“CourseIexpecttothinkdifferentwhenmyageisdifferent。I’mhavin’thethoughtspropertotwenty-four，andyou’rehavin’thethoughtspropertosixty。“
　　“Fifty！“shriekedUncleHughey，jumpingintheair。
　　TheSouthernertookatoneofself-reproach。“Now，howcouldI
　　forgetyouwasfifty，“hemurmured，“whenyouhavebeentellingittotheboyssocarefulforthelasttenyears！“
　　Haveyoueverseenacockatoo——thewhitekindwiththetop-knot——enragedbyinsult？Thebirderectseveryavailablefeatheruponitsperson。SodidUncleHugheyseemtoswell，clothes，mustache，andwoollywhitebeard；andwithoutfurtherspeechhetookhimselfonboardtheEastboundtrain，whichnowarrivedfromitssidingintimetodeliverhim。
　　Yetthiswasnotwhyhehadnotgoneawaybefore。Atanytimehecouldhaveescapedintothebaggage-roomorwithdrawntoadignifieddistanceuntilhistrainshouldcomeup。Buttheoldmanhadevidentlygotasortofjoyfromthisteasing。Hehadreachedthatinevitableagewhenwearetickledtobelinkedwithaffairsofgallantry，nomatterhow。
　　WithhimnowtheEast-bounddepartedslowlyintothatdistancewhenceIhadcome。Istaredafteritasitwentitswaytothefarshoresofcivilization。Itgrewsmallintheunendinggulfofspace，untilallsignofitspresencewasgonesaveafaintskeinofsmokeagainsttheeveningskyAndnowmylosttrunkcamebackintomythoughts，andMedicineBowseemedalonelyspot。Asortofshiphadleftmemaroonedinaforeignocean；thePullmanwascomfortablysteaminghometoport，whileI——howwasItofindJudgeHenry’sranch？WhereinthisunfeaturedwildernesswasSunkCreek？NocreekoranywateratallflowedherethatIcouldperceive。Myhosthadwrittenheshouldmeetmeatthestationanddrivemetohisranch。ThiswasallthatIknew。Hewasnothere。Thebaggage-manhadnotseenhimlately。Theranchwasalmostcertaintobetoofartowalkto，to-night。Mytrunk——I
　　discoveredmyselfstillstaringdolefullyafterthevanishedEast-bound；andatthesameinstantIbecameawarethatthetallmanwaslookinggravelyatme，——asgravelyashehadlookedatUncleHugheythroughouttheirremarkableconversation。
　　Toseehiseyethusfixingmeandhisthumbstillhookedinhiscartridge-belt，certaintalesoftravellersfromthesepartsforcedthemselvesdisquietinglyintomyrecollection。NowthatUncleHugheywasgone，wasItotakehisplaceandbe，forinstance，invitedtodanceontheplatformtothemusicofshotsnicelyaimed？
　　“IreckonIamlookingforyou，seh，“thetallmannowobserved。
　　Wecannotseeourselvesasotherseeus，orIshouldknowwhatappearanceIcutathearingthisfromthetallman。Isaidnothing，feelinguncertain。
　　“IreckonIamlookingforyou，seh，“herepeatedpolitely。
　　“IamlookingforJudgeHenry，“Inowreplied。
　　Hewalkedtowardme，andIsawthatinincheshewasnotagiant。
　　Hewasnotmorethansixfeet。ItwasUncleHugheythathadmadehimseemtotower。Butinhiseye，inhisface，inhisstep，inthewholeman，theredominatedasomethingpotenttobefelt，I
　　shouldthink，bymanorwoman。
　　“TheJudgesentmeaftehyou，seh，“henowexplained，inhiscivilSouthernvoice；andhehandedmealetterfrommyhost。HadInotwitnessedhisfacetiousperformanceswithUncleHughey，I
　　shouldhavejudgedhimwhollyungiftedwithsuchpowers。Therewasnothingexternalabouthimbutwhatseemedthesignsofanatureasgraveasyoucouldmeet。ButIhadwitnessed；andthereforesupposingthatIknewhiminspiteofhisappearance，thatIwas，sotospeak，inhissecretandcouldgivehimasortofwink，Iadoptedatonceamethodofeasiness。Itwassopleasanttobeeasywithalargestranger，whoinsteadofshootingatyourheelshadverycivillyhandedyoualetter。
　　“You’refromoldVirginia，Itakeit？“Ibegan。
　　Heansweredslowly，“Thenyouhavetakenitcorrect，seh。“
　　Aslightchillpassedovermyeasiness，butIwentcheerilyonwithafurtherinquiry。“FindmanyodditiesoutherelikeUncleHughey？“
　　“Yes，seh，thereisarightsmartofodditiesaround。Theycomeinoneverytrain。“
　　AtthispointIdroppedmymethodofeasiness。
　　“Iwishthattrunkscameonthetrain，“saidI。AndItoldhimmypredicament。
　　Itwasnottobeexpectedthathewouldbegreatlymovedatmyloss；buthetookitwithnocommentwhatever。“We’llwaitintownforit，“saidhe，alwaysperfectlycivil。
　　Now，whatIhadseenof“town“was，tomynewlyarrivedeyes，altogetherhorrible。IfIcouldpossiblysleepattheJudge’sranch，Ipreferredtodoso。
　　“Isittoofartodrivethereto-night？“Iinquired。
　　Helookedatmeinapuzzledmanner。
　　“Forthisvalise，“Iexplained，“containsallthatIimmediatelyneed；infact，Icoulddowithoutmytrunkforadayortwo，ifitisnotconvenienttosend。Soifwecouldarrivetherenottoolatebystartingatonce——“Ipaused。
　　“It’stwohundredandsixty-threemiles，“saidtheVirginian。
　　Tomyloudejaculationhemadenoanswer，butsurveyedmeamomentlonger，andthensaid，“Supperwillbeaboutreadynow。“
　　Hetookmyvalise，andIfollowedhisstepstowardtheeating-houseinsilence。Iwasdazed。
　　Aswewent，Ireadmyhost’sletter——abriefhospitablemessage。
　　Hewasverysorrynottomeetmehimself。Hehadbeengettingreadytodriveover，whenthesurveyorappearedanddetainedhim。
　　Thereforeinhissteadhewassendingatrustworthymantotown，whowouldlookaftermeanddrivemeover。Theywerelookingforwardtomyvisitwithmuchpleasure。Thiswasall。
　　Yes，Iwasdazed。Howdidtheycountdistanceinthiscountry？
　　Youspokeinaneighborlyfashionaboutdrivingovertotown，anditmeant——Ididnotknowyethowmanydays。Andwhatwouldbemeantbytheterm“droppingin，“Iwondered。Andhowmanymileswouldbeconsideredreallyfar？Iabstainedfromfurtherquestioningthe“trustworthyman。“Myquestionshadnotfaredexcessivelywell。Hedidnotproposemakingmedance，tobesure:
　　thatwouldscarcelybetrustworthy。Butneitherdidheproposetohavemefamiliarwithhim。Whywasthis？WhathadIdonetoelicitthatveiledandskilfulsarcasmaboutodditiescominginoneverytrain？Havingbeensenttolookafterme，hewoulddoso，wouldevencarrymyvalise；butIcouldnotbejocularwithhim。Thishandsome，ungrammaticalsonofthesoilhadsetbetweenusthebarofhiscoldandperfectcivility。Nopolishedpersoncouldhavedoneitbetter。Whatwasthematter？Ilookedathim，andsuddenlyitcametome。Ifhehadtriedfamiliaritywithmethefirsttwominutesofouracquaintance，Ishouldhaveresentedit；bywhatright，then，hadItrieditwithhim？Itsmackedofpatronizing:onthisoccasionhehadcomeoffthebettergentlemanofthetwo。HereinfleshandbloodwasatruthwhichI
　　hadlongbelievedinwords，butnevermetbefore。ThecreaturewecallaGENTLEMANliesdeepintheheartsofthousandsthatarebornwithoutchancetomastertheoutwardgracesofthetype。
　　Betweenthestationandtheeating-houseIdidadealofstraightthinking。Butmythoughtsweredestinedpresentlytobedrownedinamazementattherarepersonageintowhosesocietyfatehadthrownme。
　　Town，astheycalledit，pleasedmetheless，thelongerIsawit。Butuntilourlanguagestretchesitselfandtakesinanewwordofcloserfit，townwillhavetodoforthenameofsuchaplaceaswasMedicineBow。Ihaveseenandsleptinmanylikeitsince。Scatteredwide，theylitteredthefrontierfromtheColumbiatotheRioGrande，fromtheMissouritotheSierras。
　　Theylaystark，dottedoveraplanetoftreelessdust，likesoiledpacksofcards。Eachwassimilartothenext，asoneoldfive-spotofclubsresemblesanother。Houses，emptybottles，andgarbage，theywereforeverofthesameshapelesspattern。Moreforlorntheywerethanstalebones。Theyseemedtohavebeenstrewntherebythewindandtobewaitingtillthewindshouldcomeagainandblowthemaway。Yetsereneabovetheirfoulnessswamapureandquietlight，suchastheEastneversees；theymightbebathingintheairofcreation’sfirstmorning。Beneathsunandstarstheirdaysandnightswereimmaculateandwonderful。
　　MedicineBowwasmyfirst，andItookitsdimensions，twenty-ninebuildingsinall，——onecoalshute，onewatertank，thestation，onestore，twoeating-houses，onebilliardhall，twotool-houses，onefeedstable，andtwelveothersthatforonereasonandanotherIshallnotnameYetthiswretchedhuskofsqualorspentthoughtuponappearances；manyhousesinitworeafalsefronttoseemasiftheyweretwostorieshigh。Theretheystood，rearingtheirpitifulmasqueradeamidafringeofoldtincans，whileattheirverydoorsbeganaworldofcrystallight，alandwithoutend，aspaceacrosswhichNoahandAdammightcomestraightfromGenesis。Intothatspacewentwanderingaroad，overahillanddownoutofsight，andupagainsmallerinthedistance，anddownoncemore，anduponcemore，strainingtheeyes，andsoaway。
　　ThenIheardafellowgreetmyVirginian。Hecamerollickingoutofadoor，andmadeapasswithhishandattheVirginian’shat。
　　TheSouthernerdodgedit，andIsawoncemorethetigerundulationofbody，andknewmyescortwasheoftheropeandthecorral。
　　“Howareyu’Steve？“hesaidtotherollickingman。AndinhistoneIheardinstantlyoldfriendshipspeaking。WithStevehewouldtakeandgivefamiliarity。
　　Stevelookedatme，andlookedaway——andthatwasall。Butitwasenough。InnocompanyhadIeverfeltsomuchanoutsider。YetI
　　likedthecompany，andwishedthatitwouldlikeme。
　　“Justcometotown？“inquiredSteveoftheVirginian。
　　“Beenheresincenoon。Beenwaitingforthetrain。“
　　“Goingoutto-night？“
　　“IreckonI’llpulloutto-morro’。“
　　“Bedsarealltook，“saidSteve。Thiswasformybenefit。
　　“Dearme，“saidI。
　　“ButIguessoneofthemdrummerswillletyu’doubleupwithhim。“Stevewasenjoyinghimself，Ithink。Hehadhissaddleandblankets，andbedswerenothingtohim。
　　“Drummers，arethey？“askedtheVirginian。
　　“TwoJewshandlingcigars，oneAmericanwithconsumptionkiller，andaDutchmanwithjew’lry。“
　　TheVirginiansetdownmyvalise，andseemedtomeditate。“Ididwantabedto-night，“hemurmuredgently。
　　“Well，“Stevesuggested，“theAmericanlookslikehewashedtheoftenest。“
　　“That’sofnoconsequencetome，“observedtheSoutherner。
　　“Guessit’llbewhenyu’see’em。“
　　“Oh，I’mmeaningsomethingdifferent。Iwantedabedtomyself。“
　　“Thenyou’llhavetobuildone。“
　　“Betyu’IhavetheDutchman’s。“
　　“Takeamanthatwon’tscare。Betyu’drinksyu’can’thavetheAmerican’s。“
　　“Goyu’saidtheVirginian。“I’llhavehisbedwithoutanyfuss。
　　Drinksforthecrowd。“
　　“Isupposeyouhavemebeat，“saidSteve，grinningathimaffectionately。“You’resuchason-of-a——whenyougetdowntowork。Well，solong！Igottofixmyhorse’shoofs。“
　　Ihadexpectedthatthemanwouldbestruckdown。HehadusedtotheVirginianatermofheaviestinsult，Ithought。IhadmarvelledtohearitcomesounheraldedfromSteve’sfriendlylips。AndnowImarvelledstillmore。Evidentlyhehadmeantnoharmbyit，andevidentlynooffencehadbeentaken。Usedthus，thislanguagewasplainlycomplimentary。Ihadsteppedintoaworldnewtomeindeed，andnoveltieswereoccurringwithscarceanytimetogetbreathbetweenthem。AstowhereIshouldsleep，Ihadforgottenthatproblemaltogetherinmycuriosity。WhatwastheVirginiangoingtodonow？Ibegantoknowthatthequietofthismanwasvolcanic。
　　“Willyouwashfirst，sir？“
　　Wewereatthedooroftheeating-house，andhesetmyvaliseinside。InmytenderfootinnocenceIwaslookingindoorsforthewashingarrangements。
　　“It’southyeh，seh，“heinformedmegravely，butwithstrongSouthernaccent。Internalmirthseemedoftentoheightenthelocalflavorofhisspeech。Therewereothertimeswhenithadscarceanyspecialaccentorfaultingrammar。
　　Atroughwastomyright，slipperywithsoapywater；andhangingfromarolleraboveoneendofitwasaragofdiscouragingappearance。TheVirginiancaughtit，anditperformedonewhirlingrevolutiononitsroller。Notadryorcleaninchcouldbefoundonit。Hetookoffhishat，andputhisheadinthedoor。
　　“Yourtowel，ma’am，“saidhe，“hasbeentoopopular。“
　　Shecameout，aprettywoman。Hereyesresteduponhimforamoment，thenuponmewithdisfavor；thentheyreturnedtohisblackhair。
　　“Theallowanceisoneaday，“saidshe，veryquietly。“Butwhenfolksareparticular——“Shecompletedhersentencebyremovingtheoldtowelandgivingacleanonetous。
　　“Thankyou，ma’am，“saidthecow-puncher。
　　Shelookedoncemoreathisblackhair，andwithoutanywordreturnedtoherguestsatsupper。
　　Apailstoodinthetrough，almostempty；andthishefilledformefromawell。Therewassomesoapslidingatlargeinthetrough，butIgotmyown。AndtheninatinbasinIremovedasmanyofthestainsoftravelasIwasable。ItwasnotmuchofatoiletthatImadeinthisfirstwash-troughofmyexperience，butithadtosuffice，andItookmyseatatsupper。