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〃We had music and dancing at Thanksgiving and such times；〃 said Lin； his
wiry length stretched on the grass beside the seated Sabina。 He was not
looking at her； but she took a pleasure in watching him； his curly head
and bronze face； against which the young mustache showed to its full
advantage。
〃I expect you used to dance a lot；〃 remarked Sabina； for a subject。
〃Yes。 Do yu' know the Portland Fancy？〃
Sabina did not； and her subject died away。
〃Did anybody ever tell you you had good eyes？〃 she inquired next。
〃Why； sure；〃 said Lin； waking for a moment； 〃but I like your color best。
A girl's eyes will mostly beat a man's。〃
〃Indeed； I don't think so！〃 exclaimed poor Sabina； too much expectant to
perceive the fatal note of routine with which her transient admirer
pronounced this gallantry。 He informed her that hers were like the sea；
and she told him she had not yet looked upon the sea。
〃Never？〃 said he。 〃It's a turruble pity you've never saw salt water。 It's
different from fresh。 All around home it's blueawful blue in July
around Swampscott and Marblehead and Nahant； and around the islands。 I've
swam there lots。 Then our home bruck up and we went to board in Boston。〃
He snapped off a flower in reach of his long arm。 Suddenly all dreaminess
left him。
〃I wonder if you'll be settin' the colonel's table when I come back？〃 he
said。
Miss Stone was at a loss。
〃I'm goin' East to…morrowEast； to Boston。〃
Yesterday he had told her that sixteen miles to Lander was the farthest
journey from the post that he intended to makethe farthest from the
post and her。
〃I hope nothing ain't happened to your folks？〃 said she。
〃I ain't got no folks；〃 replied Lin； 〃barring a brother。 I expect he is
taking good care of himself。〃
〃Don't you correspond？〃
〃Well； I guess he would if there was anything to say。 There ain't been
nothin'。〃
Sabina thought they must have quarrelled； but learned that they had not。
It was time for her now to return and set the colonel's table； so Lin
rose and went to bring her horse。 When he had put her in her saddle she
noticed him step to his own。
〃Why； I didn't know you were lame！〃 cried she。
〃Shucks！〃 said Lin。 〃It don't cramp my style any。〃 He had sprung on his
horse； ridden beside her； leaned and kissed her before she got any
measure of his activity。
〃That's how；〃 said he； and they took their homeward way galloping。 〃No；〃
Lin continued； 〃Frank and me never quarrelled。 I just thought I'd have a
look at this Western country。 Frank； he thought dry…goods was good enough
for him； and so we're both satisfied； I expect。 And that's a lot of years
now。 Whoop ye！〃 he suddenly sang out； and fired his six…shooter at a
jack…rabbit； who strung himself out flat and flew over the earth。
Both dismounted at the parade…ground gate； and he kissed her again when
she was not looking； upon which she very properly slapped him； and he
took the horses to the stable。 He sat down to tea at the hotel； and found
the meal consisted of black potatoes； gray tea； and a guttering dish of
fat pork。 But his appetite was good； and he remarked to himself that
inside the first hour he was in Boston he would have steamed Duxbury
clams。 Of Sabina he never thought again； and it is likely that she found
others to take his place。 Fort Washakie was one hundred and fifty miles
from the railway； and men there were many and girls were few。
The next morning the other passengers entered the stage with resignation；
knowing the thirty…six hours of evil that lay before them。 Lin climbed up
beside the driver。 He had a new trunk now。
〃Don't get full； Lin；〃 said the clerk； putting the mail…sacks in at the
store。
〃My plans ain't settled that far yet；〃 replied Mr。 McLean。
〃Leave it out of them；〃 said the voice of the bishop； laughing； inside
the stage。
It was a cool； fine air。 Gazing over the huge plain down in which lies
Fort Washakie； Lin heard the faint notes of the trumpet on the parade
ground； and took a good…bye look at all things。 He watched the American
flag grow small； saw the circle of steam rising away down by the hot
springs； looked at the bad lands beyond； chemically pink and rose amid
the vast； natural； quiet…colored plain。 Across the spreading distance
Indians trotted at wide spaces； generally two large bucks on one small
pony； or a squaw and pappoosea bundle of parti…colored rags。 Presiding
over the whole rose the mountains to the west； serene； lifting into the
clearest light。 Then once again came the now tiny music of the trumpet。
〃When do yu' figure on comin' back？〃 inquired the driver。
〃Oh； I'll just look around back there for a spell；〃 said Lin。 〃About a
month； I guess。〃
He had seven hundred dollars。 At Lander the horses are changed； and
during this operation Lin's friends gathered and said； where was any
sense in going to Boston when you could have a good time where you were？
But Lin remained sitting safe on the stage。 Toward evening； at the bottom
of a little dry gulch some eight feet deep； the horses decided it was a
suitable place to stay。 It was the bishop who persuaded them to change
their minds。 He told the driver to give up beating； and unharness。 Then
they were led up the bank； quivering； and a broken trace was spliced with
rope。 Then the stage was forced on to the level ground； the bishop
proving a strong man； familiar with the gear of vehicles。 They crossed
through the pass among the quaking asps and the pines； and； reaching
Pacific Springs； came down again into open country。 That afternoon the
stage put its passengers down on the railroad platform at Green River；
this was the route in those days before the mid…winter catastrophes of
frozen passengers led to its abandonment。 The bishop was going west。 His
robes had passed him on the up stage during the night。 When the reverend
gentleman heard this he was silent for a very short moment； and then
laughed vigorously in the baggage…room。
〃I can understand how you swear sometimes；〃 he said to Lin McLean； 〃but I
can't； you see。 Not even at this。〃
The cow…puncher was checking his own trunk to Omaha。
〃Good…bye and good luck to you；〃 continued the bishop； giving his hand to
Lin。 〃And look heredon't you think you might leave that 'getting full'
out of your plans？〃
Lin gave a slightly shamefaced grin。 〃I don't guess I can； sir；〃 he said。
〃I'm givin' yu' straight goods； yu' see；〃 he added
〃That's right。 But you look like a man who could stop when he'd had
enough。 Try that。 You're man enoughand come and see me whenever we're
in the same place。〃
He went to the hotel。 There were several hours for Lin to wait。 He walked
up and down the platform till the stars came out and the bright lights of
the town shone in the saloon windows。 Over across the way piano…music
sounded through one of the many open doors。
〃Wonder if the professor's there yet？〃 said Lin； and he went across the
railroad tracks。 The bartender nodded to him as he passed through into
the back room。 In that place were many tables； and the flat clicking and
rattle of ivory counters sounded pleasantly through the music。 Lin did
not join the stud…poker game。 He stood over a table at which sat a dealer
and a player； very silent； opposite each other； and whereon were painted
sundry cards； numerals； and the colors red and black in squares。 The
legend 〃Jacks pay〃 was also clearly painted。 The player placed chips on
whichever insignia of fortune he chose； and the dealer slid cards （quite
fairly） from the top of a pack that lay held within a skeleton case made
with some clamped bands of tin。 Sometimes the player's pile of chips rose
high； and sometimes his sumptuous pillar of gold pieces was lessened by
one。 It was very interesting and pretty to see； Lin had much better have
joined the game of stud…poker。 Presently the eye of the dealer met the
eye of the player。 After that slight incident the player's chip pile
began to rise； and rose steadily； till the dealer made admiring comments
on such a run of luck。 Then the player stopped； cashed in； and said
good…night； having nearly doubled the number of his gold pieces。
〃Five dollars' worth；〃 said Lin； sitting down in the vacant seat。 The
chips were counted out to him。 He played with unimportant shiftings of
fortune until a short while before his train was due； and then；
singularly enough； he discovered he was one hundred and fifty dollars
behind the game。
〃I guess I'll leave the train go without me；〃 said Lin； buying five
dollars〃 worth more of ivory counters。 So that train came and went；
removing eastward Mr。 McLean's trunk。
During the hour that followed his voice grew dogged and his remarks
briefer； as he continually purchased more chips from the now surprised
and sympathetic dealer。 It was really wonderful how steadily Lin lost
just as steadily as his predecessor had won