"TharcomesadaywhenOldManEnrightheadsintotheRedLight，wherewe-allisdiscussin'ofeepisodes，an'hepacksaletterinhishand。
　　"'Yere'samatter，'hesays，'ofpublicconcern，an'Iasksforafullexpressionofthecampforanswer。Yere'sasharpbythenameofColonelWilliamGreeneSterett，whowritesmeashowhe'ssufferin'toletgoallholtsintheStatesan'startapaperinWolfville。Itshallbe，hesays，aprogressifan'enlightenedjournal，devotedtothemoral，mentalan'materialupheavalofthisyerecommoonity，an'heaimstolearnourviews。DoIhearanyremarksonthislitteratoor'sprop'sition？'"Tellhimtocomea-
　　runnin'，Enright，"saysJackMoore；"an'drawitstrong。Ifthar'sonewantwhichisslowlybutshorelycrowdin'Wolfvilletothewall，it'sadearthofliteratoor；yere'sourchance，an'weplaysitquickanhigh。"
　　"Iain'tsogalaconfidentofallthis，"saysDanBoggs。"I'msorto'allowin'thishamlet'stoofeebleyetforapaper。Startin'apaperinasmallcampthisa-wayislikegivin'asix-shootertoaboy；mostlikelyheshootshimse'f，ormebbybuststheneighbor，tharwith。"
　　"Oh，Idon'tknow，'saysDocPeets，who，Iwantstosay，isassuddenawhiteman，mental，asIeversees；"mynotionistobringhimalong。Themereideeofapaper'lldoaheapforthetown。"
　　"I'mentertainin'sentimentssim'lar，'saysEnright；"an'IguessI'llwritethisColonelSterettthatwe'llgohimonceifwelose。
　　I'massistedtothisconcloosionbyhearin'，thelasttimeI'minTucson，thatRedDog，whichisourrival，isouttostartapaper，inwhicheventitbehoovesWolfvilletosplitevenwith'emattheleast。"
　　"That'swhatever!"saysMoore。"IfweallowsRedDogtoputitontousthata-waywemightjestaswelldissolveWolfvilleasacamp，an'reepairtothewoodsinabody。"
　　"EnrightsendsColonelSterettword，an'infourweekshecomespackininhislayoutan'opensuphisgame。ColonelSterett，personal，isabroad，thick，fine-seemin'gent，withasmooth，highfor'ead，greyeyes，an'along，honestfacelikeahoss。TheColonelhasafar-offlookinhiseyes，likehe'sdreamin'ofthingssublime，whichDocPeetssaysisthecommonlookoflit'rarygentsthata-way。TexasThompson，however，allowshewitnessesthesamedistantexpressionintheeyesofafoogitivefromjestice。
　　"ColonelSterettmakesagoodimpression。Heevolveshisjournalan'
　　namesittheCoyote，anameapplaudedbyusall。I'llreadyouafewofthemearliestitems；whichI'mabletogivetheseyerenoticesexact，asIpreservesafileoftheCoyotecomplete。Ishorelywouldn'tbewithoutit；nonewhatever!
　　"MissFaroNell，Wolfville'sbeautifulandaccomplishedsocietybelle，condescendedtogracethepostoflookoutlastnightforthegamepresidedoverbyoureminenttownsman，Mr。CherokeeHall。
　　"Ain'titsweet？"saysFaroNell，whenshereadsit。"Ithinksit'sjestlovely。Thedrinksisonme，barkeep。"Thenwegoeson:
　　"Mr。SamuelJohnsonEnright，anamesakeofthegreatlexicographer，andtheLycurgusofWolfville，paidavisittoTucsonlastweek。
　　"Anypersonpossessingleisureandastackofchipscanadventurethelatterunderconditionsabsolutelyequitablewiththatdistinguishedcourtieroffortune，Mr。CherokeeHall。
　　"IfMr。JohnMoore，ourefficientMarshal，willrefrainfrompinninghistargetsforpistolpracticetotheexteriorofourbuilding，wewillbowourgratitudewhennextwemeet。Thebulletsgorightthrough。
　　"WeweredistressedlastweektonotethatMr。JamesHamilton，thegentlemanlyandurbaneproprietorofWolfville'stempleofterpsichoirseead，inanothercolumnhadchangedwhiskeysonus，andwasdispensingwhatseemedtoourthroatatinctureofthecommoncarpettackofcommerce。ItisourhopethatMr。H。，onseeingthis，willatoncerestorethestatuquoathisjustlypopularresort。
　　"ArecklessMexicanwasparadingthestreettheothernightcarryinginhishandamonkeywrench。Itwasdark，andMr。DanielBoggs，aleadingcitizenofWolfville，whomethim，mistakingthewrenchforapistolwhichtheMexicanwascarryingforsomevilepurpose，veryproperlyshothim。Mexicansarefartoocarelessthisway。
　　"TheO。K。RestaurawisoneofthefewsuperiorhostelriesoftheTerritory。Mrs。Rucker，itscharmingproprietress，isacookwhomightoutrivaleventhatcelebratedchef，nowdead，M。Soyer。Herpiesarepoems，herbreadanepic，andherbeansadream，Mrs。
　　Ruckerhascookedherwaytoeveryheart，andherfamedestablishmentisjustlyregardedasthebrightparticulargeminWolfville'smunicipalcrown。
　　"ItisnotneededforustoremindourreadersthatWolfvillepossessesinthepersonofthatcelebratedpractitionerofmedicine，Mr。CadwalladerPeets，M。D。，ascientistwhosefameisworld-wideandwhoserenownhasreachedtofurthestlands。DoctorPortshasbeautifullymountedtheskullofthathorse-stealingignobility，BearCreel。Stanton，whorecentlysufferedthepunishmentduehismanycrimesatthehandsofourlocalvigilancecommittee，atribunalwhichunderthediscerningleadershipofPresidentEnright，neverfailsintheadministrationofjustice。DoctorPeetswillbegladtoexhibitthismementomoritoallwhocaretocall。DoctorPeets，whoiseminentasaphrenologist，aversthatsaidskullisremarkableforitsthickness，andthatitsconformationpointstothepossessionbyBearCreek，whileheworeit，ofthemostpowerfulnaturalinclinationstocrime。FromthesediscoveriesofDoctorPeets，thecommitteewhichsuspendedthisfelontothewindmillistobecongratulatedonactingjustintime。Itseemsplainfromthecontourofthisskullthatitwouldnothavebeenlong，hadnotthecommitteeintervened，beforeBearCreekwouldhaveaddedmurdertohorselarceny，andto-daythetownmightbemourningthedeathofavaluedcitizeninsteadoffelicitatingitselfoverthetaking-offofavillainwhoseverybumpsindictandconvicthimwitheveryfairandenlightenedintelligencethatisbroughttotheircontemplation。
　　"Ourrespectedfriendandsubscriber，Mr。DavidTutt，andhisbeautifulandaccomplishedlady，Mrs。DavidTutt，neeTucsonJennie，havereturnedfromtheirstayinSilverCity。Lastnightinhonoroftheircoming，andtoseetheirfriends，thisamiableandpopularpairgaveanAtHome。Therewaseveryformofrefreshment，andjoyandmerrimentwasunconfined。MissFaroDellwasadmittedlythebelleofthisfestiveoccasion，andDianawouldhaveenviedheras，radiantandhappy，sheledthegrandmarchleaningonthearmofMr。
　　CherokeeHall。ByrequestofMr。DanielBoggs，the'LariatPolka'
　　wasaddedtotheprogrammeofdances，aswasalsothe'PocatelloReel'attheinstanceofMr。TexasThompson。Astheballprogressed，andattheparticulardesireofthosepresent，Mr。BoggsandMr。
　　Thompsonentertainedthecompanywiththatdifficultandintricatedanceknownasthe'MountainLionMazourka，'accompanyingtheireffortswithspiritedvocalismsmeanttoimitatethedefiantscreamsofapantheronitsnativehills。Thesecries，aswellasthedanceitself，werehighlyrealistic，andMessrs。B。andT。weremadetherecipientsofmanycompliments。Mr。andMrs。Tuttaretobecongratulatedonthesuccessofthefunction；tofullydescribeitsmanyexcellentfeatureswouldexhaustencomium。
　　"Whichwereadstheforegoin'withonmixedpleasure，an'tharain'tagentbutwho'splumbconvincedthatanewspaper，thata-way，isthebulwarkofcivilizationsan'corner-stoneofAmericaninstitootions，whichit'sallowedtobebythevoicesofthemages。
　　"'Thisyereimprint，theCoyote，'saysJackMoore，'isahowlin'
　　triumph，an'anygentdisposedcangoan'makeaswellbetonitwitheverycertaintyofa-killin'。Also，Iremembersyereafteraboutthembullets。'
　　"Meanwhile，likeIstatesprior，RedDoghasitseditor，whowhirlslooseapaperwhichhecallstheStingin'Lizard。TheRedDogsheetain'tamarkertoColonelSterett'sCoyote，an'it'stheyooniversalideeinWolfville，afterca'mlycomparin'thetwopapers，thatColonelSterettasaeditorcansimplybackthatRedDogpersonplumbofftheground。
　　"Itain'tnotimebeforeColonelSterettan'theRedDogeditortakestocirklin'fortrouble，an'thefrightfulnamestheyappliestoeachotherintheirrespectifjournals，an'theaccoosationsan'
　　themepithetstheyhurls，wouldshorecurdlethebloodofagrizzlyb'ar。
　　"An'asiftocomplicatethesityooationforthatonhappysportwho'sgettin'outtheRedDogStingin'Lizard，hebeginstohavetroublelocal。Thar'sachuck-shopatRedDog——it'saplumblowj'int；Ineverknowsittohaveanygrubbetterthanbeans，saltpigan'airtights，——whichiscalledtheAbeLincolnHouse，an'iskeptbyapartynamedPeteBland。WhichthisyereBlandalsoownsagoat，thesamebein'agiftofaMexicanwho'sgotintheholetoBlandan'squar'saccountsthata-way。
　　"Thisgoatisjestasimple-minded，every-day，commonkindofagoat；buthe'smightythoroughinhisway，allersonthehustle，an'
　　ifheeveroverlooksaplay，noonedon'tknowit。Oneday，whentheRedDogeditorisprintin'offhispapers，upcomesthegoat，an'
　　diskyardin'ofthetin-canwhichhe'schewin'，hebeginsdebauchin'
　　ofhimse'fwiththisyereeditionoftheStingin'Lizard。It'smightysoonwhentheeditordiscoversitan'laysforthegoatpermiscus；hegoestochunkin'ofhimupawholelot。Thegoat'sgamean'declar'shimse'f，an'tharstartsaaltercationwiththeeditoran'thegoat，ofwhichthar'snotellin'thewind-up，an'
　　whichendsonlywhenthisyereBlandcutsin，an'thegoat'sdrugBorne。Thepaperisstoppedan'theeditorputsinthis:
　　"Ourpressesarestoppedto-daytosaythatiftheweak-mindedpersonwhomaintainsthelarge，blackgoatwhichinfestsourstreets，doesnotkillthebeast，wewill。To-day，whileengagedinworkingoffourmammotheditionoutbackofourbuilding，thethievishcreatureapproachedunnoticedandconsumedseventeencopiesoftheStingin'Lizard。
　　"WhichthisyereBlandgetsincensedatthis，an'putsituptheeditorcan'teatwithhimnomore。Butbettercounselsmoothsitover，an'atlastthisBlandforgivestheeditor，an'allisforgot。
　　Thegoat，however，neverdoes；an'hestampshisfootan'prowls'roundforafracaseverytinehiman'thateditormeets。
　　"AllthisyeretimeColonelSterettan'thissameRedDogeditormaintainsthemhostilities。Thewaytheylamslooseateachotherintheirpapersisaterror。IallersreckonsColonelSterettgetsaheapthebestofthisyeremane-chewin'；we-allsoregardsit，an'
　　sodoeshe，an'hekeepshisendupwithgreatsperitan'voylence。
　　"Theseyoreink-riotsdon'tgoonmore'ntwomonths，however，whenColonelSterettdecidesthattheo'casioncallsforsomethin'moreexplicit。Ashesays，'Patienceceasestobetrumps，'an'sohesaddlesupawholelotan'ridesovertoRedDog，personal。ColonelSterettdon'timpartthemplansofhistonoone；hesimplydescendsonhisfoe，solean'alone，likethatgamean'chivalrousgentofbellletterswhichheshorelyis；an'，son，ColonelSterettmakesaexampleofthatslander-mongerin'RedDogeditor。
　　"It'saboutthelastdrinktimeinthemornin'，an'apasselofthemRedDogsportsisconvenedinfrontoftheTubofBloods'loon，whenthey-allhearsacrashan'looksup，an'thar'stheireditora-
　　soarin'outofhissecond-storywindow。Ofcourse，inasecondorso，hehitstheground，an'themRedDogfolksgoesovertogettherightsofthisyerephenomenon。Heain'thurtsobutwhathegetsupan'limps'round，an'hetells'emit'stheWolfvilleeditordoesit。NexttimetheStingin'Lizardcomesout，wereadsaboutit:
　　"Thegasconadingreptilewhoisresponsiblefortheslimylifeofthatprurientsheet，theCoyote，paidusasneakingvisitSaturday。
　　Ifhehadgivenusnoticeofhisintentions，wewouldhavepreparedourselvesandtornhisleproushidefromhisdehauchedandwhiskey-
　　poisonedframe，andpollutedourfencewithit，buthedidnot。Truetohislow，currishnature，hecreptuponusunawares。Ourbackwastowardhimasheentered，perceivingwhichthecowardlypoltroonseizedusandthrewusthroughourownwindow。Havingaccomplishedhisfiendishwork，themiscreantleft，justlyfearingourwrath。TheStingingLizard'sexposureofthisscoundrelasadrunkard，embezzler，wife-beater，jail-bird，thief，andgeneralall-roundblacklegpromptedthisoutrage。Nevermind，thecreaturewillhearfromus。
　　"'Whichthisnewspaperbusinessisshorelygettin'somebilious，nottosayhectic，awholelot，'saysDanBoggs，aswereadsthis。'I
　　wonderiftheseyerefolksmeansfight？'
　　"'Why，'saysEnright，'Idon'tknowasthey'dfightnoneifwe-alllets'emalone，butIdon'tseehowwecan。ThissortofracketgoesonforyearsintheEast，butWolfvillecan'tstandit。SechtalkasthismeansbloodinArizona，an'weinsistsonthemtraditionsthata-waybein'respected。Besides，weowessomethin'toColonelSterett。'
　　"SoEnrightan'Cherokeehuntsupoureditoran'askshimwhateverheaimstodo，an'tellshimhe'sarousedpublicsentimentstosechheightsthar'llbeapop'lardisapp'intmentifhedon'tchallengetheRedDogeditoran'beefhim。ColonelSterettallowshe'scrazytodoit，an'thattheWolfvillepubliccangamblehe'llgothedistance。SoCherokeean'JackMooreputsontheirgunsan'goesovertoRedDogtofixtimean'place。TheRedDogeditorsayshe'swith'em，an'theyshakesdiceforplace，an'Cherokeean'Moorewins。
　　"'Whichasevidenceofgoodfaith，'saysCherokee，'wepicksRedDog。Wepullsthisthingoffontheverysceneofthevict'ryofColonelSterettwhenhehurlsyoureditorthroughhiswindowthattime。Iholdsthesametobeamightyproperscheme。'
　　"'You-allneedn'tbetimidnonetocome，'saystheRedDogsports。
　　'Yougetsasquar'dealfromastraightdeck；youcangambleonthat。'
　　"'Oh，weain'tapprehensifnone，'saysCherokeean'Jack；'youcanshorelylookforus。'
　　"Well，theday'scome，an'allWolfvillean'RedDogturnsouttoseethetrouble。JackMoorean'CherokeeHallrepresentsforoureditor，an'abraceofRedDogpeopleshowsdownfortheStingin'
　　Lizardman。Topreventaccidents，Enrightan'theRedDogchiefmakeseverygentbutthemInames，leavetheirweeponssome'erselse，whereforetharain'taguninwhatyou-allmightcallthehandsofthepop'laces。
　　"Buttharcomesainterruption。Jestasthemdooelistsgetsplaced，thar'sastoopendouscommotion，an'chargin'throughthecrowdcomesthatabandonedgoat。Thepresenceofsomanyfolksseemslikeitmakeshimonusualhostile。Withoutwaitin'tocatchhisbreatheven，helaysfortheRedDogeditor，who，seein'himcomin'，bangsawaywithhis'45an'misses。Thegoathitsthatauthorinthetailofhiscoat，an'overhegoes；buthekeepsonslammin'awaywiththe'45jestthesame。
　　"Whichnacherallyeverybodyscattersfurcoveratthefirstshot，'causetheeditorain'tcarin'wherehep'ints，an'inasecondnobody'sinsightbutthemtwojournalistsan'thatgoat。I'llsayrightyere，son，ColonelSterettan'hisfelloweditoran'thegoatwagestheawfullestbattlewhichIeverbeholds。Whichyoushorelyoughterheardtheirexpressions。Eachof'emletsgoeveryloadhe'sgot，butthegoatdon'tgethitonct。
　　"Whenwe-allcountstwelveshots——sixapiece——wegoesoutan'
　　subdoosthegoatbythepowerofnumbers。Ofcourse，thedooel'sended。TheRedDogfolksborriesawagonan'takesawaytheirman，who'ssufferedaheap；an'Peets，hestaysovertharan'fusses'roundallnightsavin'ofhim。Thegoat'sallrightan'goesbacktotheAbeLincolnHouse，wherethisyerePeteBlandisonreasonableenoughtobackthatshockinconductofhis'n。
　　"Whichit'sthelastoftheRedDogStingin'Lizard。Thateditorallowshewon'tstay，an'Bland，stilladherin'tohisgoat，allowshewon'tfeedhimnoneifhedoes。ThenextissueoftheStingin'
　　Lizardcontainsthis:
　　"WebidadieutoRedDog。WewillhereafterpublishapaperinTucson；andifwehavebeenweakandmendaciousenoughtospeakinfavorofapartyofthenameofBland，whomisconductsalowbeanerywhichinsultsanhonourablemanbystealinghisname——werefertothatfeed-troughcalledtheAbeLincolnHouse——wewillcorrectourselvesinitscolumns。Thispersonharboursavilegoat，forwhosedeathwewillpay5，andgivebesidesalife-longsubscriptiontoournewpaper。Lastweekthismadanimalmadeanunprovokedassaultuponusandaprofessionalbrother，andbeat，butted，wounded，bruisedandill-
　　treatedusuntilwesufferinourwholeperson。Wegivenoticeaswedepart，thatundernocircumstanceswillwereturnuntilthisgoatisextinct。
　　"Followin'theonexpectedan'thrillin'finishofColonelSterett'sdooelwiththeRedDogeditor，an'fromwhichColonelSterettemergesonscathed，an'leavin'Peetswithhisnewpatient，weallreturnsinabodytoWolfville。AfterrefreshmentsintheRedLight，Enrightgiveshisviews。
　　"'Ondoubted，'observesEnright，'ourgent，ColonelSterett，conductshimse'finthempainfulscenesbetweenhiman'thegoatan'thatRedDogeditorinamannertocommandrespects，an'hereturnswithhonorsfromthemperils。Ther'snomoretobedone。Theaffaircloseswithoutastainonthe'scutcheonofWolfville，orthefairfameofColonelSterett；whichlastmaycontinyootopromulgatehisvalyooablepaper，shoreofourconfidencean'upheldbyouresteem。
　　Itisnotincumbentonhimtofurtherpursoothisaffair。
　　Hisnamean'honorissatisfied；besides，nogentcanaffordtherecognitionsandprivilegesofthedooellotoapartywho'ssunksolowastohavehostiledifferenceswithagoat，an'whopersistspubliclyinfollowin'emtobitteranvoylentconcloosions。ThisRedDogeditor'sdoneputhimselfoutsidethepaleofanyhigh-speritedgent'sconsiderationbythemactions，an'canclaimnofurthernotice。Gents，inthenameofWolfville，Itenderscongrat'lationstoColonelSterettonthewayinwhichhemeetsthedangersofhisp'sition，an'thesooperbfashion!!!whichheplacesbeforeusoneofthegreatestjournalsofourtimes。Gents，wedrinkstoColonelWilliamGreeneSterettan'theCoyote。'"
　　CHAPTERVII。
　　CherokeeHallPlaysPoker。
　　"NacherallyI'mnotmuchofasport，"remarkedtheOldCattleman，ashelaiddownapaperwhichtoldaMonteCarlostoryofafortunelostandwon。"WhichI'mnotremorselessenoughtobeacleanstraingambler。Ofcourse，akyardsharpcanmakebenevolencesan'lavishdustontheneedyontheside，butwhenitgetstoagameformoney，hecan'taffordnoruthfulnessthata-way，tryin'nottohurtthesorepeople。Hemustplayhissystemthrough，an'withnomoreconsciencethancows，nomatterwho'srundowninthestampede。"Forwhichcauses，bein'plumbtenderan'sympathetic，I'mshorenogoodwithkyards；an'wheneverIdalliestharwith，itisondertheheadofamoosements。"DoIregyardgamblin'asimmoral？No；Idon'treckonnonenowIdo。Thisbein'whatyou——allchurchsharpscallsmoralissomewhatamatterofhealth，an'likewisethewayyoufeels。Sickfolksusualisaheapmoremoralthanwhentheirhealth'sthatexcellentit'stantalizin'。"Speakin'ofmorals，I
　　recallspeoplewhowouldscornkyards，butwho'dadmiretobuyawidow'ssteersforfourdollarsan'saw'emoffag'inforforty。
　　They'dtakefourhundreddollarsifsomeparty，locoedtoadegreewhichpermitssaidoutrage，wouldturnup。Therightorwrong，whatyoucallsthemoralityofgatherin'steersforfourdollarsan'
　　plunderin'peoplewith'ematfortydollars，wouldn'tbother'emabit。Whichthequestionwiththeseyerewolvesissimply:'HowlittlecanIpayan'howmuchcanIget？'An'yet，asIsays，sechpartiesmightylikelyholdsthemse'fsmoraltoadegreewhichismountainous，an'wouldn'ttakeatwistatfaro-bank，orpickupapokerhand，more'nthey'dminglewitht'rant'lersan'stingin'
　　lizards。An'someoftheirmoralsportsissoonlib'ral!Itellsyou，son，I'vemetupwith'emwho'sthatstingythatiftheyownedalake，theywouldn'tgiveaduckadrink。
　　"'Gamblin'isimmoralthata-way，'saystheseyeresports。
　　"An'yetIdon'tseenosechheinousdifferencebetweensearchin'agentforhisrollwithsteersatfortydollars——thesamestandin'
　　youinfour——an'layinforhimbyraisin'theanteforthelimitbeforethedraw。Mightylikelythar'sareasonwhyone'smoralan'
　　theother'sblackan'bad，butIadmitsonblushin'lythattheonearthin'tharofisshoretoomanyfordim-eyedfolkslikeme。Theystrikesmeaheapsim'lar；onlythekyardsharpgoesoutag'instchanceswhichthesteersharpescapescomplete。
　　"IreckonsCherokeeHallan'mediscusseshowwronggamblin'ishundredsoftimesonleesuredays；wefrequenttalksofitimmoderate。Cherokee'sviewsan'mineissidean'side，mostly，although，makin'hislivin'turnin'kyards，ofcoursehe'smorequalifiedtospeakthanme。
　　"'WhichIshorefindsnothin'wronginfarobank，'saysCherokee。
　　'Thar'stimes，however，whensomesportwho'slocoedbybadluck，orthinkshe'swrongedgetsdiffusivewithhisgun。Atsechepocksthisdevicehasitsburdens，Iconcedes。ButIdon'tperceivenoimmorality；nonewhatever。'
　　"Yes，nowyouasksthequestion，IdoesinformyouawhilebackofthisCherokeeHallbein'pronetocharity。Heneverismuchofatalker，butinhiswayhe'samightygregar'ousgent。Aboutsomethingshe'sgameashornets，Cherokeeis；buthisnervefailshimwhenitcomestoseein'otherpeoplesuffer。Hecanstandbadluckhimse'f，an'neverturnaha'r；butnooneelse'sbadluck。
　　"Itain'tonceaweek，butit'severyday，whenthisyeregray-eyedsportisrobbin'hisrollforsomebodywho'ssettin'inag'instdisaster。Fact；Cherokee'saheapweakthata-way。
　　"Ofcourse，turnin'faro，Cherokeeknowswhohasmoneyan'whoneedsit；keepstab，sotospeak，onthefluctooationsofthecamp'sfinancescloser'nanybody。Therichesan'thepovertyofWolfvilleissorto'exposin'itse'f'roundonderhisnose；it'saopenbooktohim；an'theknowledgeofwho'sflat，orwho'sflush，isthrustontohimcontinyoous。AsIsays，bein'somesentimentalaboutthemhardshipsofothers，theinformationcostsCherokeehardontoadiurnalstackortwo。
　　"'Whichyou'retooimpulsiveawholelot，'Iarguesonctwhenaprofligatehe'sstaked，an'whoreportshimse'fasjumpin'sidewaysforgrubprevious，goescareerin'overtothedancehallwiththemalmshe'swrung，an'proceedsonadebauch。'Yououghternotallowthemorneryfolkstodoyou。Ifyou'dcultivatethehabitoflettin'
　　everygentgoa-foottillhecanbuyahoss，you'dcleanupforaheapmoreattheendoftheweek。Nowthisingratewhosehandyoustiffensain'tbuyin'nothin'butnose-painttharwith。'
　　"'Whichthesameplantsnoregretswithme，'saysCherokee，allcarelessan'indifferent。'Ifthispersonissufferin'forwhiskeyworse'nhe'ssufferin'forbread，lethimloosewiththewhiskey。
　　Themoney'shis。WhenIgivesagentastake，thar'snothin'heldback。Idon'tgoplayin'thedespotastohowheblowsit。IfthisyerepartyIrelieveswantswhiskeyan'isbuyin'whiskey，I
　　approveshisplay。IfI'veaweaknessatall，it'sforseein'folksfetterlessan'free。'
　　"Whileholdin'Cherokee'sviewserroneous，sofarasheseekstoapply'emtopauperstankin'upondonations，stillIallowsit'sdealin'farowhichhassp'iledhim；an'asyoucan'tmakenogentovernew，Iquitsan'don'tbuckhisnotionsaboutdispensin'
　　charitynomore。"Thar'stimeswhenthisyereCherokeeHallcaromsonagentwho'shigh-strungthata-way，an'won'ttakenodonations；
　　whichthisyeresportmaybeplentyneedytothep'intofperishin'，too。That'sstraight；thar'snacherswhichisthatreluctantaboutaid，theysimplydiesstandin'beforethey'lleverask。
　　"OnceortwicewhenCherokeecrossesupwithoneoftheseyeresensitifsouls，an'who'sindistress，heneversaysawordaboutgivin'himanythin'；heturnsfoxyan'capshimintoalittlepoker。
　　An'inthecourseofanhour——forhehastogoslowan'cunnin'，sohedon'tarousethevictimtosuspicionsthathe'sbein'played——
　　Cherokee'lldisarrangethingssohelosesasmallstaketohim。Whenhe'sgotthisdistressedgent'sfinancesreehabilitatedsome，heshovesoutan'quits。
　　"'An'youcanputitflatdown，'remarksCherokee，who'ssooperstitious，'Ineverlosesnothin'norquitsbehindontheseyerebenevolences。WhichIoftobservesthatProvidencecomesbackofmyboxbeforeevertheweek'sout，an'makesgood。'
　　"'IonceknowsasportinLaredo，'saysTexasThompson，towhomCherokeeistalkin'，'an'issorto'intimatewithhim。He'sholdin'
　　tosomethin'likeyoursystem，too，an'playsitrightalong。
　　Wheneverluck'sag'inhimtoap'intwherehe'slosthalfhisroll，hebreaksthelasthalfintwoan'givesoneparttosomecharityracket。hetellsmehimse'fhe'sbeenaddictedtothisschemesolongit'sgottobeaappetite，an'thatheneverfailstowinhimse'foutentheholewithwhat'sleft。Youbet!Ibelievesit；I
　　seesthishold-updoit。'
　　"Iain'tnoneshoretharain'tsomebottomtothembluffswhichCherokeean'TexasputsupaboutProvidencestockin'adeckyourway，an'makin'goodthemgifts。Atleast，thar'stimeswhenitlookslikeitaheap。An'whatI'llnowrelateshowsit。
　　"OnetimeCherokeehasitsunkdeepinhisbosomtohe'pagentnamedEllistosomethin'likeayellowstack，sohecanpullhisfreightforhome。He'scomespraddlin'intotheWestfullofhope，an'allowin'he'sgoin'togetrichinaday。An'nowwhenhefindshowtheWestisswiftan'hardtobeat，he'shomesicktodeath。
　　"ButEllisain'tgotthedinero。NowCherokeelikeshim——forEllisisamightydecentformofshorthorn——an'concloodes，allbyhimse'f，he'llstandinonEllis'destiniesan'fix'emupalot。
　　Bein'asEllisisaeasymavericktowound，Cherokeedecidesit'sbettertolethimthinkhewinsthestuff，an'notlaceratehimbynogiftsdirect。Anotherthing，thisyereEllistenderfootisplumbcontrary；he'sshorecontrarytothenotchofbein'cap'bleofdeclinin'almsabsoloote。
　　"TomakecertainEllisisgotridof，an'headedhomewardhappy，CherokeepullsonalittlepokerwithEllis；an'hetakesinDanBoggsontheplay，makin'herthree-handed，thata-wayforablind。
　　Danisinformedoftheobjectsofthemeetin'，an'ain'tallowin'tomore'nplayadummyhandtharin。
　　"ThisyereEllismakesatangleatfirst，wantintoplayfaro-bank；
　　butCherokee，whocan'tcontrolnofarogamelikehecanpoker，says'No；'he'sdeadwearyoffaro，turnin'itdayan'dark；rightthenheisoutforalittlestretchatpokerasmererelief。AlsoDanobjectsstrenyoous。
　　"'WhichIdon'thavenoluckatfaro-bank，'saysDan。'Idoesnothin'butloseforamonth；I'mmadesullenbyit。TheonlybetI
　　standstowinatfaro，forplumbfourweeks，isahundreddollarswhichIputsonacasequeen，coppered，overinTucsontheotherday。An'Ilosethat。I'mahoss-thiefif，exacklyasthequeeniscomin'myway，thatlocoedTucsonmarshaldon'ttakeaslamatagentwithhissix-shooteran'miss；an'thebullet，whichisdodgin'
　　an'meanderin'downtheroom，crossesthelayoutbetweenthedealeran'me，an'takesthetopchipoffmybet。An'withitgoesthecopper。BeforeIcanrestorethemconditions，thequeenfallstolose；an'nothavin'nocopperonmybet，ofcourse，I'mimpoverishedforthathundredasaforesaid。Youknowstheroole——
　　everybetgoesasitlays。SaidstatooteisfullyinforceinTucson；an'declinin'toallowanythin'forwildshootin'bythatfoolmarshal，themoutcastscorralsmychips。"HoweverdoIknowthar'sanaccident？"saysthedealer，asherakesinthatqueenbet，whileI'mexpoundin'whyitshouldbecomin'tome。"Mebbyshe'sanaccident，an'mebbyag'inthathom'cidewho'sbustin''roundyerewithhisgun，isinleaguewithyou-all，an'shootsthatcopperoffdesignful，thinkin'thequeen'scomin'theotherway。Ifaccidentsisallowedtocontrolinfaro-bank，thehousewouldneverwinachip。"So，'concloodesDan，'theygetsawaywithmyhundred，invokin'strictroolesontome。WhileIcan'tsaytheyain'tright，Imakesupmymindmyluck'stoorankforfaro，an'registersvowsnottoputapesoonanotherlayoutforayear。Asthetimelimitain'tup，Ican'tbuckfaro-banknone；butifyouan'Ellis，Cherokee，cantol'ratealittledraw，I'myouronmurmurin'dupe。'
　　"AsIrelatesprior，theplayistoletElliswinahome-stakean'
　　quit。Atlasttheybegins，Ellisseein'thar'snochanceforfaro-
　　bank。Danplaysbutlittle；usual，hemerelypicksuphiskyards，cussesalot，an'passesout。Nowan'then，whenit'shisante，orCherokeestaysoutforthelooksofthething，Dangoestothefrontan'sweetensEllisforahandfulofchips。
　　"Littlebylittle，bylayin'downgoodhands，breakin'pa'rsbeforeadraw，an'gen'rallycarryin'ontail-firstan'scand'lous，Cherokeean'Danisgettin'afewlayersoffatonEllis'ribs。Buttheyhastolaylowtodoit。Oh!he'dkickoverthetableinasecondifheevensmellstheplay。
　　"Nowyere'swhereProvidencemakesitsdeboo。Ithappenswhilethesecharitiesisproceedin'，aavariciousgent——astrangerwithinourgates，heis——afterregyardin'thegameawhile，takestodeemin'iteasy。Theavariciousgentwantsin；an'asEllis，who'saheapelatedathisluckan'isalreadytalkin'ofthekillin'he'smakin'，says'Yes，'an'asDanan'Cherokeecan'tsay'No'withoutbein'onp'lite，theavariciousgentbuttsin。ItalldisturbsCherokee，who'sanervoussharp；an'whenheseeshowgreedytheavariciousgentisforwhathedeemstobeashorething，heconcloodestodrophimplentyhard。"It'sfour-handpokernow，an'
　　thegamewagsonforadozenhands。Danisinhardluck；Cherokeeonhispartgetsdrivenouteachhand；an'Ellisan'theavariciousgentisdoin'whatlittlewinnin'sbein'done，between'em。It'sevidentbythistime，too，theavariciousgent'slayin'forCherokee。ThisoninstructedpersonlooksonCherokeeasbothimbecilean'onluckytoboot。
　　"Theavariciousgentgetsactionsuddenerthanhethinks。It'sajackpot。ShegoesbyEllisan'Dan；thenCherokeebreaksherforthelimit，twobloochips，theparvaluewhereofistendollars。
　　"'Youbreaksforten？'saystheavariciousgent，who'sonCherokee'sleftan'hasthelastsay；'well，Iseesthebreakan'liftsitthelimit。'An'theavariciousgentputsupfourbloos。Ellisan'Dan，holdin'nothin'an'gettin'crafty，ducks。
　　"Whentheavariciousgentputsuphisfourbloobeans，Cherokeedoessomethin'nooneeverseeshimdobefore。Hegetsquer'lousan'
　　complainin'，an'beginstofussalotoverhisbadluck。
　　"'Whatdidyou-allcomeinfor？'hesaystotheavariciousgent，aspeevishasasickinfant。'Youseesmesettin'yereinthemuddiestofluck；can'tyoua-beartoletmewinapot？Youain'tgotnohandtocomeinonneither，an'I'llbetonit。Youjestnacherallystacksin，relyin'onbluffin'me，orout-luckin'meonthedraw。
　　Well，youcan'tbluff；I'llseethisyerethrough，'saysCherokee，puttin'uptwomoresky-coloredbeansan'actin'likehe'sgettin'
　　heated，'ifittakesmylastchip。AsIdo，however，jesttoonmaskyouan'showmyfriends，asIsays，thatyouain'tgotathing，I'llwageryoutwoontheside，rightnow，thatthepa'rofjacksI
　　breakson，isbiggerthanthehandonwhichyoucomesinan'makesthattwo-buttontilt。'Ashesaysthis，Cherokeeregyardstheavariciousgentlikehe'splumbdisgusted。
　　"Itturnsout，whenCherokeemakesthisyerelongan'fretfulbreak，theavariciousgent'sholdin'abraceofkings。He'sdelightedwithCherokee'suproar，an'thinkshowsoft，an'whatacaseofopen-
　　work，heis。
　　"'YouofferstwobloosIcan'tbeatapa'rofjacks？'saystheavariciousgent。Whichhe'splumbwolf，an'outforeverydropofblood!
　　"'That'swhatIsays，'repliesCherokee，somesullen。
　　"`Igoesyou，'saystheavariciousgent，showin'apa'rofkings。
　　"'Tharyoube，'snarlsCherokee，withahowllikeasore-headdog，a-chuckin'theavariciousgentacoupleofchips；'tharyougoag'in!Ican'tbeatnothin'；whichIcouldn'tbeatadrum!"Theavariciousgentc'llectsthemtwoazurebones；afterwhichhediskyardsthree，drawin'tohistwokings，an'setsbacktowinthemainpot。Heshoreconcloodesit'saredletterround-upforhim。
　　"`IreckonsnowthatIknowswhatyouhas，'saysCherokee，displayin'aaceinafoolishway，'Iupholdsthisyereaceonthesidean'asksfortwokyards。'
　　"Theavariciousgentaddsathirdkingtohislistan'feelslikesunnyweather。Cherokeepicksuphishandafterthedraw，an'theavariciousgent，who'sviewin'himsharp，notesthathelooksaheapmorbid。
　　"AllatonceCherokeebracesupmightysavage，likehe'suglyan'
　　desp'rateabouthisbadluck。
　　"'Ifthisyerelimitwasanysizeatall，abloodedgentmightstandsomeshow。WhichI'dbluffyououtenyourmoccasinsifIwasn'treepressedbyalimitwhereofachildshouldbeashamed。Ishoredon'tknowhowImislaysmyse'f-respecttosechapitchastogosettin'intotheseyerepaltryplays。'
　　"'Whichyouseeyerealot!'saystheavariciousgent，shakin'withdelight，an'lookin'atthemthreecrownedheadsheholds；'don'thowlallnightaboutawrongwhat'ssoeasytorectify。Weremovesthelimits，an'youcanspreadyourpinionsan'soartoanyaltitoodeyouplease。'
　　"Cherokeelooksathimhatefulasamurderer；heseemslikehe'sbein'goaded。Then，likehe'smadeuphismindtodierightyere，Cherokeeturnsinwithoutnomorewordsan'betsfivehundreddollars。ItmakesEllis，who'snewan'plumbpoorthata-way，sorto'drawalongbreath。
　　"'Whichyou'llclimbsomeforthispotifyougetsit，'saysCherokee，afterhismoney'sup；an'histonesisshoreresentful。
　　"Theavariciousgentthinksit'sabluff。Hedeemsthemthreekingsgood。Cherokeemostlikelydon'tbetterbythedraw。Ifhedoes，it'snothin'worsethanacesup，oratriangleofjacks。That'sthewaythissordidsportlinesupCherokee'shand。"'Merelytoshowyoutheerrorofyourways，'heremarks，'an'toteachyoutoleada'happieran'abetterlife，Iseesyourfivehundredan'raisesherbackthesame。'An'theavariciousgentcountsoffathousanddollars。'Thar，'hesayswhenit'sup，'nowgoasfarasyoulike。
　　Makeitaceilin'playifthesperitmovesyou。'
　　"'Iseesitan'liftsherforfivehundredmore，'retortsCherokee。
　　An'heshoveshisdusttothecenter。"Cherokee'speevishnessisgone，an'hisfault-findin'isover。He'sturnedasconfidentan'
　　easyasaoldshoe。
　　"Itstrikestheavariciousgentasalarmin'，thisquickswitchinthewayCherokeefeels。It'scl'ar，asonelooksinhisface，thatthemtrioofkingsain'tnosechmonstrositiesastheywas。Heain'thalfsoshoretheywins。Afterlookin'awhilehesays，an'histonesshowshe'splumbdoobious:
　　"'Thatlastraiseover-sizesme。'
　　"`That'sit!'groansCherokee，likehiscontemptforallmankindiscomin'back。'BythetimeIgetsadecenthandeverysportatthetable'sbroke。WhatshowdoIhave!However，Ipinchesdowntomeetyourpoverty。Putupwhatstuffyouhas。'
　　"Theavariciousgentslowlygetsuphislastpeso；he'soutonalimb，an'hesomehowbeginstofeelit。Whenthemoney'sup，Cherokeethrowsdownthreeacesan'apa'rofnines，an'rakesthedust。
　　"'Nexttime，'saysCherokee，'don'tcomefomentin''roundpokergameswhichisstrangerstoyoucomplete。Moreover，don'tletagenttalkyouintofal'ciestouchin'hishand。WhichI'mtheproudproprietorofthemthreeaceswhenIbreaksthepot。You-alllosethistime；butifyou'llonlypastethemdogmasIgivesyouinyoursombrero，an'read'emoverfromtimetotime，you'llnoticetheyflowsaprofit。Wethree，'concloodesCherokee，turnin'ag'intoDanan'Ellis，'willnowresoomeourwrong-doin'atthep'intwherethisyereformerplootocratinterrupts。AbenignProvidencehasfixedmeplentystrong。Wherefore，ifeitherofyousportsshouldtapmeforahandfulofhundreds，themveinsofminewillstandthedrain。Dan，it'syourdeal。'"
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　TheTreacheryofCurlyBen"ere!youblackboy，Tom!"andtheOldCattleman'svoiceroseloudlyashecommandedtheapproachofthatbuoyantservitor，whosupervisedhismaster'sdestinies，andperformedinthetriangularroleofvalet，guardianandfriend。"Yere，you；gotothebarkeepofthistavernan'tellhimtoframemeupapitcherofthatpeachbrandyan'honeythewayIshowshimhow。An'whenhe'sgotherorganized，bringitouttouswithtwoglassesbythefire。You-allain'tfilin'noobjectionstoadrink，beyou？"Thislastwastome。
　　"Asforme，personal，"hecontinued，"youcanputdownabetI'masdryasacoveredbridge。"Ireadilyassentedtopeachandhoney。I
　　wouldagreetorawwhiskeyifitwereneededtoappeasehimandpermitmetoremaininhisgraces。
　　"Thar'sonething，oneredeemin'thingImightsay，abouttheEast，"
　　hewenton，whenthepeachandhoneyappeared，"an'thesameclaimsmyrespectsentire；that'sitsnose-paint。WhichweshorelysuffersintheSouthwestfrombeveragesofthemostornerykind。"
　　"There'sawordI'vewantedtoaskyouaboutmorethanonce，"I
　　said。"Whatdoyoumeanby'ornery，'andwheredoyougetit？"
　　"WheredoIgetit？"heresponded，withatingeofscorn。"WheredoIropeontoanyword？Ijestnacherallyreachesoutan'acquiresitawholelot，likeIdotherestofthelanguageIemploys。Asforwhatitmeans，Iwouldhaveallowedthatanygentwhoescapesbein'
　　asweak-mindedasThompson'scolt——an'thatcayouseisthatimbecileheusedtoswimarivertogetadrink——wouldhesitatewithshametoasksechquestions。
　　"'Ornery'isawordthemeanin'whereofisgoin'todependaheaponwhatyoubrandswithit。"Thiswassaidlikeanoracle。"Also，thesamemeansmoreorlessaccordin'towhoallputsthewordinplay。
　　Iremembersamightydecentsortofsport，oldCapeWillinghamitis；an'yetDanBoggsisforeverreferrin'tooldCapeas'ornery。'
　　An'IreckonDanthinksheis。WhichthetroublewithCape，fromDan'sstandpoint，isthis:Capeisoneoftheseyerepreciseparties，acc'rateastoallhedoes，an'plentypartic'larabouthislooks。AnOsagebuck，paintin'foradance，wouldn'tworrymoreoverhisfeachers，an'thewaytheochershouldbestreakedon。
　　"NowthisyereCapeisshyaneye，whereanApachepokesitoutwithalance，backinCochise'stime；an'，asheregyardshiscountenanceasseemin'overrocky，bein'redoocedtooneeyeasIrelates，hesendsEastan'getsaglasseye。Thisain'twhereCape'stechnical'tiesabouthislookstrailsin，however；an'，ifhehadpausedtharinhisrehabilitations，Boggsallersputituphe'da-
　　foundnofault。ButCapenoticesthatabouttenthdrinktimehisshore-enougheyebeginsfortoshowupbloodshot，an'isabadmatefortheglasseye，thesamebein'onaffectedbydrink。SowhatdoesCapedobuthaveabloodshoteyemade，an'takestopackin'thesameonhispersonconstant。AsCapedrinkshisfortydropsallcommodious，hesorto'keepstabsonhimse'finthelookin'glassbackofthebar；an'whenthegoodeyecommencestoturnredwiththemlibationshe'scountin'intothecorral，heupsan'shiftshisbresh；digsoutthewhiteeyean'plantsthedrunkeneyeintheplace。
　　"Shore!noneofuscaresexceptDanBoggs；butDanfeelsittothatextent，it'sallColonelSterettan'DocPeetsan'OldManEnrightcando，addedtoDan'sbein'bynacheraborngentthata-way，tokeepDanfrommentionin'ittooldCape。
　　"'Agentwhocomesfromagoodfam'ly，likeyou-all，'saysOldManEnrighttoDan，sorto'soothin'ofhim，'oughterberemovedabovemakin'commentsonporeoldCapeshiftin'hisoptics。Troo!it'saweakness，butwhereisthesportwhohasn'tweaknesseslikewise。
　　Whichyou-allisamightysighttoonesideofbein'perfectyourse'f，Dan，an'yetwedon'tgo'roundbreakin'theinformationoffinyoueverytinicyoumakesaqueerplay。An'youmustb'arwithCape，an'themcapricesofhis。'"'Iain'tdenyin'nothin'，'
　　declar'sDan。'I'mthelastlonghorninWolfvilletoberevilin'oldCape，an'refoosin'himhisplainAmericanrighttogopirootin'
　　'roundamonghiseyesassuitshistaste。ButI'mamightynervousmanthata-way，an'Capeknows，oroughterknow，how，asIstates，I'mnacherallyallonstrung，an'thathiscarryin'sonwiththemeyesgivesmethefantods。Onderallthecircumstances，Iclaimshisconductisornery，an'notwhatainvalidlikemehasarighttoexpect。'
　　"No；Danneversaysnothin'toCape；ordoesanythin''cepttalktoEnrightan'therestofusabouthowhecan'tstandCapeshiftin'
　　themeyes。An'itain'taffectationonthepartofDan；heshorelyfeelsthemshifts。Manyatime，whenit'sgotoberedeyetimewithCape，an'asthelatterisscroop'louslymakin'saidtransfers，haveIbeheldDanariseinsilentagony，an'gotobitehunksoutenapineshelfthatisbuiltontheRedLightwall。
　　"'WhichthatorneryCape，'saysDan，ashepicksthesplintersfromhismouthaftersechexercises，'woulddrivemeaslocoedasacoyoteifIdon'ttakerefoogeinsomesechplaylikethat。'
　　"But，asIsu'gestsaboutthisterm'ornery；'itdependsalotonwhousesit，an'whatfor。NowDanneverreferstooldCapeexceptas'ornery；'whileEnrightan'therestofusseesnothin'fromsodatohockinCape，doorin'themfewmonthshemingleswithus，whichmeritssechobloquys。
　　"No；orneryisawordthatmeanswhatitsaysan'isshoredeescriptif。Coyotesisornery，sheepisornery；an'themlow-flunghoomanswhoherdssheepisornery，speshul。Ofcourse，thetermhasmisapplications；asanextremecase，I'veevenheardign'ranttenderfeetwhoalloodestothewholeWestas'ornery。'Butthemfolksistoodebasedan'toodarkenedtodemandcomments。"
　　"YouareveryloyaltotheWest，"Iremarked。
　　"WhichIshorelyoughterbe，"retortedtheoldgentleman。"TheWesthasbeensomeloyaltome。Troo!itstandstoreasonthatapartyfreshfromtheEast，wherethehornshasbeenknockedoffeneverythin'fortwoorthreehundredyears，an'conditionsgenialisassoftasagoose-ha'rpillow，isgoin'tonoticesometurgidchangeswhenhelandsinArizona。Butashorthorn，thata-way，shouldreservehisjedgmenttillhegetsacquainted，orgetslynched，orotherwiseexperiencestheWestinitstroocolors。WhileArizona，forspeciment，don'tgoupan'putherarmsabouttheneckofeverytoweristthatcomeschargin'intocamp，herfailuretoperformsaidritesarisesratherfromdignitythanhauteur。Arizonadon'tputondog；butshehasherse'f-respectin'ways，an'standsapathandontowerists。
　　"IfIwascalledontolayoutasystemtoguideatenderfootwhoisconsiderin'onmakin'Arizonahishome-camp，I'dadvisehimtomakehisdeboointhatterritoryinasperitofca'man'silentse'f-
　　reliance。SechagentmightresideinWolfville，saythreemonths。
　　Hemightmeethercitizens，buckherfaro-banks，drinkhernose-
　　paint，shakeahilarioushoofinherhurdygurdies，askforhisletters，orchangeinwhateversumsseemsmeettohimattheNewYorkStoreforshirts。Also，hemightcomebuttin'alongintotheO。
　　K。Restaurawthreetimesadaywiththebalanceoftheband，an'
　　MissisRuckerwouldshorelyturnhergrub-gameforhim，forthelimitifhesopleased。Butstill，mostlikelyeverygentincampwouldmaintaindoorin'hisnovitiateadecentdistancewiththisyerestranger；theywouldn'tonbucklean'bedrunkwithhimfreean'
　　sociallike，an'withthebridleoff，likepardswhohascrossedtheplainstogetheran'seenextremes。Allthis，withachillontoit，atenderfootwouldfindhimse'fag'instforthefirstfewmonthsinWolfville。
　　"An'yet，mysteertohimwouldbenottogetdiscouraged。Thecamp'ssizin'himup；that'sall。Ifheperseveres，ca'man'
　　c'llectedlikeIstates，alongthetrailofhisdestiny，he'llshorecomewinneronthedeal。Attheendofthreemonths，ormebbyinonusualcasesfourmonths，jestasthisyeremaverickisgoin'intothedancehall，ormebbytheRedLight，somegentwillchunkhimoneinthebackwithhisshetfistan'say，'Howbeyou？Youdouble-
　　dealin'，cattle-stealin'，foogitivesonofamurdererin'hoss-thief，howbeyou？'
　　"Now，rightthariswharthisyereshorthornwantstomaintainhispresenceofmind。Hedon'twanttogomakin'novainplaysforhissix-shooter，orindulgeinnosourranikabooretorts。Thatgentlikeshim。WithWolfvillesocialconditions，thisyeregreetin'iswhatyousportswhocomesfromthefarNo'thcalls'thebeginnin'ofthethaw。Theiceisbreakin'up；an'ifourcandidatesetsinhissaddlesteadyan'withwisdomatthisback-thumpin'，name-callin'
　　epock，an'don'ttaketomillin''roundfortrouble，intwominuteshiman'thatgregar'ousgentwho'saccostedhimisdrinkin'an'
　　fraternizin'togetherliketwostagehold-upsinastrangecamp。TheWestain'tornery；she'ssimplyreservedawholelot。
　　"Mightylikelynow，"continuedmyfriend，followingaprofoundpausewhichwascomfortablyfilledwithpeachandhoney；"it'smightylikelynow，comin'downtofolks，thatthemostornerypartyIeverknowsisCurlyBen。ThisyereBeniskilled，final；clownedbyoldCaptainMoon。Thar'sastrangecircumstanceattendin'，asthepaperssay，theobliterationofthisCurlyBen，an'itmakesaheapofanimpressiononmeatthetime。Itshowshowtheinstincttodothings，thatabentisallerscarryin''roundinhismind，getssorto'locatedinhisnervesmebby，an'he'lldo'emwithouthisintellectsridin'herdontheplay——do'emlikeCurlyBendoes，afterhislightisoutcomplete。
　　"ThisyereiswhatI'mtrailin'upto:WhenCaptainMoonfetchesCurlyBenthattime，Curlyisplayin'kyards。He'sjestdealin'，when，onbeknowntohim，MooncomesInjunin'upfromther'arsurreptitious，an'drillsCurlyBenthroughthehead；an'thebulletbein'a'45Colt's——forMoonain'ttoyin'withCurlyan'meansbusiness——goesplumbthroughan'emergesfromonderCurlyBen'soffeye。Forthatmatter，itbreaksthearmofapartywho'splayin'
　　opp'sitetoCurly，an'whoisskinnin'hispasteboardsatthetime，thinkin'nothin'ofwar。Whichthequeerpartisthis:Curly，asI
　　states——an'heneverknowswhathitshim，an'isasdeadasSantaAnnainamoment——isdealin'thekyards。He'sgotthedeckinhishands。An'yet，whenthepublicpicksCurlyoffthefloor，he'spulledhistwoguns，an'hasgotonecocked。Nowwhatdoyou——alldeemofthatfortheworkin'ofaleft-overimpulsewhenagentisdead？
　　"But，asIremarksyeretofore，CurlyBenisthemostornerypersonI
　　everovertakes，an'thefeelin'softhecampisinnowiselaidwastewhenMoonaddshimtothelistthattimeintheRedLightbar。It'sthisa-way:
　　"It'saboutamonthbefore，whenCaptainMoonan'hisnephy，withtwo8-muleteamsandfourbigthree-an'-a-halfBainwagons，twoleadan'twotrailtheybe，comesfreightin'outofSilverCitywiththeireyesonWolfville。It'sthefourthnightout，an'they'recampednearaInjunagency。Aboutmidnightahalfdozenofthebuckscomesscoutin''roundtheircamp，allowin'toamoralcertaintythey'llseewhat'sloosean'littleenoughfor'emtopull。Theaboriginesmakestheerrorofgoin'upthewindfromMoon'smules，whichisgrazin'aboutwithhobbleson，an'themsagaciousanamilesactooallyhasfits。It'safact，ifyouwanttoseeamulegoplumbintotheairan'remain，jestlethimgetagood，ample，onmistakablesmellofaInjun!Itsimplyonhingeshisreason；heain'tnomoreresponsiblethanacimmaronsheep。No，itain'tthatthesavageisouttodoanythingoncommontothemule；it'smerelyoneofthemule'silloosions，asI'vetoldyouoncebefore。Jestthesame，ifthemInjunsiscomin'tobraidhistailan'braidittight，thatmulecouldn'tfeelmorefrantic。
　　"Whentheseyerefaithfulmulestakestosurgin'aboutthesceneontwofeet，Moon'snephygrabsaWinchesteran'pumpsaloadorsointothedarknessforgen'ralresults。An'hehasaheapofluck。HeshorelystopsoneofthemApachesinhislopin'up，an'downthelandforgoodan'all。
　　"InlessthannotimethewholetribeisdownonCaptainMoonan'
　　hisnephy，demandin'blood。Thar'splentyofsomesortsofwisdomaboutasavage，an'theseyereApachesain'trunnin'rightinonMoonan'hisrelatifneither。TheywasperfeeklyfamiliarwiththeaccoomulationofcartridgesinaWinchester，an'tharforegoesaboutthestirrin'upofMoonan'thatnepbyplumbwary。
　　"Moonan'theboygoesinbetweenthewagons，blazin'an'bangin'
　　awayatwhatevermovesormakesanoise；an'asthey'vebeenallthroughsechfestivalsbefore，theyregyardstheirfinalchancestobeasgoodasanevenbreak，orbetter。
　　"WhilethemApachesisdodgin'aboutamongtherocks，an'howlin'
　　contempt，an'passin'resolootionsofrevengetouchin'thetwoMoons，theInjunagentcomestroopin'along。Heseekstoround-uphissavagesan'herd'embacktotheagency。TheApaches，ontheirside，isdemandin'thecaptureofthenephyMoonforsp'ilin'oneoftheiryoungmen。
　　"TheagentisaprairiedogjestoutfromtheEast，an'don'tknowhalfasmuchaboutwhat'sgoin'oninsideofaApacheasahornedtoad。Hecomesdowntotheaigeofhostil'ties，asyou-allmightcallit，an'makesMoonan'hisWinchesterworkin'nephyaspeech。
　　Headdresses'emawholelotontheenormityofdownin'Apacheswhogoesprowlin'aboutan'scarin'upyourmulesatmidnight，inwhatthisyerewitlessagentcallsa'motifofchildishcur'osity，'an'
　　hewindsupthepowwowwithdemandin'thesurrenderofthe'hom'cide。'
　　"'Surrendernothin'!'saysCaptainMoon。'YoutellyourInjunstolineoutfortheircamp；an'don'tyouyourse'fgettoozealousneitheran'cometooclost，orasshoreasIcastsmyfirstvoteforMattyVanBuren，I'llplugyouplumbcenter。'
　　"Butthenephy，hethinksdifferent。InspiteofCaptainMoon'sprotests，hegiveshimse'fuptotheagentonthepromiseofprotection。
　　"'You'regone，lad，'saysMoon，whenthenephyinsistsonyieldin'；
　　'youwon'tlastaslongasapintofwhiskeyinafive-handpokergame。'