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the articles of its belief； the Creed and Doctrine of the Child。 Lin saw
them hurry and smile among the paper fairies； they questioned and
hesitated； crowded and made decisions； failed utterly to find the right
thing； forgot and hastened back； suffered all the various desperations of
the eleventh hour； and turned homeward； dropping their parcels with that
undimmed good…will that once a year makes gracious the universal human
face。 This brotherhood swam and beamed before the cow…puncher's brooding
eyes； and in his ears the greeting of the season sang。 Children escaped
from their mothers and ran chirping behind the counters to touch and
meddle in places forbidden。 Friends dashed against each other with
rabbits and magic lanterns； greeted in haste； and were gone； amid the
sound of musical boxes。
Through this tinkle and bleating of little machinery the murmur of the
human heart drifted in and out of McLean's hearing； fragments of home
talk； tendernesses； economies； intimate first names； and dinner hours；
and whether it was joy or sadness； it was in common； the world seemed
knit in a single skein of home ties。 Two or three came by whose purses
must have been slender； and whose purchases were humble and chosen after
much nice adjustment； and when one plain man dropped a word about both
ends meeting； and the woman with him laid a hand on his arm； saying that
his children must not feel this year was different； Lin made a step
toward them。 There were hours and spots where he could readily have
descended upon them at that； played the role of clinking affluence； waved
thanks aside with competent blasphemy； and tossing off some infamous
whiskey； cantered away in the full self…conscious strut of the frontier。
But here was not the moment； the abashed cow…puncher could make no such
parade in this place。 The people brushed by him back and forth； busy upon
their errands； and aware of him scarcely more than if he had been a
spirit looking on from the helpless dead； and so； while these weaving
needs and kindnesses of man were within arm's touch of him； he was locked
outside with his impulses。 Barker had； in the natural press of customers；
long parted from him； to become immersed in choosing and rejecting； and
now； with a fair part of his mission accomplished； he was ready to go on
to the next place； and turned to beckon McLean。 He found him obliterated
in a corner beside a life…sized image of Santa Claus； standing as still
as the frosty saint。
〃He looks livelier than you do；〃 said the hearty Governor。 〃'Fraid it's
been slow waiting。〃
〃No；〃 replied the cow…puncher； thoughtfully。 〃No； I guess not。〃
This uncertainty was expressed with such gentleness that Barker roared。
〃You never did lie to me；〃 he said； 〃long as I've known you。 Well； never
mind。 I've got some real advice to ask you now。〃
At this Mr。 McLean's face grew more alert。 〃Say Doc；〃 said he； 〃what do
yu' want for Christmas that nobody's likely to give yu'？〃
〃A big practicebig enough to interfere with my politics。〃
〃What else？ Things and truck； I mean。〃
〃Ohnothing I'll get。 People don't give things much to fellows like me。〃
〃Don't they？ Don't they？〃
〃Why； you and Santa Claus weren't putting up any scheme on my stocking？〃
〃Well〃
〃I believe you're in earnest！〃 cried his Excellency。 〃That's simply
rich！〃 Here was a thing to relish！ The Frontier comes to town 〃heeled for
a big time；〃 finds that presents are all the rage； and must immediately
give somebody something。 Oh； childlike； miscellaneous Frontier！ So
thought the good…hearted Governor； and it seems a venial misconception。
〃My dear fellow；〃 he added； meaning as well as possible； 〃I don't want
you to spend your money on me。〃
〃I've got plenty all right；〃 said Lin； shortly。
〃Plenty's not the point。 I'll take as many drinks as you please with you。
You didn't expect anything from me？〃
〃That ain'tthat don't〃
〃There！ Of course you didn't。 Then； what are you getting proud about？
Here's our shop。〃 They stepped in from the street to new crowds and
counters。 〃Now；〃 pursued the Governor； 〃this is for a very particular
friend of mine。 Here they are。 Now； which of those do you like best？〃
They were sets of Tennyson in cases holding little volumes equal in
number； but the binding various； and Mr。 McLean reached his decision
after one look。 〃That；〃 said he； and laid a large muscular hand upon the
Laureate。 The young lady behind the counter spoke out acidly； and Lin
pulled the abject hand away。 His taste； however； happened to be sound；
or； at least； it was at one with the Governor's； but now they learned
that there was a distressing variance in the matter of price。
The Governor stared at the delicate article of his choice。 〃I know that
Tennyson is what sheis what's wanted；〃 he muttered； and； feeling
himself nudged； looked around and saw Lin's extended fist。 This gesture
he took for a facetious sympathy； and； dolorously grasping the hand；
found himself holding a lump of bills。 Sheer amazement relaxed him； and
the cow…puncher's matted wealth tumbled on the floor in sight of all
people。 Barker picked it up and gave it back。 〃No； no； no！〃 he said；
mirthful over his own inclination to be annoyed； 〃you can't do that。 I'm
just as much obliged； Lin；〃 he added。
〃Just as a loan； Docsome of it。 I'm grass…bellied with spot…cash。〃
A giggle behind the counter disturbed them both； but the sharp young lady
was only dusting。 The Governor at once paid haughtily for Tennyson's
expensive works； and the cow…puncher pushed his discountenanced savings
back into his clothes。 Making haste to leave the book department of this
shop； they regained a mutual ease； and the Governor became waggish over
Lin's concern at being too rich。 He suggested to him the list of
delinquent taxpayers and the latest census from which to select indigent
persons。 He had patients； too； whose inveterate pennilessness he could
swear cheerfully to〃since you want to bolt from your own money；〃 he
remarked。
〃Yes； I'm a green horse；〃 assented Mr。 McLean； gallantly； 〃ain't used to
the looks of a twenty…dollar bill； and I shy at 'em。〃
From his facethat jocular maskone might have counted him the most
serene and careless of vagrants； and in his words only the ordinary
voice of banter spoke to the Governor。 A good woman； it may well be；
would have guessed before this the sensitive soul in the blundering body；
but Barker saw just the familiar； whimsical； happy…go…lucky McLean of old
days； and so he went gayly and innocently on； treading upon holy ground。
〃I've got it！〃 he exclaimed； 〃give your wife something。〃
The ruddy cow…puncher grinned。 He had passed through the world of woman
with but few delays； rejoicing in informal and transient entanglements；
and he welcomed the turn which the conversation seemed now to be taking。
〃If you'll give me her name and address；〃 said he； with the future
entirely in his mind。
〃Why； Laramie！〃 and the Governor feigned surprise。
〃Say； Doc；〃 said Lin； uneasily； 〃none of 'em ain't married me since I saw
yu' last。〃
〃Then she hasn't written from Laramie；〃 said the hilarious Governor； and
Mr。 McLean understood and winced in his spirit deep down。 〃Gee whiz！〃
went on Barker； 〃I'll never forget you and Lusk that day！〃
But the mask fell now。 〃You're talking of his wife； not mine；〃 said the
cow…puncher very quietly； and smiling no more； 〃and； Doc； I'm going to
say a word to yu'； for I know yu've always been my good friend。 I'll
never forget that day myselfbut I don't want to be reminded of it。〃
〃I'm a fool； Lin；〃 said the Governor； generous instantly。 〃I never
supposed〃
〃I know yu' didn't； Doc。 It ain't you that's the fool。 And in a wayin a
way〃 Lin's speech ended among his crowding memories； and Barker； seeing
how wistful his face had turned； waited。 〃But I ain't quite the same fool
I was before that happened to me；〃 the cow…puncher resumed； 〃though maybe
my actions don't show to be wiser。 I know that there was better luck than
a man like me had any call to look for。〃
The sobered Barker said； simply； 〃Yes； Lin。〃 He was put to thinking by
these words from the unsuspected inner man。
Out in the Bow Leg country Lin McLean had met a woman with thick； red
cheeks； calling herself by a maiden name； and this was his whole
knowledge of her when he put her one morning astride a Mexican saddle and
took her fifty miles to a magistrate and made her his lawful wife to the
best of his ability and belief。 His sage…brush intimates were confident
he would never have done it but for a rival。 Racing the rival and beating
him had swept Mr。 McLean past his own intentions； and the marriage was an
inadvertence。 〃He jest bumped into it before he could pull up；〃 they
explained； and this casualty； resulting from Mr。 McLean's sporting blood；
had entertained several hundred square miles of alkali。 For the new…made