscrew，andelevatedthebottle。
"I'msick……mystomach，"heexplainedinapologetictonestothepassengerwhosatnexttohim。
Inthetraintheysatinthesmoking-car。Georgefeltthatitwasimperative。Also，havingsuccessfullycaughtthetrain，hisheartsoftened。Hefeltmorekindlytowardhisbrother，andaccusedhimselfofunnecessaryharshness。Hestrovetoatonebytalkingabouttheirmother，andsisters，andthelittleaffairsandinterestsofthefamily。ButAlwasmorose，anddevotedhimselftothebottle。Asthetimepassed，hismouthhunglooserandlooser，whiletheringsunderhiseyesseemedtopuffoutandallhisfacialmusclestorelax。
"It'smystomach，"hesaid，once，whenhefinishedthebottleanddroppeditundertheseat；buttheswifthardeningofhisbrother'sfacedidnotencouragefurtherexplanations。
Theconveyancethatmetthematthestationhadallthedignityandluxuriousnessofaprivatecarriage。George'seyeswerekeenfortheearmarksoftheinstitutiontowhichtheyweregoing，buthisapprehensionswereallayedfrommomenttomoment。Astheyenteredthewidegatewayandrolledonthroughthespaciousgrounds，hefeltsurethattheinstitutionalsideoftheplacewouldnotjaruponhisbrother。Itwasmorelikeasummerhotel，or，betteryet，acountryclub。Andastheysweptonthroughthespringsunshine，thesongsofbirdsinhisears，andinhisnostrilsthebreathofflowers，Georgesighedforaweekofrestinsuchaplace，andbeforehiseyesloomedthearidvistaofsummerintownandattheoffice。Therewasnotroominhisincomeforhisbrotherandhimself。
"Letustakeawalkinthegrounds，"hesuggested，aftertheyhadmetDoctorBodineauandinspectedthequartersassignedtoAl。"Thecarriageleavesforthestationinhalfanhour，andwe'lljusthavetime。"
"It'sbeautiful，"heremarkedamomentlater。Underhisfeetwasthevelvetgrass，thetreesarchedoverhead，andhestoodinmottledsunshine。
"IwishIcouldstayforamonth。"
"I'lltradeplaceswithyou，"Alsaidquickly。
Georgelaugheditoff，buthefeltasinkingoftheheart。
"Lookatthatoak!"hecried。"Andthatwoodpecker!Isn'theabeauty!"
"Idon'tlikeithere，"heheardhisbrothermutter。
George'slipstightenedinpreparationforthestruggle，buthesaid——
"I'mgoingtosendMaryandthechildrenofftothemountains。Sheneedsit，andsodothey。Andwhenyou'reinshape，I'llsendyourightontojointhem。Thenyoucantakeyoursummervacationbeforeyoucomebacktotheoffice。"
"I'mnotgoingtostayinthisdamnedhole，forallyoutalkaboutit，"Alannouncedabruptly。
"Yesyouare，andyou'regoingtogetyourhealthandstrengthbackagain，sothatthelookofyouwillputthecolourinMary'scheekswhereitusedtobe。"
"I'mgoingbackwithyou。"Al'svoicewasfirm。"I'mgoingtotakethesametrainback。It'sabouttimeforthatcarriage，Iguess。"
"Ihaven'ttoldyouallmyplans，"Georgetriedtogoon，butAlcuthimoff。
"Youmightaswellquitthat。Idon'twantanyofyoursoapytalking。Youtreatmelikeachild。I'mnotachild。Mymind'smadeup，andI'llshowyouhowlongitcanstaymadeup。Youneedn'ttalktome。Idon'tcarearapforwhatyou'regoingtosay。"
Abalefullightwasinhiseyes，andtohisbrotherheseemedforalltheworldlikeacorneredrat，desperateandreadytofight。AsGeorgelookedathimherememberedbacktotheirchildhood，anditcametohimthatatlastwasarousedinAlthesameoldstubbornstrainthathadenabledhim，asachild，tostandagainstallforceandpersuasion。
Georgeabandonedhope。Hehadlost。Thiscreaturewasnothuman。Thelastfineinstinctofthehumanhadfled。Itwasabrute，sluggishandstolid，impossibletomove——justtherawstuffoflife，combative，rebellious，andindomitable。Andashecontemplatedhisbrotherhefeltinhimselftherisingupofasimilarbrute。Hebecamesuddenlyawarethathisfingersweretensingandcrookinglikeathug's，andheknewthedesiretokill。Andhisreason，turnedtraitoratlast，counselledthatheshouldkill，thatitwastheonlythingleftforhimtodo。
Hewasarousedbyaservantcallingtohimthroughthetreesthatthecarriagewaswaiting。Heanswered。Then，lookingstraightbeforehim，hediscoveredhisbrother。Hehadforgottenitwashisbrother。Ithadbeenonlyathingthemomentbefore。Hebegantotalk，andashetalkedthewaybecamecleartohim。Hisreasonhadnotturnedtraitor。Thebruteinhimhadmerelyorientatedhisreason。
"Youarenoearthlygood，Al，"hesaid。"Youknowthat。You'vemadeMary'slifeahell。Youareacursetoyourchildren。Andyouhavenotmadelifeexactlyaparadisefortherestofus。"
"There'snouseyourtalking，"Alinterjected。"I'mnotgoingtostayhere。"
"That'swhatI'mcomingto，"Georgecontinued。"Youdon'thavetostayhere。"Al'sfacebrightened，andheinvoluntarilymadeamovement，asthoughabouttostarttowardthecarriage。"Ontheotherhand，itisnotnecessarythatyoushouldreturnwithme。Thereisanotherway。"
George'shandwenttohishippocketandappearedwitharevolver。Itlayalonghispalm，thebutttowardAl，andtowardAlheextendedit。Atthesametime，withhishead，heindicatedthenear-bythicket。
"Youcan'tbluffme，"Alsnarled。
"Itisnotabluff，Al。Lookatme。Imeanit。Andifyoudon'tdoitforyourself，Ishallhavetodoitforyou。"
Theyfacedeachother，theprofferedrevolverstillextended。Aldebatedforamoment，thenhiseyesblazed。Withaquickmovementheseizedtherevolver。
"MyGod!I'lldoit，"hesaid。"I'llshowyouwhatI'vegotinme。"
Georgefeltsuddenlysick。Heturnedaway。Hedidnotseehisbrotherenterthethicket，butheheardthepassageofhisbodythroughtheleavesandbranches。
"Good-bye，Al，"hecalled。
"Good-bye，"camefromthethicket。
Georgefeltthesweatuponhisforehead。Hebeganmoppinghisfacewithhishandkerchief。Heheard，asfromaremotedistance，thevoiceoftheservantagaincallingtohimthatthecarriagewaswaiting。Thewoodpeckerdroppeddownthroughthemottledsunshineandlightedonthetrunkofatreeadozenfeetaway。Georgefeltthatitwasalladream，andyetthroughitallhefeltsupremejustification。Itwastherightthingtodo。Itwastheonlything。
Hiswholebodygaveaspasmodicstart，asthoughtherevolverhadbeenfired。ItwasthevoiceofAl，closeathisback。
"Here'syourgun，"Alsaid。"I'llstay。"
Theservantappearedamongthetrees，approachingrapidlyandcallinganxiously。Georgeputtheweaponinhispocketandcaughtbothhisbrother'shandsinhisown。
"Godblessyou，oldman，"hemurmured；"and"——withafinalsqueezeofthehands——"goodluck!"
"I'mcoming，"hecalledtotheservant，andturnedandranthroughthetreestowardthecarriage。
THECHINAGO
"Thecoralwaxes，thepalmgrows，butmandeparts。"——
Tahitianproverb。