Gunman'sReckoningMaxBrand

Published:1921Categorie(s):Fiction,WesternsSource:http://www.gutenberg.org

AboutBrand:Frederick Schiller Faust (May 29, 1892 -May 12, 1944)was anAmerican

fiction author known primarily for his thoughtful and literaryWesterns. Faustwrote mostly under pen names, and today is primarily known by one, MaxBrand. Others include George Owen Baxter, George Evans, David Manning,JohnFrederick,PeterMorland,GeorgeChallis,andFrederickFrost.Faustwasborn inSeattle toGilbertLeanderFaustandElizabeth (Uriel)Faust,whobothdiedsoonafter.HegrewupincentralCaliforniaandlaterworkedasacowhandon one of the many ranches of the San Joaquin Valley. Faust attended theUniversity of California, Berkeley, where he began to write prolifically forstudentpublications,poetrymagazines,andoccasionallynewspapers.Hedidnotattain a degree, as he was deemed a troublemaker, and began to travelextensively.He joined theCanadianArmy in1915,butdeserted thenextyearandwenttoNewYorkCity.Duringthe1910s,Fauststartedtosellstoriestothepulp magazines of Frank Munsey, including All-Story Weekly and ArgosyMagazine.When theUnitedStates joinedWorldWar I in1917,Faust tried toenlistbutwasturneddown.HemarriedDorothySchilligin1917,andthecouplehad three children. In the 1920s, Faustwrote extensively for pulpmagazines,especially Street & Smith’s Western Story Magazine, a weekly for which hewouldwriteoveramillionwordsayearinfictionpublishedundervariouspennames,with often two serials and a short novel in a single issue. In 1921 hesufferedasevereheartattack,andfor therestofhis lifesufferedfromchronicheart disease. His love for mythology was, however, a constant source ofinspiration forhis fictionandhisclassicaland literary inclinationsareperhapspart of the reason for his success at genre fiction.The classical influences arecertainlynoticeableinhisstories,manyofwhichwouldinspirefilms.HecreatedtheWesterncharacterDestry,featuredinseveralfilmedversionsofDestryRidesAgain, and his character Dr. Kildare was adapted to motion pictures, radio,television,andcomicbooks.Beginning in1934Faustbeganpublishingfictioninupscaleslickmagazinesthatpaidbetterthanpulpmagazines.In1938,duetopolitical events inEurope,Faust returnedwithhis family to theUnitedStates,settlinginHollywood,workingasascriptwriterforanumberoffilmstudios.AtonepointWarnerBrotherswaspayinghim$3,000aweek(atatimewhenthatmight be a year’s salary for an averageworker), and hemade a fortune fromMGM’suseoftheDr.Kildarestories.Hewasoneofthehighestpaidwritersofthattime.Ironically,Faustdisparagedhiscommercialsuccessandusedhisownnameonlyforthepoetrythatheregardedashistruevocation.WhenWorldWarIIbrokeout,Faustinsistedondoinghispart,anddespitebeingwellintomiddleage and a heart conditionmanaged to become a front linewar correspondent.

Faustwasquitefamousatthispointandthesoldiersenjoyedhavingthispopularauthor among them. While traveling with American soldiers as they battledGermansinItaly,Faustwasmortallywoundedbyshrapnelanddiedin1944.Hewas personally commended for bravery by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.Faust managed a massive outpouring of fiction, rivaling Edgar Wallace andespeciallyIsaacAsimovasoneofthemostprolificauthorsofalltime.Hewrotemore than 500 novels for magazines and almost as many stories of shorterlength.His total literary output is estimated to have been between 25,000,000and 30,000,000 words. Most of his books and stories were turned out atbreakneck rate, sometimes as quickly as 12,000 words in the course of aweekend. New books based on magazine serials or unpublished continue toappearso thathehasaveragedanewbookeveryfourmonthsforseventy-fiveyears.Beyondthis,someworkbyhimisnewlyreprintedeveryweekofeveryyearinoneoranotherformatsomewhereintheworld.Source:Wikipedia

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1Chapter

ThefiftyemptyfreightsdancedandrolledandrattledontheroughroadbedandfilledJerichoPasswiththunder;thebigenginewaslaboringandgruntingatthegrade,butfivecarsbackthenoiseofthelocomotivewaslost.Yetthereisawaytotalkabovethenoiseofafreighttrainjustasthereisawaytowhistleintotheteethofastiffwind.Thisfreight-cartalkispitchedjustabovetheordinarytone—itisanovertoneofconversation,onemightsay—anditisdistinctlynasal.Thebrakiecouldtalkabovetheracket,andso,ofcourse,couldLeftyJoe.Theysataboutinthecenterofthetrain,ontheforwardendofoneofthecars.Nomatterhowthetrainlurchedandstaggeredoverthatfearfulroadbed,thesetwoswayedintheirplacesaseasilyandassafelyasbirdsonswingingperches.ThebrakiehadtouchedLeftyJoefortwodollars;hehadsecuredfiftycents;andsincethevigorofLefty'soathshadconvincedhimthatthiswasallthemoneythetramphad,thetwonowsatelbowtoelbowandkilledthedistancewiththeirtalk."It'slikeoldtimestohaveyouhere,"saidthebrakie."Youusedtoplaythis

linewhenyoujumpedfromcoasttocoast.""Sure,"saidLeftyJoe,andhescowledatthemountainsoneithersideofthe

pass. The train was gathering speed, and the peaks lurched eastward in aconfused,raggedprocession."Andadurnedhardrideit'sbeenmanyatime.""Kindofqueertoseeyou,"continuedthebrakie."Heardyouwasrisinginthe

world."He caught the faceof theotherwith a rapid sideglance, butLefty Joewas

sufficientlyconcealedbythedark."Heardyouwerethemainguywithawholecrowdbehindyou,"wentonthe

brakie."Yeh?""Sure.Heardyouwasridingthecushions,andallthat.""Yeh?""ButIguessitwasallbunk;hereyouarebackagain,anyway.""Yep,"agreedLefty.Thebrakiescratchedhishead,forthesilenceofthetrampconvincedhimthat

there had been, after all, a good deal of truth in the rumor. He ran back on

anothertackandslippedaboutLefty."Inever laidmuchonwhat theysaid,"heaverred. "Iknowyou,Lefty;you

candoalot,butwhenitcomestoleadingawholegang,liketheysaidyouwas,andallthat—well,Iknewitwasalie.Usedtotell'emthat.""Youtalkedfoolish,then,"burstoutLeftysuddenly."Itwasallstraight."Thebrakiecouldheartheclickofhiscompanion'steethattheperiodtothis

statement,asthoughheregrettedhisoutburst."Well,I'llbehanged,"murmuredthebrakieinnocently.Ordinarily,Leftywasnoteasilylured,butthisnightheapparentlywasinthe

moodfortalk."KennebecLou, theClipper, andSuds.Themand a lotmore.Theywas all

withme;theywasallunderme;IwastheMainGuy!"Whataringinhisvoiceashesaidit!Thebeatengeneralspeaksthusofhis

past triumphs.Theoldmanrememberedhisyouth insuchavoice.Thebrakiewasimpressed;herepeatedthethreenames."EvenSuds?"hesaid."WasevenSudswithyou?""EvenSuds!"The brakie stirred a little, wabbling from side to side as he found a more

comfortable position; instead of looking straight before him, he kept a side-glance steadily upon his companion, and one could see that he intended torememberwhatwassaidonthisnight."EvenSuds,"echoedthebrakie."Goodheavens,andain'theamanforyou?""Hewasaman,"repliedLeftyJoewithanindescribableemphasis."Huh?""Heain'tamananymore.""Getbumpedoff?""No.Busted."Thebrakieconsideredthisbitofnewsandrolleditbackandforthandtriedits

flavoragainsthisgossipingpalate."Didyoufixhimafterheleftyou?""No.""Isee.Youbustedhimwhilehewasstillwithyou.ThenKennebecLouand

theClippergetsoreatthewayyoutreatSuds.Sohereyouarebackontheroadwithyourgangallgonebust.Hardluck,Lefty."ButLeftywhinedwithrageatthiscarelessdiagnosisofhisdownfall."You'reallwrong,"hesaid."You'reallwrong.Youdon'tknownothin'."Thebrakiewaited,grinningsecurelyintothenight,andpreparinghismindfor

thestory.Butthestoryconsistedofoneword,flungbitterlyintotherushingair."Donnegan!"

"Him?"criedthebrakie,startinginhisplace."Donnegan!"criedLefty,andhisvoicemadethewordintoacurse.Thebrakienodded."Them that get tangledwithDonnegan don't last long. You ought to know

that."At this the grief, hate, and rage in Lefty Joe were blended and caused an

explosion."ConfoundDonnegan.Who'sDonnegan?Iaskyou,who'sDonnegan?""Aguythatmakestrouble,"repliedthebrakie,evidentlyhardputtoittofind

adefinition."Oh,don'themakeit,though?Confoundhim!""Yououghttoofstayedshutofhim,Lefty.""DidIhunthimup,Iaskyou?AmIanut?No,Iain't.DoIgoalongstepping

onthetailofarattlesnake?NomoredoIlookupDonnegan."Hegroanedasheremembered."Iwasgoingfine.Nothingcouldofbeenbetter.Ihadtheboystogether.We

wasdoingsowellthatIwasridingthecushionsandIwentaroundplanningthejobs.Nice,cleanwork.Nocanstiedtoit.ButonedayIhadtomeetSudsdownintheMeritonJungle.Youknow?""I'veheard—plenty,"saidthebrakie."Oh,itain'tsobad—theMeriton.I'veseenalotworse.FoundSudsthere,and

SudswasplayingBlackJackwithanolgink.Hewas trimmin'himclose.GetSudsgoinggoodandhecouldread'emthreedownandbury'emasfastastheycameunderthebottomcard.Takesahandtodothatsortofwork.Andthat'sthesortofworkSudswasdoingfortheoldman.Prettysoonthegamewasoverandthe oldmanwas busted.He took up his pack and beat it, saying nothing andlookingsick.IstartedtalkingtoSuds."Andwhilehewas talking, alongcomesaboandgivesus aonce-over.He

knewme.'Isthishereafriendofyours,Lefty?hesays."'Sure,'saysI."'Then, he's in Dutch. He trimmed that old dad, and the dad is one of

Donnegan'spals.WaittillDonneganhearshowyourfriendmadethecardstalkwhilehewasskinningtheoldboy!"Hepassesmethewinkandgoeson.Mademesick.IturnedtoSuds,andthe

foolhadn'tbattedaneye.NeverevenheardofDonnegan.Youknowhowitis?Half the roadneverheardof it;partof the roadsdon'tknownothin'else.He'slike a jumpin tornado; hits every tenmiles and don't bend a blade of grass inbetween."TookmeaboutfiveminutestotellSudsaboutDonnegan.ThenSudsletouta

gruntandstarteddownthetrailfortheolddad.Missedhim.DadhadgotoutoftheJungleandcoppedarattler.Sudscomebackhalfgreenandhalfyeller."'I'vedoneit;I'vespilledthebeans,'hesays."'Thatain'thalfsayin'it,'saysI."Well,welitoutafterthatandbeatitdownthelineasfastaswecould.We

gottherestoftheboystogether;Ihadaswelljobplannedup.Everythingstaked.Then,thefirstnewscomethatDonneganwasafterSuds."Newsjustdroppedonusoutof thesky.Suds,youknowhowheis.Strong

bluff.Didn'tbataneye.LaughedatthisDonnegan.Gotaholdofanoldpalofhis,namedLevine,andhe isamightyhot scrapper.Fromaknife toa toenail,theywasnothingthatLevinecouldn'tuseinafight.SudssenthimouttocrossDonnegan'strail."Hecrossed it,well enough.Sudsgota telegramacoupledays later saying

thatLevinehadrunintoawildcatandwasconsiderablechawedandwouldSudssendhimastaketopaythedoctor?"Well,afterthatSudsgotsortofnervous.Didn'ttakenointerestinhiswork

nomore.Kept aweather eye outwatching for the coming ofDonnegan.Andprettysoonheupandcleanedoutofcamp."Nextday,sureenough,alongcomesDonneganandasksforSuds.Wekept

still—all but Kennebec Lou. Kennebec is some fighter himself. Two hundredpoundsofmulemusclewiththebrainofadeviltotellwhattodo—yes,youcanlay it ten to one thatKennebec is some fighter. That day he had a good edgefromabottleofryehewastryingforafriend."Hedidn'tneedtogofartofindtroubleinDonnegan.Awinkandagrinwas

all they needed for a password, and then they went at each other's throats.Kennebecmade the first pass and hit thin air; and before he got back on hisheels,Donneganhadhithimfourtimes.ThenKennebecjumpedbackandtookafreshstartwithaknife."HereLeftyJoepausedandsighed.Hecontinued,afteralonginterval:"Fiveminuteslaterwewasallbusytyin'

upwhat was left of Kennebec; Donneganwas down the roadwhistlin' like abird.Andthatwastheendofmygang.WhatwithKennebecLouandSudsbothgone,whatchancedidIhavetoholdtheboystogether?"

2Chapter

Thebrakieheardthisrecitalwiththekeenestinterest,noddingfromtimetotime."What beatsme, Lefty," he said at the end of the story, "iswhy you didn't

knifeintothefightyourselfandtakeahandwithDonnegan."At this Lefty was silent. It was rather the silence of one which cannot tell

whether or not it is worthwhile to speak than it was the silence of onewhoneedstimeforthought."I'lltellyouwhy,bo.It'sbecausewhenItakeatraillikethatitonlyhasone

endI'mgoingtobumpofftheotherbirdorhe'sgoingtobumpoffme."Thebrakieclearedhisthroat."Lookhere,"hesaid,"lookstomelikeaqueerthingthatyou'reonthistrain.""Doesit"queriedLeftysoftly"Why?""BecauseDonneganistwocarsback,asleep.""Thedevilyousay!"Thebrakiebrokeintolaughter."Don'tkidyourselfalong,"hewarned."Don'tdoit.Itain'twise—withme.""Whatyoumean?""Comeon,Lefty.Comeclean.Youbetterdoafadeoffthistrain.""Why,youfool—""Itdon'twork,Joe.Why,theminuteIseenyouIknewwhyyouwashere.I

knewyoumeanttocroakDonnegan.""Mecroakhim?WhyshouldIcroakhim?""Becauseyoubeentrailinghimtwothousandmiles.Becauseyouain'tgotthe

nervetomeethimfacetofaceandyougottosneakinandtakeacrackathimwhilehe'slyingasleep.That'syou,LeftyJoe!"HesawLeftyswaytowardhim;but,allstoriesaside,itisaveryboldtramp

thatcaresforargumentofaseriousnaturewithabrakie.AndevenLeftyJoewasdeterred from violent action. In the darkness his upper lip twitched, but hecarefullysmoothedhisvoice."Youdon'tknownothing,pal,"hedeclared."Don'tI?""Nothing,"repeatedLefty.

Hereachedintohisclothesandproducedsomethingwhichrustledintherushofwind.Hefumbled,andfinallypassedascrapofthepaperintothehandofthebrakie."Myheavens,"drawledthelatter."D'youthinkyoucanfixmewithabuckfor

a job like this? You can't bribe me to stand around while you bump offDonnegan.Can'tbedone,Lefty!""Onebuck,didyousay?"Lefty Joe expertly lighted amatch in spite of the roaringwind, andby this

wildlightthebrakiereadthedenominationofthebillwithagasp.Herolleduphis face andwas in time to catch the sneer on the faceofLeftybefore a gustsnatchedawaythelightofthematch.They had topped the highest point in Jericho Pass and now the long train

droppedintothedowngradewithterrificspeed.Thewindbecameahurricane.But to the brakie all this was nomore than a calm night. His thoughts wereraginginhim,andifhelookedbackfarenoughherememberedthedollarwhichDonnegan had given him; and how he had promised Donnegan to give thewarningbeforeanythingwentwrong.Hethoughtofthis,butrustlingagainstthepalmofhis right handwas thebillwhosedenominationhehad read, and thatfigureateintohismemory,ateintohisbrain.After allwhatwasDonnegan to him?WhatwasDonnegan but aworthless

tramp?Withoutanyanswertothatlastmonosyllabicquery,thebrakiehunchedforward,andbegantoworkhiswayupthetrain.The trampwatchedhimgowith laughter. Itwassilent laughter. In themost

quiet room it would not have sounded louder than a continual, light hissingnoise.Thenhe, in turn,moved fromhis place, andworkedhisway along thetrainintheoppositedirectiontothatinwhichthebrakiehaddisappeared.He went expertly, swinging from car to car with apelike clumsiness—and

surety.Twocarsback. Itwasnotsoeasy toreach theslidingsidedoorof thatempty car. Considering the fact that it was night, that the train was buckingfuriously over the old roadbed, Lefty had a not altogether simple task beforehim.Buthemanageditwith thesameapelikeadroitness.Hecouldclimbwithhisfeetaswellashishands.Hewouldtrustaledgeaswellashewouldtrusttherungofaladder.Underhisdiscreetmanipulationsfromabovethedoorloosenedanditbecame

possibletoworkitback.Buteventhisthetrampdidwithconsiderablecare.Hetook advantage of the lurching of the train, and every time the car jerked heforcedthedoortorollalittle,sothatitmightseemforalltheworldasthoughthemotionofthetrainalonewereoperatingit.ForsupposethatDonneganwakenedoutofhissoundsleepandobservedthe

motion of the door; he would be suspicious if the door opened in a singlecontinuedmotion;butifitworkedinthesedegreeshewouldbehypersuspiciousifhedreamedofdanger.Sothetrampgavefivewholeminutestothatwork.Whenitwasdonehewaitedforatime,anotherfiveminutes,perhaps,toseeif

thedoorwouldbemovedback.Andwhenitwasnotdisturbed,butallowedtostandopen,heknewthatDonneganstillslept.Itwas time then for action, andLefty Joe prepared for the descent into the

homeoftheenemy.Letitnotbethoughtthatheapproachedthismomentwithafallenheart,andwithacringing, snaky feelingasamanmightbeexpected tofeelwhenheapproachedtomurderasleepingfoeman.ForthatwasnotLefty'semotion at all.Ratherhewasovercomeby a tremendoushappiness.He couldhavesungwithjoyatthethoughtthathewasabouttoridhimselfofthispest.True, thegangwasbrokenup.But itmight riseagain.Donneganhad fallen

uponit likeablight.ButwithDonneganoutof thewaywouldnotSudscomeback to him instantly? And would not Kennebec Lou himself return inadmirationofamanwhohaddonewhathe,Kennebec,couldnotdo?Withthosetwoasanucleus,howgreatlymighthenotbuild!JusticemustbedonetoLeftyJoe.Heapproachedthismurderasastatesman

approachestheremovalofafoefromthepathofpublicprosperity.Therewasnomorerancorinhisattitude.Itwasrathertheblissful largenessof theheart thatcomestothepoliticianwhenheunearthsthescandalwhichwillblighttheraceofhisrival.With the peaceful smile of a child, therefore,Lefty Joe lay stretched at full

lengthalongthetopofthecarandmadehischoiceofweapons.Onthewhole,hisusualpreference,dayornight,wasforarevolver.GivehimagatandLeftywasathomeinanycompany.Buthehadreasonsfortransferringhisallianceonthisoccasion. In thefirstplace,aboxcarwhich is reelingandpitching toandfro,fromsidetoside,isnotaverygoodshootingplatform—evenforasnapshotlikeLeftyJoe.Also,thepitchdarknessinthecarwouldbeafurtherannoyancetogoodaim.Andinthethirdandmostdecisiveplace,ifheweretomisshisfirstshothewouldnotbeextremelyapttoplacehissecondbullet.ForDonneganhadareputationwithhisownrevolver.Indeed,itwassaidthatherarelycarriedtheweapon,becausewhenhedidhewasalwaystemptedtoostronglytouseit.SothatthechanceswerelargethatDonneganwouldnothavethegunnow.Yetifhedidhaveit—ifhe,Lefty,didmisshisfirstshot—thenthestorywouldbebriefandbitterindeed.On the other hand, a knife offered advantages almost too numerous to be

listed.Itgaveonethedeadlyassurancewhichonlycomeswiththeknowledgeofan edgeof steel in one's hand.Andwhen theknife reaches itsmark it ends a

battleatastroke.Ofcoursethesedoubtsandconsiderationsproandconwentthroughthemind

ofthetrampinaboutthesamespaceoftimethatitrequiresforadogtowaken,snapatafly,anddrowseagain.Eventually,hetookouthisknife.Itwasasheathknifewhichhewore fromanooseof silk aroundhis throat, and it always layclosesttohisheart.ThebladeoftheknifewasofthefinestSpanishsteel,inthedayswhenSpanishsmithsknewhowtodrawoutsteel toastreakof light; thehandleoftheknifewasfromMilan.Onthewhole,itwasadelicateandbeautifulweapon—andithadthedurablesupplenessof—say—hatreditself.LeftyJoe,likeapirateinatale,tookthisweaponbetweenhisteeth;allowed

hissquat,heavybulk toswingdownanddangleatarm's lengthforan instant,andthenheswunghimselfalittleandlandedsoftlyonthefloorofthecar.Whohasnotheardsnowdropfromthebranchuponothersnowbeneath?That

was thewayLefty Joedropped to the floorof thecar.He remainedashehadfallen;crouched,alert,withonehandspreadouton theboards tobalancehimand give him a leverage and a start in case he should wish to spring in anydirection.Thenhebegantoprobethedarknessineverydirection;witheveryglancehe

allowedhisheadtodartoutalittle.Themovementwaslikeachickenpeckingatimaginarygrainsofcorn.Buteventuallyhesatisfiedhimselfthathisquarrylayintheforwardendofthecar;thathewasprone;thathe,Lefty,hadaccomplishednine-tenthsofhispurposebyenteringtheplaceofhisenemyunobserved.

3Chapter

Buteventhoughthismajorstepwasaccomplishedsuccessfully,LeftyJoewasnot theman to abandon caution in themidst of an enterprise.The roar of thetrain would have covered sounds ten times as loud as those of his snakyapproach,yetheglidedforwardwithasmuchcareasthoughheweresteppingonold stairs in a silent house.He could see a vague shadow—Donnegan; butchieflyheworkedbythatpeculiarsenseofdirectionwhichsomepeoplepossessin a dim light. The blind, of course, have that sense in a high degree ofsensitiveness,but even thosewhoarenotblindmay learn to trust thepeculiarandinvertedsenseofdirection.Withthistoaidhim,LeftyJoewentsteadily,slowlyacrossthefirstandmost

dangerousstageofhisjourney.Thatis,hegotawayfromthesquareoftheopendoor,wherethefaintstarlightmightvaguelyservetosilhouettehisbody.Afterthis,itwaseasierwork.Of course, when he alighted on the floor of the car, the knife had been

transferredfromhisteethtohislefthand;andallduringhisprogressforwardtheknifewasbeingbalanceddelicately,asthoughhewerenotyetquitesureoftheweightof theweapon.Justasaprizefighterkeepshisdeadly,poisedhands inplay,movingthemasthoughhefearstolosehisintimatetouchwiththem.This stalking had occupied a matter of split seconds. Now Lefty Joe rose

slowly.Hewas leaningveryfar forward,andhewardedagainst therollof thecarbyspreadingouthisrighthandclosetothefloor;hislefthandhepoisedwiththeknife,andhebegantogatherhismusclesfortheleap.Hehadalreadytakenthe lastpreliminarymovement—hehadswunghimself to therightsidea littleand, lighteninghis left foot,had thrownallhisweightupon the right—infact,his bodywas literally suspended in the instant of springing, catlike,when theshadowwhichwasDonnegancametolife.The shadow convulsed as shadows are apt to swirl in a green poolwhen a

stoneisdroppedintoit;andabitofboardtwofeetlongandsomeeightincheswidecrackedagainsttheshinsofLeftyJoe.It was about the least dramatic weapon that could have been chosen under

thosecircumstances,butcertainlynootherdefensecouldhavefrustratedLefty's

springsocompletely.Insteadoflaunchingoutinacompactmasswhosepointofcontactwasthereachingknife,Leftycrawledstupidlyforwarduponhisknees,andhadtothrowouthisknifehandtosavehisbalance.Itisasingularthingtonotehowimportantbalanceistomen.Animalsfight,

asarule,justaswellontheirbacksastheydoontheirfeet.Theycanlieontheirsidesandbite;theycanswingtheirclawsevenwhiletheyaredroppingthroughtheair.Butmanneedspoiseandbalancebeforehecanact.Whatisspeedinafighter?Itisnotsomuchanaffairofthemusclesasitisthepowerofthebraintoadaptitselfinstantlytoeachnewmoveandputthebodyinastateofbalance.Intheprizeringspeeddoesnotmeantheabilitytostrikeonelightningblow,butratherthat,havingfinishedonedrive,thefighterisinpositiontohitagain,andthenagain,sothatnomatterwheretheimpetusofhislastlungehasplacedhimheisreadyandpoisedtoshootallhisweightbehindhisfistagainanddriveitaccurately at a vulnerable spot. Individually the actionsmay be slow; but theseriesofeffortsseemrapid.Thatiswhyasuperiorboxerseemstohypnotizehisantagonistwithmovementswhichtothespectatorseemperfectlyeasy,slow,andsure.But if Lefty lackedmuch in agility, he had an animallike sense of balance.

Sprawling,helpless,hesawtheconvulsedshadowthatwasDonnegantakeformas a straight shooting body that plunged through the air above him.Lefty Joedughisleftelbowintothefloorofthecarandwhirledbackuponhisshoulders,bunchinghiskneeshighoverhisstomach.Ninechancesoutoften,ifDonneganhadfallenflatwiseuponthisalertenemy,hewouldhavereceivedthosekneesinthe pit of his own stomach and instantly been paralyzed. But in the jumping,rattlingcarevenDonneganwascapableofmakingmistakes.Hismistakeinthisinstance saved his life, for springing too far, he came down not in reachingdistanceofLefty'sthroat,butwithhischestonthekneesoftheoldertramp.Asaresult,Donneganwaspromptlykickedheadoverheelsandtumbledthe

lengthofthecar.Leftywasonhisfeetandplungingafterthetumblingforminthe twinklingofaneye, literallyspeaking,andhewasonlykept fromburyinghisknifeinthefleshofhisfoebyaswayofthecarthatstaggeredhimintheactofstriking.Donnegan,thenextinstant,wasbeyondreach.Hehadstrucktheendof the car and rebounded like a ball of rubber at a tangent. He slid into theshadows,andLefty,puttinghisownshoulders to thewall, felt forhisrevolverandknewthathewaslost.Hehadfailedinhisfirstsurpriseattack,andwithoutsurprisetohelphimnowhewasgone.Heweighedhisrevolver,decidedthatitwould be madness to use it, for if he missed, Donnegan would instantly beguidedbytheflashtoshoothimfullofholes.Somethingslippedbytheopendoor—somethingthatglimmeredfaintly;and

LeftyJoeknewthatitwastheredheadofDonnegan.Donnegan,soft-footedasashadowamongshadows.Donneganonabloodtrail.ItloweredtheheartbeatofLefty Joe to a tremendous, slow pulse. In thatmoment he gave up hope and,resigninghimselftodie,determinedtofighttothelastgasp,asbecameoneofhisreputationandnationalcelebrityon"theroad."YetLeftyJoewasnocommonmanandnocommonfighter.No,lettheshade

ofRustyDick,whomLeftymetandbeat inhisgloriousprime—let thisshadeariseandspeakfortheprowessofLeftyJoe.Infactitwasbecausehewassuchagood fighter himself that he recognized his helplessness in the hands ofDonnegan.The faint glimmer of color had passed the door. Itwas dissolved in deeper

shadows at once, and soundlessly; Lefty knew that Donneganwas closer andcloser.Ofonethinghefeltmoreandmoreconfident,thatDonnegandidnothavehis

revolver with him. Otherwise, he would have used it before. For what wasdarknesstothisdevil,Donnegan.Hewalkedlikeacat,andmostlikelyhecouldsee likeacat in thedark. Instinctively theolder trampbracedhimselfwithhisrighthandheldataguardbeforehisbreastandtheknifepoisedinhisleft,justasamanwouldpreparetomeettheattackofapanther.HeeventooktoprobingthedarknessinastrangehopetocatchtheglimmeroftheeyesofDonneganashemoved to the attack. If there were a hair's breadth of light, then Donneganhimselfmustgodown.Asingleblowwoulddoit.But thedevilhad instructedhis favoriteDonneganhow to fight.Hedidnot

come lunging through the shadows tomeet thepointof thatknife. Instead,hehadworkedasnakywayalongthefloorandnowheleapedinandupatLefty,takinghimunderthearms.Adozenhands,itseemed,laidholdonLefty.Hefoughtlikeademonandtore

himselfaway,butthemultitudeofhandspursuedhim.Theyweresmallhands.Wheretheyclosedtheytoretheclothesandbitintohisveryflesh.Onceahandhadhimbythethroat,andwhenLeftyjerkedhimselfawayitwaswithafeelingthat his flesh had been seared by five points of red-hot iron.All this time hisknifewas darting; once it ripped through cloth, but never once did it find thetarget.AndhalfasecondlaterDonnegangothishold.TheflashoftheknifeasLeftyraiseditmusthaveguidedtheother.Heshothisrighthandupbehindtheleft shoulder of the other and imprisoned thewrist. Not only did itmake theknifehandhelpless,butbybearingdownwithhisownweightDonnegancouldputhisenemyinmostexquisitetorture.Foraninstanttheywhirled;thentheywentdown,andLeftywasontop.Only

for a moment. The impetus which had sent him to the floor was used by

Donnegantoturnthemover,andoncefairlyontophislefthandwasinstantlyatthethroatofLefty.TwiceLeftymadeenormousefforts,butthenhewasdone.Abouthisbodythe

limbs of Donneganwere twisted, tighteningwith incredible force; just as hotiron bands sink resistlessly into place. The strangle-hold cut away life at itssource.Oncehestrove toburyhis teeth in thearmofDonnegan.Once,as thehorrorcaughtathim,hestrovetoshriekforhelp.Allhesucceededindoingwasin raising an awful, sobbing whisper. Then, looking death in the face, Leftyplungedintothegreatdarkness.

4Chapter

Whenhewakened,hejumpedatastrideintothefullpossessionofhisfaculties.Hehadbeenplacednear theopendoor, and the rushofnightairhaddone itswork in revivinghim.ButLefty,drawnback to life, feltonlyavaguewonderthathislifehadnotbeentaken.PerhapshewasbeingreservedbythevictorforanIndiandeathoftorment.Hefeltcautiouslyandfoundthatnotonlywerehishandsfree,buthisrevolverhadnotbeentakenfromhim.Afamiliarweightwasonhischest—theveryknifehadbeenreturnedtoitssheath.HadDonnegan returned these things to showhowperfectly he despisedhis

enemy?"He'sgone!"groanedthetramp,sittingupquickly."He'shere,"saidavoicethatcuteasilythroughtheroarofthetrain."Waiting

foryou,Lefty."Thetrampwasstaggeredagain.Butthen,whohadeverbeenabletofathom

thewaysofDonnegan?"Donnegan!"hecriedwithasuddenrecklessness."Yes?""You'reafool!""Yes?""Fornotfinishingthejob."Donneganbegantolaugh.Intheuproarofthetrainitwasimpossiblereallyto

hearthesound,butLeftycaughtthepulseofit.Hefingeredhisbruisedthroat;swallowingwasapainfuleffort.Andanindescribablefeelingcameoverhimasherealizedthathesatarmedtotheteethwithinayardofthemanhewantedtokill,andyethewasaseffectivelyrenderedhelplessasthoughironshackleshadbeenlockedonhiswristsand legs.Thenight lightcamethroughthedoorway,andhecouldmakeouttheslenderoutlineofDonneganandagainhecaughtthefaint luster of that red hair; and out of the shadowy form a singular poweremanatedandsappedhisstrengthattheroot.Yethewentonviciously:"Soonerorlater,Donnegan,I'llgetyou!"TheredheadofDonneganmoved,andLeftyJoeknewthattheyoungerman

waslaughingagain.

"Whyareyouafterme?"heaskedatlength.ItwasanotherblowinthefaceofLefty.Hesatforatimeblinkingwithowlish

stupidity."Why?"heechoed.Andhespokehisastonishmentfromtheheart."Why am I after you?" he said again. "Why, confound you, ain't you

Donnegan?""Yes.""Don'tthewholeroadknowthatI'mafteryouandyouafterme?""Thewholeroadiscrazy.I'mnotafteryou."Leftychoked."Maybe I been dreaming.Maybe you didn't bust up the gang?Maybe you

didn'tcleanuponSudsandKennebec?""Suds?Kennebec?Isortofremembermeetingthem.""You sort of—the devil!" Lefty Joe sputtered the words. "And after you

cleanedupmycrowd,ain'titnaturalandgoodsenseforyoutogoonandtrytocleanuponme?""Soundslikeit.""ButIfiguredtobeatyoutoit.Icutinonyourtrail,Donnegan,andbeforeI

leaveityou'llknowalotmoreaboutme.""You'rewarningmeaheadoftime?""You'veplayedthisgamesquarewithme;I'llplaysquarewithyou.Nexttime

there'llbenoslips,Donnegan.Idunnowhyyoushouldofpickedonme,though.Justthenaturaldevilinyou.""Ihaven'tpickedonyou,"saidDonnegan."What?""I'llgiveyoumyword."A tingle ran through the blood of Lefty Joe. Somewhere he had heard, in

rumor,thatthewordofDonneganwasasgoodasgold.Herecalledthatrumornow and something of dignity in themannerwithwhichDonneganmade hisannouncementcarriedaheavyweight.Asarule, the trampsvowedwithmanyoaths;herewasoneofthenightsoftheroadwhomadehisbarewordsufficient.AndLeftyJoeheardwithgreatwonder."AllIask,"hesaid,"iswhyyouhoundedmygang,ifyouwasn'tafterme?""I didn't hound them. I ran into Suds by accident. We had trouble. Then

Levine.ThenKennebecLoutriedtotakeafalloutofme."AnoteofwhimsicalprotestcreptintothevoiceofDonnegan."Somehowthere'salwaysafightwhereverIgo,"hesaid."Fightsjustsortof

growuparoundme."LeftyJoesnarled.

"Youdidn'tmeannothingbyjust'happening'torunintothreeofmyboysoneafteranother?""Notathing."Leftyrockedhimselfbackandforthinanecstasyofimpatience."Whydon'tyoustayput?"hecomplained."Whydon'tyoustakeoutyourown

ground and stay put in it?You cut in on every guy's territory.There ain't anyprivacyanymoresinceyouhittheroad.Whatyougot?Arovingcommission?"Donneganwaitedforamomentbeforeheanswered.Andwhenhespokehis

voicehadaltered. Indeed,hehad remarkableability topitchhisvoice into theroarofthefreighttrain,andaboveorbeneathit,andgiveitaqualitysuchashepleased."I'mfollowingatrail,butnotyours,"headmittedatlength."I'mfollowinga

trail.I'vebeenatitthesetwoyearsandnothinghascomeofit.""Whoyouafter?""Amanwithredhair.""Thattellsmealot."Donneganrefusedtoexplain."Whatyougotagainsthim—thecolorofhishair?"AndLeftyroaredcontentedlyathisownstalejest."It'snogood,"repliedDonnegan."I'llnevergetonthetrail."Leftybrokein:"Youmeantosayyou'vebeenworkingtwosolidyearsandall

onatrailthatyouain'tevenfound?"Thesilenceansweredhimintheaffirmative."Ain't nobody been able to tip you off to him?" went on Lefty, intensely

interested."Nobody.Yousee,he'sahardsort todescribe.Redhair, that'sall therewas

abouthimforaclue.Butifanyoneeversawhimstrippedthey'drememberhimbyabigblotchybirthmarkonhisleftshoulder.""Eh?"gruntedLeftyJoe.Headded:"Whatwashisname?""Don'tknow.Hechangedmonikerswhenhetooktotheroad.""Whatwashetoyou?""AmanI'mgoingtofind.""Nomatterwherethetrailtakesyou?""Nomatterwhere."AtthisLeftywasseizedwithunaccountablelaughter.Heliterallystrainedhis

lungswith that Homeric outburst.When hewiped the tears from his eyes, atlength, the shadow on the opposite side of the doorway had disappeared. Hefound his companion leaning over him, and this time he could catch the dull

glintofstarlightonbothhairandeyes."Whatd'youknow?"askedDonnegan."How do you stand toward this bird with the birthmark and the red hair?"

queriedLeftywithcaution."Whatd'youknow?"insistedDonnegan.All at once passion shook him; he fastened his grip in the shoulder of the

largerman,andhisfingertipsworkedtowardthebone."Whatdoyouknow?"he repeated for the third time,andnow therewasno

hintoflaughterinthehardvoiceofLefty."Youfool,ifyoufollowthattrailyou'llgotothedevil.ItwasRustyDick;and

he'sdead!"Histriumphantlaughtercameagain,butDonnegancutintoit."RustyDickwastheoneyou—killed!""Sure.Whatofit?Wefoughtfairandsquare.""ThenRustywasn'tthemanIwant.ThemanIwantwouldofeatentwolike

you,Lefty.""Whataboutthebirthmark?Itsurewasonhisshoulder;Donnegan.""Heavens!"whisperedDonnegan."What'sthematter?""RustyDick,"gaspedDonnegan."Yes,itmusthavebeenhe.""Sureitwas.Whatdidyouhaveagainsthim?""Itwasamatterofblood—betweenus,"stammeredDonnegan.Hisvoiceroseinapeculiarmanner,sothatLeftyshrankinvoluntarily."YoukilledRusty?""Askanyoftheboys.Butbetweenyouandme,itwastheboozethatlicked

RustyDick.Ijustfinishedupthejobandsurprisedeverybody."The trainwas out of themountains and in a country of scattering hills, but

hereitstruckasteepgradeandsettleddowntoagrindofslowlabor; therailshummed,andsuspensefilledthefreightcar."Hey,"criedLeftysuddenly."Youfool,you'lldoaflopoutthedoorinabouta

minute!"He even reached out to steady the toppling figure, but Donnegan pitched

straight out into the night. Lefty craned his neck from the door, studying theroadbed,butatthatmomentthelocomotivetoppedthelittleriseandthewholetrainlurchedforward."After all,"murmuredLefty Joe, "it sounds likeDonnegan.Hated a guy so

badthathehadn'tanyuseforlivin'whenheheardtheotherguywasdead.ButI'mnevergoin'tocrosshispathagain,Ihope."

5Chapter

ButDonneganhadleapedclearoftheroadbed,andhestruckalmosttothekneesin a drift of sand. Otherwise, he might well have broken his legs with thatfoolhardychance.Asitwas,thefallwhirledhimoverandover,andbythetimehehadpickedhimselfupthelightedcabooseofthetrainwasrockingpasthim.Donneganwatcheditgrowsmall in thedistance,and then,whenitwasonlyared,uncertainstarfardownthetrack,heturnedtothevastcountryaroundhim.The mountains were to his right, not far away, but caught up behind the

shadowssothatitseemedagreatdistance.Likeallhuge,half-seenthingstheyseemedinmotiontowardhim.Fortherest,hewasinbare,rollingcountry.Theskylineeverywherewasclean;therewashardlyasignofatree.Heknew,byalittlereflection, that thismustbecattlecountry,for thebrakiehadintimatedasmuchintheirtalkjustbeforedusk.Nowitwasearlynight,andawindbegantorise, blowing down the valley with a keen motion and a rapidly lesseningtemperature, so that Donnegan saw he must get to a shelter. He could, ifnecessary, endure any privation, but his tastes were for luxurious comfort.Accordingly he considered the landscape with gloomy disapproval. He wasalmostinclinedtoregrethisplungefromthelumberingfreighttrain.Twothingshadgovernedhiminmakingthatmove.First,whenhediscoveredthatthelongtrailhefollowedwasdefinitelyfruitless,hewasfilledwithagreatdesiretocuthimselfawayfromhispastandmakeanewstart.Secondly,whenhelearnedthatRustyDickhadbeenkilledbyJoe,hewanteddesperatelytogetthethrottleofthe latter under his thumb. If ever aman risked his life to avoid a sin, itwasDonneganjumpingfromthetraintokeepfrommurder.He stooped to sight along the ground, for this is the bestway at night and

oftenhorizonlightsarerevealedinthismanner.ButnowDonnegansawnothingto serveas aguide.He thereforedrew inhisbeltuntil it fitted snugabouthisgauntwaist,settledhiscapfirmly,andheadedstraightintothewind.Nothingcouldhaveshownhischaractermoredistinctly.Whenindoubt,headintothewind.With a jaunty, swinging step he sauntered along, and this time, at least, his

tacticsfoundanearlyreward.Topping thefirst largeriseofground,hesawin

thehollowbeneathhimtheoutlineofalargebuilding.Andasheapproachedit,the wind clearing a high blowing mist from the stars, he saw a jumble ofoutlyinghouses.Sheds,barns,corrals—itwasthenucleusofabigranch.Itisamaxim that, if youwish toknowaman lookathis libraryand ifyouwish toknowarancher,lookathisbarn.Donneganmadeasmalldetourtotheleftandheadedforthelargestofthebarns.Heentered itby thebig, slidingdoor,which stoodopen;he lookedup, and

sawthestarsshiningthroughagapintheroof.Andthenhestoodquietlyforatime, listening to the voices of the wind in the ruin. Oddly enough, it waspleasant toDonnegan. His own troubles and sorrow had poured upon him sothicklyinthepasthourorsothatitwassoothingtofindevidenceofthedistressofothers.Butperhapsthismeantthattheentireestablishmentwasdeserted.Heleftthebarnandwenttowardthehouse.Notuntilhewascloseunderits

walldidhecometoappreciateitssize.Itwasoneofthosegreat,rambling,two-storied structures which the cattle kings of the past generation were fond ofbuilding.Standingclosetoit,heheardnoneoftheintimatesoundsofthestormblowingthroughcracksandbrokenwalls;nomatterintowhatdisrepairthebarnshad fallen, the housewas still solid; only about the edges of the building thestormkeptmurmuring.Yettherewasnotalight,neitherabovenorbelow.Hecametothefrontofthe

house.Stillnosignoflife.Hestoodatthedoorandknockedloudlyuponit,andthough,whenhetriedtheknob,hefoundthatthedoorwaslatched,yetnoonecame in response. He knocked again, and putting his ear close he heard theechoeswalkthroughtheinteriorofthebuilding.Afterthis, thewindroseinsuddenstrengthanddeafenedhimwithrattlings;

abovehim,ashutterwasswungopenandthencrashedto,sothattheopeningofthedoorwasashockofsurprisetoDonnegan.Adimlightfromasourcewhichhecouldnotdirectsuffusedthe interiorof thehall; thedoor itselfwasworkedopenamatterofinchesandDonneganwasawareoftwokeenoldeyesglitteringoutathim.Beyondthishecoulddistinguishnothing."Whoareyou?"askedawoman'svoice."Andwhatdoyouwant?""I'mastranger,andIwantsomethingtoeatandaplacetosleep.Thishouse

looksasifitmighthavesparerooms.""Whered'youcomefrom?""Yonder,"saidDonnegan,withasufficientlynoncommittalgesture."What'syourname?""Donnegan.""Idon'tknowyou.Beoffwithyou,Mr.Donnegan!"Heinsertedhisfootintheclosingcrackofthedoor.

"TellmewhereI'mtogo?"hepersisted.Atthishervoiceroseinpitch,withsqueakyrage."I'llraisethehouseonyou!""Raise'em.Calldownthemanofthehouse.IcantalktohimbetterthanIcan

toyou;butIwon'twalkofflikethis.Ifyoucanfeedme,I'llpayyouforwhatIeat."Ashrillcackling—hecouldnotmakeoutthewords.Andsincepatiencewas

not the first of Donnegan's virtues, he seized on the knob of the door anddeliberately pressed it wide. Standing in the hall, now, and closing the doorslowlybehindhim,hesawawomanwithold,keeneyesshrinkingawaytowardthestaircase.Shewasevidentlyingreatfear,buttherewassomethinginfinitelymaliciousinthemannerinwhichshekeptworkingherlipssoundlessly.Shewasshrinking,andhalfturnedaway,yettherewasasuggestionthatinaninstantshemightwhirlandflyathisface.Thedoornowclicked,andwiththewindstormshutawayDonneganhadaqueerfeelingofbeingtrapped."Nowcall themanof thehouse,"he repeated."See if Ican'tcome to terms

withhim.""He'dmakeshortworkofyouifhecame,"shereplied.Shebrokeintoashrill

laughter,andDonneganthoughthehadneverseenafacesougly."Ifhecame,"shesaid,"you'druetheday.""Well, I'll talk toyou, then. I'mnotaskingcharity. Iwant topay forwhat I

get.""Thisain'tahotel.Yougoondowntheroad.Insideeightmilesyou'llcometo

thetown.""Eightmiles!""That'snothingforamantoride.""Notatall,ifIhadsomethingtoride.""Youain'tgotahorse?""No.""Thenhowdoyoucomehere?""Iwalked."Ifthissharpenedhersuspicions,itsharpenedherfearalso.Sheputonefooton

theloweststepofthestairs."Beoffwithyou,Mr.Donnegally,orwhateveryouroutlandishnameis.You'll

getnothinghere.Whatbringsyou—"A door closed and a footstep sounded lightly on the floor above. And

Donnegan, already alert in the strange atmosphere of this house, gave back apacesoas togetanhonestwallbehindhim.Henoted that thestepwasquickand small, andpreparinghimself tomeet awispofmanhood—which, for that

matter, was the type he was most inclined to fear—Donnegan kept a cornerglance upon the oldwoman at the foot of the stairs and steadily surveyed theshadowsattheheadoftherise.Outofthatdarknessafootslipped;notevenaboy'sfoot—averychild's.The

shockof itmadeDonneganrelaxhiscaution foran instant,and in that instantshecameintothereachofthelight.Itwasawretchedlightatbest,foritcamefromalampwithsmokychimneywhichtheoldhagcarried,andat theraisingandloweringofherhandtheflamejumpedanddiedinthethroatofthechimneyandsetthehallawashwithshadows.Fallingawaytoapointofyellow,thelampallowedthehalltoassumeacertainindefinitedignityofheightandbreadthandcalm proportions; but when the flame rose Donnegan could see the brokenbalusters of the balustrade, the carpet, faded past any design and worn torattiness,wall paperwhich had rotted or dried away and hung in crisp tattershereandthere,andontheceilinganirregularpatchfromwhichtheplasterhadfallenandexposedthelathwork.Butatthecomingofthegirltheoldwomanhadturned,andasshedidtheflametossedupinthelampandDonnegancouldseethenewcomerdistinctly.Oncebeforehishearthad risenas it rosenow. Ithadbeen the fagendofa

long party, and Donnegan, rousing from a drunken sleep, staggered to thewindow.Leaningtheretogetthefreshnessofthenightairagainsthishotface,hehadlookedup,andsawthewhitefaceofthemoongoingupthesky;andasudden sense of the blackness and loathing against the city had come uponDonnegan,andthemurkycolorofhisownlife;andwhenheturnedawayfromthewindowhewassober.Andsoitwasthathenowstaredupatthegirl.Atherbreast sheheldacloak togetherwithonehandand theotherhand touched therailingofthestairs.Hesawonefootsuspendedforthenextstep,asthoughthesight of him kept her back in fear. To the miserable soul of Donnegan sheseemedallthatwaslovely,young,andpure;andherhair,oldgoldintheshadowandpalegoldwherethelampstruckit,wastoDonneganlikeamiraculouslightaboutherface.Indeed, that littlepausewasagreatandawfulmoment.Forconsideringthat

Donnegan,whohad gone throughhiswhole lifewith his eyes ready either tomock or hate, and who had rarely used his hand except to make a fist of it;Donneganwhohadnever,sofarasisknown,hadacompanion;whohadaskedtheworld for action, not kindness; thisDonnegan now stood straightwith hisbackagainstthewall,andpouredoutthestoryofhiswaywardlifetoamereslipofagirl.

6Chapter

Even the old woman, whose eyes were sharpened by her habit of lookingconstantlyfortheweaknessesandvicesofmen,couldnotguesswhatwasgoingonbehind the thin, rather ugly face ofDonnegan; the girl, perhaps,mayhaveseenmore.Forshecaughttheglitterofhisactiveeyesevenatthatdistance.Thehagbegantoexplainwithviciousgesturesthatsetthelightflaringupanddown."He ain't come from nowhere, Lou," she said. "He ain't going nowhere; he

wantstostayhereforthenight."Thefootwhichhadbeensuspendedtotakethenextstepwasnowwithdrawn.

Donnegan,rememberedatlast,whippedoffhiscap,andatoncethelightflaredandburneduponhishair.Itwasawonderfulred;itshone,andithadaterriblebloodtingesothathisfaceseemedpalebeneathit.Therewerethreethingsthatmadeup thepeculiar dominanceofDonnegan's countenance.The three thingswerethehair,theuneasy,brighteyes,andtheratherthin,compressedlips.WhenDonnegansleptheseemedabouttowakenfromavigorousdream;whenhesatdownheseemedabouttoleaptohisfeet;andwhenhewasstandinghegavethatimpressionofapoisewhichisreadyforanything.Itwasnowonderthatthegirl,seeing that face and that alert, aggressive body, shrank a little on the stairs.Donnegan, that instant, knew that these two women were really alone in thehouseasfarasfightingmenwereconcerned.And the fact disturbed himmore than a leveled gun would have done. He

wenttothefootofthestairs,evenpasttheoldwoman,and,raisinghishead,hespoketothegirl."Myname'sDonnegan.Icameoverfromtherailroad—walked.Idon'twant

towalkthatothereightmilesunlessthere'sarealneedforit.I—"Whydidhepause?"I'llpayforanythingIgethere."Hisvoicewasnottoocertain;behindhisteeththerewasknockingadesireto

cry out to her the truth. "I amDonnegan.Donnegan the tramp.Donnegan theshiftless. Donnegan the fighter. Donnegan the killer. Donnegan the penniless,worthless.Butforheaven'ssakeletmestayuntilmorningandletmelookatyou—fromadistance!"But,afterall,perhapshedidnotneedtosayallthesethings.Hisclotheswere

rags,uponhisfacetherewasastubbleofunshavenred,whichmadethepallorabouthiseyesmorepronounced. If thegirlhadbeenhalfblindshemusthavefeltthatherewasamanoffire.Hesawhergatherthewrapalittlecloserabouthershoulders,andthatsignoffearmadehimsickatheart."Mr.Donnegan,"saidthegirl."Iamsorry.Wecannottakeyouintothehouse.

Eightmiles—"Didsheexpecttoturnasinnerfromthegatesofheavenwithamerephrase?

Hecastouthishand,andshewincedasthoughhehadshakenhisfistather."Areyouafraid?"criedDonnegan."Idon'tcontrolthehouse."He paused, not that her reply had baffled him, but the mere pleasure of

hearingherspeakaccountedfor it. Itwasoneof those low, lightvoiceswhichare apt to have very little range or volume, and which break and trembleabsurdlyunderanystressofemotion;andoften theybecomeshrill inahigherregister;butinsideconversationallimits,ifsuchatermmaybeused,thereisnofiber so delightful, so purelymusical. Suppose theword "velvet" applied to asound.ThatvoicecamesoothinglyanddelightfullyupontheearofDonnegan,fromwhichtheroarandrattleoftheemptyfreighttrainhadnotquitedeparted.Hesmiledather."But," he protested, "this iswest of theRockies—and I don't see any other

wayout."The girl, all this time,was studying him intently, a little sadly, he thought.

Nowsheshookherhead,buttherewasmorewarmthinhervoice."I'msorry.Ican'taskyoutostaywithoutfirstconsultingmyfather.""Goahead.Askhim."She raisedherhanda little; the thought seemed tobringher to thevergeof

trembling,asthoughhewereaskingasacrilege."Whynot?"heurged.Shedidnotanswer,but,instead,hereyessoughttheold,woman,asiftogain

herinterposition;sheburstinstantlyintospeech."Which there'snogood talkinganymore,"declared the ancientvixen. "Are

youwantingtomaketroubleforherwiththecolonel?Beoff,youngman.Itain'tthefirsttimeI'vetoldyouyou'dgetnowhereinthishouse!"There was no possible answer left to Donnegan, and he did as usual the

surprising thing.He broke into laughter of such clear and ringing tone—suchinfectious laughter—that the oldwoman blinked in themidst of her wrath asthough shewere seeing a newman, and he saw the lips of the girl parted inwonder."Myfather isaninvalid,"said thegirl."Andhelivesbystrict rules. Icould

notbreakinonhimatthistimeoftheevening.""If that's all"—Donneganactuallybegan tomount the steps—"I'llgo inand

talktoyourfathermyself."Shehadretiredonepaceashebeganadvancing,butastheimportofwhathe

saidbecamecleartohershewasrootedtoonepositionbyastonishment."ColonelMacon—myfather—"shebegan.Then:"Doyoureallywishtosee

him?"ThehushedvoicemadeDonnegansmile—itwassuchavoiceasoneboyuses

whenhe asks theother if he really dares enter thepasture of the redbull.Hechuckledagain,andthistimeshesmiled,andhereyeswerewidened,partlybyfearofhispurpose andpartly fromhisnearness.They seemed tobe suddenlyclosertogether.Asthoughtheywereononesideagainstacommonenemy,andthatenemywasherfather.Theoldwomanwascacklingsharplyfromthebottomofthestairs,andthenbobbinginpursuitandcallingonDonnegantocomeback.Atlengththegirlraisedherhandandsilencedherwithagesture.Donneganwasnowhardlyapaceaway;andhesawthatsheliveduptoallthe

promiseofthatfirstglance.Yetstillsheseemedunreal.Thereisaqualityoftheunearthlyabout agirl'sbeauty; it is, after all,onlyagaymomentbetween theformlessnessof childhoodand thehardnessofmiddle age.Thisgirlwaspale,Donnegansaw,andyet shehadcolor.Shehad the luster, say,ofawhite rose,and the samebloom.Lou, the oldwomanhad called her, andMaconwas herfather's name. Lou Macon—the name fitted her, Donnegan thought. For thatmatter, if her name had been Sally Smith, Donnegan would probably havethought itbeautiful.Thekeeneraman'smind isand themoreheknowsaboutmenandwomenandthewaysoftheworld,themoreaptheistobeintoxicatedby a touch of grace and thoughtfulness; and all these age-long seconds theperfumeofgirlhoodhadbeenstrikinguptoDonnegan'sbrain.ShebrushedhertimidityawayandwiththesamegestureacceptedDonnegan

assomethingmorethanadangerousvagrant.Shetookthelampfromthehandsofthecroneandsentheraboutherbusiness,disregardingthemutteringsandthewarnings which trailed behind the departing form. Now she facedDonnegan,screening the light fromher eyeswith a cuppedhand andby the samedevicefocusingituponthefaceofDonnegan.Hemutelynotedthesmallmaneuverandgavehercredit;but for thepleasureof seeing thewhiteofher fingersand thewaytheytaperedtoapinktransparencyatthetips,heforgotthepoorfigurehemustmakewithhissoiled,raggedshirt,hisunshavenface,hisgauntcheeks.Indeed,helookedsostraightatherthatinspiteofheradvantagewiththelight

shehadtoavoidhisglance."I am sorry," saidLouMacon, "and ashamedbecausewe can't take you in.

Theonlyhouseontherangewhereyouwouldn'tbewelcome,Iknow.Butmyfather leads a very close life; he has set ways. The ways of an invalid, Mr.Donnegan.""Andyou'rebotheredaboutspeakingtohimofme?""I'malmostafraidoflettingyougoinyourself.""Letmetaketherisk."Sheconsideredhimagain foramoment,and then turnedwithanodandhe

followedherupthestairsintotheupperhall.Themomenttheysteppedintoitheheard her clothes flutter and a small gale poured on them. It was criminal toallowsuchabuilding tofall into this ruinouscondition.Andagloomypicturerose inDonnegan'smind of the invalid, thin-faced, sallow-eyed,white-haired,lyinginhisbedlisteningtothestormandsilentlygatheringbitternessoutofthepainofliving.LouMaconpausedagaininthehall,closetoadoorontheright."I'm going to send you in to speak tomy father," she said gravely. "First I

havetotellyouthathe'sdifferent."Donneganrepliedbylookingstraightather,andthis timeshedidnotwince

fromtheglance.Indeed,sheseemedtobeprobinghim,searchingwithapeculiarhope.Whatcouldsheexpect tofindinhim?What thatwasuseful toher?Notonce in all his life had such a sense of impotence descendeduponDonnegan.Herfather?Bah!Invalidornoinvalidhewouldhandlethatfellow,andiftheoldmanhadanacridtemper,Donneganatwillcouldfilehisownspeechtoapoint.Butthegirl!InthemeagerhandwhichheldthelamptherewasapowerwhichallthemusclesofDonnegancouldnotcompass;andinhisweaknesshelookedwistfullyather."Ihopeyourtalkwillbepleasant.Ihopeso."Shelaidherhandontheknobof

thedoorandwithdrewithastily;then,summoninggreatresolution,sheopenedthedoorandshowedDonneganin."Father,"shesaid,"thisisMr.Donnegan.Hewishestospeaktoyou."ThedoorclosedbehindDonnegan,andhearingthatwhishingsoundwhichthe

door of a heavy safewillmake, he looked down at this, and saw that it wasactually inches thick!Oncemore the sense of being in a trapdescendeduponhim.

7Chapter

He found himself in a large room which, before he could examine a singlefeatureofit,waseffectivelycurtainedfromhissight.Straightintohisfaceshotacurrentofviolentwhitelightthatmadehimblink.Therewasthenaturalrecoil,butinDonneganrecoilsweregenerallyprotectedbyseveralstrataofwillpowerand seldom showed in any physical action. On the present occasion his firstdismaywasswiftlyoverwhelmedbyacoldangerattheinsultingtrick.Thiswasnotthetrickofahelplessinvalid;Donnegancouldnotseeasinglethingbeforehim,butheobeyedaverydeepinstinctandadvancedstraightintothecurrentoflight.Hewasgladtoseethelightswitchedaway.Thecomparativedarknesswashed

across his eyes in a pleasantwave and hewas now able to distinguish a fewthingsintheroom.Itwas,ashehadfirstsurmised,quitelarge.Theceilingwashigh;theproportionscomfortablyspacious;butwhatastoundedDonneganwasthe real elegance of the furnishings. Therewas nomistaking the deep, silkentextureof theruguponwhichhestepped; theglowof lightbarelyreached thewall, and there showed faintly in streaks along yellowish hangings. Beside atable which supported a big reading lamp—gasoline, no doubt, from theintensityofitslight—satColonelMaconwithalargevolumespreadacrosshisknees.Donnegansawtwohighlights—finesilverhair thatcovered theheadoftheinvalidandapairofwhitehandsfallenidlyuponthesurfaceofthebigbook,for if the silver hair suggested age the smoothly finished hands suggestedperennial youth. They were strong, carefully tended, complacent hands. TheysuggestedtoDonneganamansufficientuntohimself."Mr. Donnegan, I am sorry that I cannot rise to receive you. Now, what

pleasantaccidenthasbroughtmethefavorofthiscall?"Donneganwas taken aback again, and this timemore strongly than by the

flareoflightagainsthiseyes.Forinthevoiceherecognizedthequalityofthegirl—thesamesoftness,thesamevelvetyrichness,thoughthepitchwasabass.Inthevoiceofthismantherewasthesamesuggestionthatthetonewouldcrackifitwereforcedeitherupordown.Withthisgreatdifference,onecouldhardlyconceiveofasituationwhichwouldpushthatman'svoicebeyonditsmonotone.

It flowedwithdeadly, all-embracing softness. It clungaboutone; it fascinatedandbaffledthemindofthelistener.ButDonneganwasnotinthehabitofbeingbaffledbyvoices.Neitherwashe

aloverofformality.Helookedaboutforaplace tositdown,andimmediatelydiscovered that while the invalid sat in an enormous easy-chair bordered byshelves and supplied with wheels for raising and lowering the back and forpropelling thechairabout theroomon its rubber tires, itwas theonlychair intheroomwhichcouldmakeanypretensionstowardcomfort.Asamatteroffact,asidefromthisoneimmensechair,devotedtothepleasureoftheinvalid,therewasnothingintheroomforhisvisitorstosituponexcepttwoorthreemiserablebacklessstools.ButDonneganwas not long taken aback.He tucked his cap under his arm,

bowedprofoundlyinhonorofthecolonel'scompliments,andbroughtoneofthestools to a place where it was no nearer the rather ominous circle of thelamplight thanwas the invalid himself.With his eyes accustomed to the newlight, Donnegan could now take better stock of his host. He saw a ratherhandsomeface,witheyesexceedinglyblue,young,andactive;butthefeaturesofMaconaswellashisbodywereblurredandobscuredbyagreatfatness.Hewastrulyaprodigiousman,andonecouldunderstandthestoutnesswithwhichthe invalidchairwasmade.Hisgreatwristdimpled like thewristofahealthybaby,andhisfacewassoenlargedwithsuperfluousfleshthatthelowerpartofitquitedwarfedtheupper.Heseemed,atfirstglance,amanwithalowforeheadandbright, careless eyes and a bodymade immobile by flesh and sickness.Amanwhosespiritsdespisedanddefiedpain.Yetasecondglanceshowedthattheforeheadwas, after all, a nobly proportioned one, and for all the bulk of thatfigure,forallthecripple-chair,Donneganwouldnothavebeensurprisedtoseethebulkspringlightlyoutofthechairtomeethim.Forhisownpart,sittingbackonthestoolwithhiscaptuckedunderhisarm

andhishandsfoldedaboutoneknee,hemetthefaint,coldsmileofthecolonelwithabroadgrinofhisown."Icanputit inanutshell,"saidDonnegan."Iwastired;deadbeat;neededa

handout, and rapped at your door.Along comes amystery in the shape of anugly-lookingwomanandopensthedoortome.Triestoshutmeout;Idecidedtocomein.Sheinsistsonkeepingmeoutside;allatonceIseethatIhavetogetintothehouse.Iambroughtin;yourdaughtertriestosteermeoff,seesthatthejobismorethanshecangetawaywith,andshelvesmeoffuponyou.Andthat,ColonelMacon,isthepleasantaccidentwhichbringsyouthefavorofthiscall."Itwouldhavebeenaspeechbothstupidandpertinthemouthofanother;but

Donneganknewhowtoflavorwordswithatouchofmockeryofhimselfaswell

as another. There were two manners in which this speech could have beenreceived—with awink orwith a smile.But itwould have been impossible tohearitandgrowfrigid.Asforthecolonel,hesmiled.Itwas a tricky smile, however, asDonnegan felt. It spread easily upon that

vastfaceandagainwentoutandleftalltothedominionofthecold,brighteyes."Acaseofcuriosity,"commentedthecolonel."Acaseofhunger,"saidDonnegan."MydearMr.Donnegan,putitthatwayifyouwish!""Andacaseofblanketsneededforonenight.""Really? Have you ventured into such a country as this without any

equipment?""Outsideofmypurse,myequipmentisoftheinvisiblekind.""Wits,"suggestedthecolonel."Thankyou.""Notatall.Youhintedatityourself.""However,ahintishardertotakethantomake."The colonel raised his faultless right hand—and oddly enough his great

corpulencedidnotextendintheslightestdegreetohishand,butstoppedshortatthe wrists—and stroked his immense chin. His skin was like Lou Macon's,exceptthatinplaceofthewhite-flowerbloomhiswasaparchment,deadpallor.Heloweredhishandwiththesameslowprecisionandfoldeditwiththeother,allthetimeprobingDonneganwithhisdifficulteyes."Unfortunately—mostunfortunately, it is impossibleformetoaccommodate

you,Mr.Donnegan."Thereplywasnotflippant,butquick."Notatall. Iamtheeasiestpersonin

theworldtoaccommodate."Thebigmansmiledsadly."Myfortunehasfallenuponevildays,sir.Itisnolongerwhatitwas.There

are in thishouse threehabitable rooms; thisone;mydaughter'sapartment; thekitchenwhereoldHaggiesleeps.Otherwiseyouareinarattrapofaplace."Heshookhishead,aslow,decisivemotion."Aspareblanket,"saidDonnegan,"willbeenough."Therewasanothersighandanothershakeofthehead."Evenacornerofarugtorollupinwilldoperfectly.""Yousee,itisimpossibleformetoentertainyou.""Bare boardswill dowell enough forme,ColonelMacon.And if I have a

pieceofbread,aplateofcoldbeans—anything—Icanentertainmyself.""Iamsorry toseeyousocompliant,Mr.Donnegan,because thatmakesmy

refusalseemthemoreunkind.ButIcannothaveyousleepingonthebarefloor.

Not on such a night. Pneumonia comes on one like a cat in the dark in suchweather.Itisreallyimpossibletokeepyouhere,sir.""H'm-m,"saidDonnegan.Hebegantofeelthathewasstumped,anditwasa

mostunusualfeelingforhim."Besides,forayoungfellowlikeyou,withyouragility,whatiseightmiles?

Walkdown the roadandyouwill come toaplacewhereyouwillbemadeathomeandfedlikeaking.""Eightmiles,that'snotmuch!Butonsuchanightasthis?"Therewasafaintglint intheeyesof thecolonel;washenotsharpeninghis

witsforhiscontestofwords,andenjoyingit?"Thewindwillbeatyourbackandbuoyyoursteps.Itwillshortentheeight

milestofour."VerydefinitelyDonneganfeltthattheotherwasreadinghim.Whatwasitthat

hesawasheturnedthepages?"Thereisonethingyoufailtotakeintoyouraccounting.""Ah?""Ihaveanirresistibleaversiontowalking.""Ah?"repeatedMacon."Orexerciseinanyform.""Thenyouareunfortunatetobeinthiscountrywithoutahorse.""Unfortunate,perhaps,butthefactisthatI'mhere.Verysorrytotroubleyou,

though,colonel.""Iamrarelytroubled,"saidthecolonelcoldly."AndsinceIhavenomeansof

accommodation,thelawsofhospitalityrestlightonmyshoulders.""YetIhaveanoddthought,"repliedDonnegan."Well?Youhaveexpressedanumberalready,itseemstome.""It'sthis:thatyou'vealreadymadeupyourmindtokeepmehere."

8Chapter

The colonel stiffened in his chair, and under his bulk even those ponderoustimbersquakeda little.OncemoreDonnegangainedan impressionofchainedactivityreadytorisetoanyemergency.Thecolonel'sjawsetandthelastvestigeofthesmilelefthiseyes.Yetitwasnotangerthatshowedinitsplace.Instead,itwas rather ahungry searching.He lookedkeenly into the faceand the soulofDonneganasasearchlightsweepsoverwatersbynight."Youareamindreader,Mr.Donnegan.""NomoreofamindreaderthanaChinamanis.""Ah,theyaregreatreadersofmind,myfriend."Donnegangrinned,andatthisthecolonelfrowned."Agreat andmysteriouspeople, sir. I keep evidencesof themalways about

me.Look!"Heswepttheshaftofthereadinglightupanditfelluponaredvaseagainst

theyellowhangings.EvenDonnegan's inexperiencedeyereadapriceintothatshimmeringvase."Queercolor,"hesaid."Dusty claret. Ah, they have the only names for their colors. Think! Peach

bloom—liquiddawn—ripecherry—oilgreen—greenofpowderedtea—blueofthe sky after rain—what names for color! What other land possesses such atonguethatgoesstraighttotheheart!"Thecolonelwavedhisfaultlesshandsandthendroppedthembackuponthe

bookwiththetendernessofabenediction."And their terms for texture—pear's rind—lime peel—millet seed! Do not

scoffatChina,Mr.Donnegan.Sheisthefairygodmother,andwearethepoorchildren."Hechangedthedirectionofthelight;Donneganwatchedhim,fascinated."ButwhatconvincedyouthatIwishedtokeepyouhere?""Toamuseyou,ColonelMacon."Thecolonelexposedgleamingwhite teethand laughed in that soft, smooth-

flowingvoice."Amuseme?ForfifteenyearsIhavesatinthisroomandamusedmyselfby

taking inwhat Iwouldandshuttingout therestof theworld. Ihavemade thewallsthickandpaddedthemtokeepoutallsound.Youobservethatthereisnoevidencehereofthestormthatisgoingontonight.Amuseme?Indeed!"AndDonnegan thought of LouMacon in her old, drab dress, huddling the

poorcloakaroundhershoulderstokeepoutthecold,whileherfatherloungedhere in luxury.He could gladly have buried his lean fingers in that fat throat.Fromthefirsthehadhadanaversiontothisman."Verywell,Ishallgo.Ithasbeenapleasantchat,colonel.""Verypleasant.And thankyou.Butbeforeyougo, taste thiswhisky. Itwill

helpyouwhenyouenterthewind."Heopenedacabinetinthesideofthechairandbroughtoutablackbottleand

apairofglassesandputthemonthebroadarmofthechair.Donnegansaunteredback."Yousee,"hemurmured,"youwillnotletmego."At this the colonel raised his head suddenly and glared into the eyes of his

guest, and yet so perfect was his muscular and nerve control that he did notinterruptthethinstreamofamberwhichtrickledintooneoftheglasses.Lookingdown again, he finished pouring the drinks. They pledged each other with amotion,anddrank. Itwasveryold,veryoily.AndDonnegansmiledasheputdowntheemptyglass."Sitdown,"saidthecolonelinanewvoice.Donneganobeyed."Fate,"wenton thecolonel, "rulesour lives.Wegiveourhonestendeavors,

butthedecidingtouchisthehandofFate."He garnished this absurd truism with a wave of his hand so solemn that

Donneganwaschilled;asthoughthefatmanwereactuallyconversantwiththeThreeSisters."Fatehasbroughtyoutome;therefore,Iintendtokeepyou.""Here?""Inmyservice.Iamabouttoplaceagreatmissionandagreat trust inyour

hands.""Inthehandsofamanyouknownothingabout?""IknowyouasifIhadraisedyou."Donnegansmiled,andshakinghishead,theredhairflashedandshimmered."Aslongasthereisnoworkattachedtothemission, itmaybeagreeableto

me.""Butthereiswork.""Thenthecontractisbrokenbeforeitismade.""Youarerash.ButIhadratherbeginwithadissentandthenworkupward."

Donneganwaited."Tobalanceagainstwork—""Excuseme.Nothingbalancesagainstworkforme.""Tobalanceagainstwork,"continuedthecolonel,raisingawhitehandandby

thatgesturecrushingtheprotestofDonnegan,"thereisagreatreward.""ColonelMacon,IhaveneverworkedformoneybeforeandIshallnotwork

foritnow.""You troubleme with interruptions.Whomentionedmoney? You shall not

haveapenny!""No?""Therewardshallgrowoutofthework.""Andthework?""Isfighting."AtthisDonnegannarrowedhiseyesandsearchedthefatmanthoroughly.It

sounded like the talk of a charlatan, and yet there was a crispness to thesesentences that made him suspect something underneath. For that matter, incertaindistrictshisnameandhiscareerwereknown.Hehadneverdreamedthatthat reputation could have come within a thousand miles of this part of themountaindesert."Youshouldhave toldme in the firstplace,"hesaidwithsomeanger,"that

youknewme.""Mr.Donnegan,uponmyhonor,Ineverheardyournamebeforemydaughter

utteredit."Donneganwaitedsoberly."I despise charlatanry asmuch as the nextman.You shall see the steps by

whichIjudgedyou.WhenyouenteredtheroomIthrewastronglightuponyou.You did not blanch; you immediately walked straight into the shaft of lightalthoughyoucouldnotseeafootbeforeyou.""Andthatproved?""Acombative instinct,andcoolness;not thesortofbrutevindictiveness that

fightsforarage,foracool-mindedloveofconflict.Isthatclear?"Donneganshruggedhisshoulders."Andaboveall, Ineeda fighter.Then Iwatchedyoureyesandyourhands.

The first were direct and yet they were alert. And your hands were perfectlysteady.""Qualificationsforafighter,eh?""Doyouwishfurtherproof?""Well?""Whatofthefighttothedeathwhichyouwentthroughthissamenight?"

Donneganstarted.Itwasasmallmovement,thatflinching,andhecovereditbycontinuing theupwardgestureofhishand tohiscoat;hedrewout tobaccoandcigarettepapersandcommencedtorollhissmoke.Lookingup,hesawthattheeyesofColonelMaconweresmiling,althoughhisfacewasgrave.Aglintofunderstandingpassedbetweenthetwomen,butnotaspokenword."Iassureyou,therewasnodeathtonight,"saidDonneganatlength."Tush!Ofcoursenot!But the tearon theshoulderofyourcoat—ah, that is

toosmoothedgedforatear,toolongforthebiteofascissors.AmIright?Tush!Notaword!"Thecolonelbeamedwithanalmosttenderpride,andDonnegan,knowingthat

the fat man looked upon him as a murderer, newly come from a death,consideredthebeamingfaceandthoughtmanythingsinsilence."So itwas easy to see that in coolness, courage, fighting instinct, skill, you

wereprobablywhatIwant.Yetsomethingmorethanall thesequalificationsisnecessaryforthetaskwhichliesaheadofyou.""Youpileupthebadfeatures,eh?""To entice you, Donnegan. For oneman, paint a rosy beginning, and once

underwayhewillmanagethehardparts.Foryou,showyouthehardshellandyouwilltrustitcontainsthechoiceflesh.Iwassaying,thatIwaitedtoseeotherqualitiesinyou;qualitiesofthejudgment.Andsuddenlyyouflasheduponmeasingleglance; I felt it clashagainstmywillpower. I feltyour lookgopastmyguardlikearapierslippingaroundmyblade.I,ColonelMacon,wasforthefirsttimeoutfaced,out-maneuvered.Iadmit it,forIrejoiceinmeetingsuchaman.And the next instant you toldme that I should keep you here out ofmy ownwish!Admirable!"Theadmirationofthecolonel,indeed,almostoverwhelmedDonnegan,buthe

sawthatinspiteofthegenialsmile,thefacesuffusedwithwarmth,thecolonelwaswatchinghimevery instant, flinty-eyed.Donnegandidashehaddoneonthestairs;heburstintolaughter.When he had done, the colonel was leaning forward in his chair with his

fingers interlacing,examininghisguest frombeneathsomberbrows.Ashesatlurched forward he gave a terrible impression of that reserved energy whichDonneganhadsensedbefore."Donnegan,"saidthecolonel,"Ishalltalknomorenonsensetoyou.Youarea

terriblefellow!"And Donnegan knew that, for the first time in the colonel's life, he was

meetinganothermanuponequalground.

9Chapter

In a way, it was an awful tribute, for one great fact grew upon him: that thecolonelrepresentedalmostperfectlythepowerofabsoluteevil.Donneganwasnot a squeamish sort, but the fat, smiling face of Macon filled him withunutterableaversion.Adozen timeshewouldhave left the room,but a silkenthreadheldhimback,thethoughtofLou."Ishallbe terseandentirely frank,"said thecolonel,andatonceDonnegan

rearedtripleguardandbalancedhimselfforattackordefense."Betweenyou andme,"went on the fatman, "deceptivewords are folly.A

wasteofenergy."Heflushedalittle."Youare,Ibelieve,thefirstmanwhohaseverlaughedatme."Theclickofhisteethashesnappedthemonthissentenceseemedtopromisethatheshouldalsobethelast."SoI tearawaytheveilswhichmademeridiculous,Igrantyou.Donnegan,

wehavemeteachotherjustintime.""True," said Donnegan, "you have a task for me that promises a lot of

fighting;andinreturnIgetlodgingsforthenight.""Wrong,wrong!Iofferyoumuchmore.Iofferyouacareerofactioninwhich

youmay forget thegreat sorrowwhichhas fallenuponyou:and in thebattleswhich liebeforeyou,youwill findoblivionfor thesadpastwhich liesbehindyou."HereDonnegansprang tohis feetwithhishandcaughtathisbreast;andhe

stood quivering, in an agony. Pain worked him as anger would do, and, hisslender frame swelling, hismuscles taut, he stood like a panther enduring thetorturebecauseknowsitisfollytoattempttoescape."Youareahumandevil!"Donnegansaidatlast,andsankbackuponhisstool.

Foramomenthewasovercome,hisheadfallinguponhisbreast,andevenwhenhe looked up his face was terribly pale, and his eyes dull. His expression,however, cleared swiftly, and aside from the perspiration which shone on hisforehead itwould have been impossible ten seconds later to discover that theblowofthecolonelhadfallenuponhim.All of this the colonel had observed and noted with grim satisfaction. Not

oncedidhespeakuntilhesawthatallwaswell.

"Iamsorry,"hesaidatlengthinavoicealmostasdelicateasthevoiceofLouMacon."Iamsorry,butyouforcedmetosaymorethanIwishedtosay."Donneganbrushedtheapologyaside.Hisvoicebecamelowandhurried."Letusgetoninthematter.Iameagerto

learnfromyou,colonel.""Verywell.Since it seems that there is aplace forbothour interests in this

matter, I shall run on in my tale and make it, as I promised you before,absolutelyfrankandcurt.Ishallnotdescendintosmalldetails.Ishallgiveyouamainsketchofthehighpoints;forallmenofmindareapttobeconfusedbythefaceofathing,whereastheheartofitisperfectlycleartothem."Hesettledintohisnarrative."You have heard of The Corner? No?Well, that is not strange; but a few

weeksagogoldwasfoundinthesandswherethevalleysofYoungMuddyandChristobelRiversjoin.TheCornerisalong,widetriangleofsand,andthesandisfilledwithagolddepositbroughtdownfromtheheadwatersofbothriversandprecipitated here,where one currentmeets the other and reduces the resultantstreamtosluggishness.Thesandsarerich—veryrich!"He had become a trifle flushed as he talked, and now, perhaps to cover his

emotion, he carefully selected a cigarette from the humidor beside him andlighteditwithouthastebeforehespokeanotherword."LongagoIprospectedover thatvalley;a fewweeksago itwasbrought to

my attention again. I determined to stake some claims and work them. But Icouldnotgomyself. I had to senda trustworthyman.Whomshould I select?Therewas only one possible. JackLandis ismyward.A dozen years ago hisparentsdiedandtheysenthimtomycare,formyfortunewasthencomfortable.I raised himwith as much tenderness as I could have shownmy own son; Ilavishedonhimtheaffectionand—"HereDonnegancoughedlightly; thefatmanpaused,andobservingthat this

hypocrisydidnotdrawtheveiloverthebrighteyesofhisguest,hecontinued:"Inaword,Imadehimoneofmyfamily.AndwhentheneedforamancameIturnedtohim.Heisyoung,strong,active,abletotakecareofhimself."AtthisDonneganprickedhisears."Hewent,accordingly,toTheCornerandstakedtheclaimsandfiledthemas

Idirected.Iwasright.Therewasgold.Muchgold.Itpannedoutinnuggets."Hemadean indescribablegesture, and throughhis strong fingersDonnegan

hadavisionofyellowgoldpouring."But there is seldom a discovery of importance claimed by oneman alone.

Thiswasnoexception.AvillainnamedWilliamLester,knownasa scoundreloverthelengthandbreadthofthecattlecountry,claimedthathehadmadethe

discovery first. He even went so far as to claim that I had obtained myinformation from him and he tried to jump the claims staked by JackLandis,whereuponJack,veryproperly, shotLesterdown.Notdead,unfortunately,butslightlywounded."In the meantime the rush for The Corner started. In a week there was a

village;inafortnighttherewasatown;inamonthTheCornerhadbecomethetalkof the ranges. JackLandis found in theclaimsamint.Hesentmebackameresouvenir."Thefatmanproducedfromhisvestpocketalittlechunkofyellowandwitha

dexterous motion whipped it at Donnegan. It was done so suddenly, sounexpectedly that thewandererwaswell-nigh taken by surprise.But his handflashedupandcaughtthemetalbeforeitstruckhisface.Hefoundinthepalmofhishandanuggetweighingperhaps fiveounces, andhe flicked it back to thecolonel."He sent me the souvenir, but that was all. Since that time I have waited.

Nothinghascome.Isentforword,andIlearnedthatJackLandishadbetrayedhis trust, fallen in love with some undesirable woman of the mining camp,deniedmyclaimtoanyofthegoldtowhichIhadsenthim.Unpleasantnews?Yes.Ungratefulboy?Yes.Butmymindishardenedagainstadversity."Yet this blow struck me close to the heart. Because Landis is engaged to

marrymydaughter,Lou.AtfirstIcouldhardlybelieveinhisdisaffection.Butthe truth has at length been borne home tome. The scoundrel has abandonedbothLouandme!"Donneganrepeatedslowly:"Yourdaughterlovesthischap?"Thecolonelallowedhisglancetonarrow,andhecoulddothisthemoresafely

because at thismomentDonnegan's eyeswerewandering into thedistance. Inthat unguarded second Donnegan was defenseless and the colonel readsomethingthatsethimbeaming."She loves him, of course," he said, "and he is breaking her heartwith his

selfishness.""Heisbreakingherheart?"echoedDonnegan.The colonel raised his hand and stroked his enormous chin. Decidedly he

believedthatthingsweregettingonverywell."Thisistheposition,"hedeclared."JackLandiswasthreatenedbythewretch

Lester,andshothimdown.ButLesterwasnotsingle-handed.Hebelongs toawild crew, led by a mysterious fellow of whom no one knows very much, adeadlyfighter, it issaid,andakeenorganizerandhandlerofmen.Red-haired,wild,smooth.Abundleofcontradictions.TheycallhimLordNickbecausehehastheprideofanoblemanandthecunningofthedevil.Hehasgatheredafew

chosen spirits and cool fighters—the Pedlar, Joe Rix, Harry Masters—allcelebratednamesinthecattlecountry."TheyworshipLordNickpartlybecausehe is a geniusof crime andpartly

becauseheunderstandshow toguide themso that theymay robandevenkillwithimpunity.Hispeculiarityishisabilitytokeepwithintheboundsofthelaw.Ifhecommitsarobberyhealwaysfirstestablishesmarvelousalibisandthrowstheblametowardsomeoneelse;ifitisthecaseofakilling,itisalwaystheothermanwhoistheaggressor.Hehasbeenbeforeajuryhalfadozentimes,butthedevilknowsthelawandpleadshisowncasewithatonguethattwiststheheartsoutofthestupidjurors.Yousee?Nocommonman.AndthisistheleaderofthegroupofwhichLester isoneof themostdebasedmembers.HehadnosoonerbeenshotthanLordNickhimselfappeared.Hehadhisfollowerswithhim.HesawJackLandis,threatenedhimwithdeath,andmadeJackswearthathewouldhand over half of the profits of themines to the gang—of which, I suppose,Lester gets his due proportion. At the same time, Lord Nick attempted topersuadeJackthatI,hisadoptedfather,youmightsay,wasreallyinthewrong,andthatIhadstolentheclaimsfromthiswretchedLester!"He waved this disgusting accusation into a mist and laughed with hateful

softness."Theresultisthis:JackLandisdrawsavastrevenuefromthemines.Halfofit

heturnsovertoLordNick,andLordNickinreturngiveshimabsolutefreedomandbackinginthecamp,whereheis,andprobablywillcontinuethedominantfactor.Asfortheotherhalf,Landisspendsitonthiswomanwithwhomhehasbecomeinfatuated.Andnotapennycomesthroughtome!"ColonelMacon leaned back in his chair and his eyes became fixed upon a

greatdistance.Hesmiled,andthebloodturnedcoldintheveinsofDonnegan."Ofcoursethisadventuress,thisNellyLebrun,playshandinglovewithLord

Nickandhistroupe;unquestionablyshesharesherspoils,sothatnine-tenthsofthe revenue from themines is really flowing back through the hands of LordNickandJackLandishasbecomeasillyfigurehead.HestrutsaboutthestreetsofTheCornerasagreatmineowner,andwiththepowerofLordNickbehindhim,notoneof thepeopleof thegamblinghousesanddancehallsdarescrosshim.SothatJackhascometoconsiderhimselfagreatman.Isitclear?"Donneganhadnotyetdrawnhisgazeentirelybackfromthedistance."This is the possible solution," went on the colonel. "Jack Landis must be

drawnawayfromtheinfluenceofthisNellyLebrun.Hemustbebroughtbacktous and shownhis folly both as regards the adventuress andLordNick; for solongasNellyhasaholdonhim, justso longLordNickwillhavehishand inJack'spocket.Youseehowbeautifullytheirplansandtheirworkdovetail?How,

therefore, am I to draw him from Nelly? There is only one way: send mydaughter to the camp—send Lou to The Corner and let one glimpse of herbeauty turn the shabby prettiness of thiswoman to a shadow! Lou ismy lasthope!"AtthisDonneganwakened.Hissneerwasnotapleasantthingtosee."Send her to a newmining camp. ColonelMacon, you have the gambling

spirit;youarewillingtotakegreatchances!""So!So!"murmuredthecolonel,alittletakenaback."ButIshouldneversend

herexceptwithanadequateprotector.""An adequate protector even against these celebrated gunmen who run the

campasyouhavealreadyadmitted?""Anadequateprotector—youaretheman!"Donneganshivered."I?ItakeyourdaughtertothecampandplayheragainstNellyLebruntowin

backJackLandis?Isthatthescheme?""Itis.""Ah," murmured Donnegan. And he got up and began to walk the room,

white-faced;thecolonelwatchedhiminasilentagonyofanxiety."ShetrulylovesthisLandis?"askedDonnegan,swallowing."A love that has grown out of their long intimacy together since theywere

children.""Bah! Calf love! Let the fellow go and shewill forget him.Hearts are not

brokeninthesedaysbydisappointmentsinloveaffairs."Thecolonelwrithedinhischair."ButLou—youdonotknowherheart!"hesuggested."Ifyoulookedclosely

atheryouwouldhaveseenthatsheispale.Shedoesnotsuspectthetruth,butIthinksheiswastingawaybecauseJackhasn'twrittenforweeks."HesawDonneganwinceunderthewhip."It is true,"murmuredthewanderer."Sheisnotlikeothers,heavenknows!"

Heturned."AndwhatifIfailtobringoverJackLandiswiththesightofLou?"Thecolonelrelaxed;thegreatcrisiswaspastandDonneganwouldundertake

thejourney."Inthatcase,mydearlad,thereisanexpedientsosimplethatyouastonishme

bynotperceivingit. If thereisnowaytoweanLandisawayfromthewoman,then get him alone and shoot him through the heart. In thatway you removefromthelifeofLouamanunworthyofherandyoualsomaketheminescometo the heir of Jack Landis—namely, myself. And in the latter case, Mr.Donnegan,besure—oh,besurethatIshouldnotforgetwhobroughttheminesintomyhands!"

10Chapter

Fiftymilesoveranysortofgoingisastiffmarch.Fiftymilesuphillanddownandmostlyoverdistrictswheretherewasonlyaroughcowpathinlieuofaroadmadeaprodigiousday'swork;andcertainlyitwasanalmostincrediblefeatforonewhoprofessedtohateworkwithaconsumingpassionandwhohadlookeduponaneight-milejauntthenightbeforeasaninsuperableburden.YetsuchwasthedistancewhichDonneganhadcovered,andnowhedrovethepackmuleouton the shoulder of the hill in full viewofTheCornerwith the triangle of theYoungMuddyandChristobelRiversembracingthelittletown.Eventhegaunt,leggymulewastiredtothedroppingpoint,andthetoughbuckskinwhichtrailedupbehindwentwithdownwardhead.WhenLouiseMaconturnedtohim,hehadreached the point where he swung his head around first and then grudginglyfollowed themovementwithhis body.Thegirlwas tired, also, in spiteof thefactthatshehadcoveredeveryinchofthedistanceinthesaddle.Therewasthatviolet shade ofweariness under her eyes and her shoulders slumped forward.OnlyDonnegan,thehateroflabor,wasfresh.Theyhadstarted in thefirstduskof thecomingday; itwasnowtheyellow

timeoftheslantafternoonsunlight;betweenthesetwopointstherehadbeenabody of steady plodding. The girl had looked askance at that gaunt form ofDonnegan's when they began; but before three hours, seeing that the springneverlefthisstepnortheswingingrhythmhisstride,shebegantowonder.Thisafternoon,nothinghedidcouldhavesurprisedher.Fromthemomentheenteredthehousethenightbeforehehadbeenamystery.Tillherdeathdayshewouldnotforgetthefirewithwhichhehadstaredupatherfromthefootofthestairs.Butwhenhe cameout of her father's room—not cowed andwhipped asmostmen left it—hehad lookedatherwithaveiledglance,andsince thatmomenttherehadalwaysbeenamistofindifferenceoverhiseyeswhenhelookedather.Inthebeginningofthatday'smarchallsheknewwasthatherfathertrusted

hertothisstranger,Donnegan,totakehertoTheCorner,wherehewastofindJack Landis and bring Jack back to his old allegiance and find what he wasdoingwithhis timeandhismoney. Itwasaquitenaturalproceeding, forJackwasawildsort,andhewasprobablygamblingawayallthegoldthatwasdugin

hismines.Itwasperfectlynaturalthroughout,exceptthatsheshouldhavebeentrusted so entirely to a stranger. That was a remarkable thing, but, then, herfatherwasa remarkableman,and itwasnot the first time thathisactionshadbeeninscrutable,whetherconcerningherortheaffairsofotherpeople.Shehadheard men come into their house cursing Colonel Macon with death in theirfaces; she had seen them sneak out after a soft-voiced interview and neverappear again. In her eyes, her father was invincible, all-powerful. When shethoughtofsuperlatives,shethoughtofhim.Herconceptionofmysterywasthesmileofthecolonel,andherconceptionoftendernesswasboundedbythegentlevoice of the same man. Therefore, it was entirely sufficient to her that thecolonelhadsaid: "Go,and trust everything toDonnegan.Hehas thepower tocommandyouandyoumustobey—untilJackcomesbacktoyou."Thatwas odd, for, as far as she knew, Jackhadnever left her.But she had

earlydiscardedanywilltoquestionherfather.Curiositywasathingwhichthefatmanhatedaboveallelse.Therefore, it was really not strange to her that throughout the journey her

guidedidnotspeakhalfadozenwordstoher.Onceortwicewhensheattemptedtoopentheconversationhehadrepliedwithcrushingmonosyllables,andtherewasanend.Fortherest,hewasalwaysswingingdownthetrailaheadofheratasteady,unchanging, rapidstride.Uphillanddownitnevervaried.Andso theycameoutupontheshoulderofthehillandsawthestormcenterofTheCorner.Theywereinthehillsbehindthetown;twomileswouldbringthemintoit.AndnowDonnegancamebacktoherfromthemule.Hetookoffhishatandshookthedustaway;hebrushedahandacrosshisface.Hewasstillunshaven.Theredstubblemadehimhideous,andthedustandperspirationcoveredhisfaceaswithamask.Onlyhiseyeswererimmedwithwhiteskin."You'dbettergetoffthehorse,here,"saidDonnegan.Heheldherstirrup,andsheobeyedwithoutaword."Sitdown."Shesatdownontheflat-toppedboulderwhichhedesignated,and,lookingup,

observedthefirstsignofemotioninhisface.Hewasfrowning,andhisfacewasdrawnalittle."Youaretired,"hestated."Alittle.""Youaretired,"saidthewandererinatonethatimplieddislikeofanydenial.

Therefore shemade no answer. "I'm going down into the town to look thingsover.Idon'twanttoparadeyouthroughthestreetsuntilIknowwhereLandisisto be found and how he'll receive you. The Corner is a wild town; youunderstand?"

"Yes,"shesaidblankly,andnotednervouslythatthereplydidnotpleasehim.Heactuallyscowledather."You'llbeallrighthere.I'llleavethepackmulewithyou;ifanythingshould

happen—butnothingisgoingtohappen,I'llbebackinanhourorso.There'sapoolofwater.YoucangetacolddrinkthereandwashupifyouwanttowhileI'mgone.Butdon'tgotosleep!""Whynot?""A place like this is sure to have a lot of stragglers hunting around it. Bad

characters.Youunderstand?"Shecouldnotunderstandwhyhe shouldmakeamysteryof it;but then,he

wasalmostasstrangeasherfather.HiscarefulEnglishandhisraggedclothesweretypicalofhiminsideandout."Youhaveagunthereinyourholster.Canyouuseit?""Yes.""Tryit."Itwasathirty-two,awoman'slightweapon.Shetookitoutandbalanceditin

herhand."Thebluerockdownthehillside.Letmeseeyouchipit."Herhandwentup,andwithoutpausingtosightalongthebarrel,shefired;fire

flew from the rock, and there appeared awhite, small scar. Donnegan sighedwithrelief."Ifyousqueezedthebuttratherthanpulledthetrigger,"hecommented,"you

wouldhavemadeabull's-eyethattime.Now,Idon'tmeanthatinanylikelihoodyou'llhavetodefendyourself.Isimplywantyoutobeawarethatthere'splentyoftroublearoundTheCorner.""Yes,"saidthegirl."You'renotafraid?""Oh,no."Donnegansettledhishata littlemorefirmlyuponhishead.Hehadbeenon

the verge of attributing her gentleness to a blank, stupid mind; he began torealizethattherewasmetalunderthesurface.Hefeltthatsomeofthequalitiesof the fatherwereechoed faintly,andatadistance, in thechild. Inaway, shemadehim thinkofanunawakenedcreature.Whenshewas roused, if the timeevercame,itmightbethathereyecouldbecomeathingalternatelyoffireandice,andhervoicemightcarrywitharing."Thisbusinesshas tobegotten throughquickly,"hewenton."Onemeeting

withJackLandiswillbeenough."Shewonderedwhyhe set his jawwhenhe said this, but hewaswondering

howdeeply thecolonel'swardhad fallen into theclutchesofNellyLebrun. If

thatfirstmeetingdidnotbringLandistohissenses,whatfollowed?Oneoftwothings. Either the girl must stay on in The Corner and try her hand with herfiancŽagain,orelsethefinalbrutalsuggestionofthecolonelmustbefollowed;hemustkillLandis.Itwasacold-bloodedsuggestion,butDonneganwasacold-bloodedman.Ashe lookedat thegirl,where she saton theboulder,heknewdefinitely, first and last, thathe lovedher, and thathewouldnever again loveany otherwoman.Every instinct drewhim toward the necessity of destroyingLandis.Therewashisstumblingblock.ButwhatifshetrulylovedLandis?Hewouldhavetowaitinordertofindthatout.Andashestoodtherewiththe

sun shining on the red stubble on his face he made a resolution the moreprofoundbecause itwas formed insilence: if she truly lovedLandishewouldserveherhandandfootuntilshehadherwill.Butallhesaidwassimply:"Ishallbebackbeforeit'sdark.""Ishallbecomfortablehere,"repliedthegirl,andsmiledfarewellathim.AndwhileDonneganwentdowntheslopefullofdarknesshethoughtofthat

smile.TheCornerspreadmoreclearlybeforehimwitheverystephemade.Itwasa

type of the gold-rush town.Of coursemost of the dwellingswere tents—dogtents many of them; but there was a surprising sprinkling of wooden shacks,someofthemofconsiderablesize.Beginningattheveryedgeofthetownandspreadover thesandflatswere theminesand theblacksprinklingof laborers.Andthetownitselfwasroughlyjumbledaroundonestreet.OvertotheleftthemainroadintoTheCornercrossedthewide,shallowfordoftheYoungMuddyRiverandupthisroadhesawhalfadozenwagonscoming,wagonsofallsizes;butnothingwentoutofTheCorner.Peoplewhocamestayedthere,itseemed.Hedroppedoverthelowerhills,andthevoiceofthegoldtownrosetohim.It

wasamurmur like thatof anarmypreparing forbattle.Nowand thenablastexploded,forwhatpurposehecouldnotimagineinthisschoolofmining.Butasa rule the sounds were subdued by the distance. He caught the muttering ofmanyvoices,inwhichlaughterandshoutswerebroughttothelevelofawhisperat close hand; and through all this there was a persistent clangor of metallicsounds.Nodoubtfromtheblacksmithshopswherepicksandotherimplementswere made or sharpened and all sorts of repairing carried on. But thepredominanttoneofthevoiceofTheCornerwasthispersistentringingofmetal.ItsuggestedtoDonneganthatherewasatownfilledwithmenofironandallthegentlerpartsoftheirnaturesforgotten.AnoddplacetobringsuchawomanasLouMacon,surely!Hereachedthelevel,andenteredthetown.

11Chapter

Huntingfornews,hewentnaturallytothenewsemporiumwhichtooktheplaceof the daily paper—namely, he went to the saloons. But on the way he ranthrough a liberal cross-section ofTheCorner's populace. First of all, the tentsand the ruder shacks.He saw little sheet-iron stoveswith the tin dishes piled,unwashed, upon the tops of themwhen theminers rushedback to theirwork;brokenhandlesofpicksandshovels;worn-outshirtsandoverallslaywheretheyhadbeentossed;herewasaflatstripofcanvassupportedbyfourfour-footpolesand without shelter at the sides, and the belongings of one careless minertumbled beneath this miserable shelter; another man had striven for somesemblance of a home and he had framed a five-foot walk leading up to theclosedflapofhistentwithstonesofaregularsize.Butnowherewasthereasignoflife,andwouldnotbeuntilsemidarknessbroughttheunwillingworkersbacktothetents.Outofthisdistricthepassedquicklyontothemainstreet,andheretherewasa

differentatmosphere.Thefirstthinghesawwasamandressedasacowpuncherfrombelt to spurs—spursonaminer—but above thewaist heblossomed in afrockcoatandasilkhat.Aroundthecoathehadfastenedhisbelt,andtheshirtbeneaththecoatwascommonflannel,openat the throat.Hewalked,orratherstaggered, on the arm of an equally strange companionwhowas arrayed in awhite silk shirt, white flannel trousers, white dancing pumps, and a vastsombrero!Butasif thiswasnotsufficientprotectionforhishead,hecarriedaparasolof themostbrilliant green silk and twirled it abovehis head.The twoheldawaveringcourseandwentblindlypastDonnegan.Itwassufficientlyclearthatthestorekeeperhadfollowedthegold.Henotedacowboysittinginhissaddlewhileherolledacigarette.Obviously

hehad come in to look thingsover rather than to share in themining, andhemade the one sane, critical note in the carnival of noise and color.Donneganbegantopassstores.Therewasthejeweler's;thegent'sfurnishing;arealestateoffice—whatcouldrealestatebedoingontheYoungMuddy'sdesert?Herewasthepawnshop,thewindowsofwhichwerealreadypacked.Theblacksmithhadagreatestablishment,andtheroarof theanvilsneverdiedaway;feedandgrain

andadozenlunch-counterrestaurants.All thishadcometoTheCornerwithinsixweeks.Liquorseemedtobeplentiful,too.Intheentirelengthofthestreethehardly

sawasoberman,except thecowboy.Halfadozen inonegrouppitchedsilverdollarsatamark.Buthewasinthesaloondistrictnow,anddominantamongtherestwasthebig,u