第5章
Thisco"tismo"thanwillin"andfullofjoytoseethecloudsofdiscordandmisunderstandin"rollin"awayfromtwolovin"hearts，butitairthedutyoftheco"ttop"eservethemoralsandintegrityoftheState。Theco"tremindsyouthatyouairnolongermanandwife，butairdivo"cedbyregulardecree，andassuchairnotentitledtothebenefitsand"purtenancesofthemattermonalestate。"
ArielacaughtRansie"sarm。Didthosewordsmeanthatshemustlosehimnowwhentheyhadjustlearnedthelessonoflife？
"Buttheco"tairprepared，"wentontheJustice，"furtoremovethedisabilitiessetupbythedecreeofdivo"ce。
Theco"taironhandtoperformthesolemnceremonyofmarri"ge，thusfixin"thingsupandenablin"thepartiesinthecasetoresumethehonour"bleandelevatin"stateofmattermonywhichtheydesires。Thefeefurper-
formin"saidceremonywillbe，inthiscase，towit，fivedollars。"
Ariclacaughtthegleamofpromiseinhiswords。
Swiftlyherhandwenttoherbosom。FreelyasanalightingdovethebillflutteredtotheJustice"stable。
HersallowcheekcolouredasshestoodhandinhandwithRansieandlistenedtothereunitingwords。
Ransiehelpedherintothecart，andclimbedinbesideher。Thelittleredbullturnedoncemore，andtheysetout，hand-clasped，forthemountains。
Justice-of-the-peaceBenajaWiddupsatinhisdoorandtookoffhisshoes。Onceagainhefingeredthebilltuckeddowninhisvestpocket。Onceagainhesmokedhiselder-stempipe。Onceagainthespeck-ledhenswag-
gereddownthemainstreetofthe"settlement，"cacklingfoolishly。
ASACRIFICEHIT
TheeditoroftheHearthstoneMagazinehisownideasabouttheselectionofmanuscriptforhispublication。
Histheoryisnosecret；infact，hewillexpoundittoyouwillinglysittingathismahoganydesk，smilingbenignantlyandtappinghiskneegentlywithhisgold-rimmedeye-
glasses。
"TheHearthstone，"hewillsay，"doesnotemployastaffofreaders。Weobtainopinionsofthemanuscriptssubmittedtousdirectlyfromtypesofthevariousclassesofourreaders。"
Thatistheeditor"stheory；andthisisthewayhecarriesitout:
WhenabatchofMSS。isreceivedtheeditorstuffseveryoneofhispocketsfullofthemanddistributesthemashegoesaboutduringtheday。Theofficeemployees，thehallporter，thejanitor，theelevatorman，messengerboys，thewaitersatthecaf？wheretheeditorhasluncheon，themanatthenews-standwherehebuyshiseveningpaper，thegrocerandmilkman，theguardonthe5。30uptownelevatedtrain，theticket-chopperatSixty——thstreet，thecookandmaidathishome——
thesearethereaderswhopassuponMSS。sentintotheHearthstoneMagazine。Ifhispocketsarenotentirelyemptiedbythetimehereachesthebosomofhisfamilytheremainingonesarehandedovertohiswifetoreadafterthebabygoestosleep。AfewdayslatertheeditorgathersintheMSS。duringhisregularroundsandcon-
siderstheverdictofhisassortedreaders。
Thissystemofmakingupamagazinehasbeenverysuccessful；andthecirculation，pacedbytheadvertisingrates，ismakingawonderfulrecordofspeed。
TheHearthstoneCompanyalsopublishesbooks，anditsimprintistobefoundonseveralsuccessfulworks——allrecommended，saystheeditor，bytheHearthstone"8
armyofvolunteerreaders。Nowandthen(accordingtotalkativemembersoftheeditorialstaff)theHearthstonehasallowedmanuscriptstoslipthroughitsfingersontheadviceofitsheterogeneousreaders，thatafterwardprovedtobefamoussellerswhenbroughtoutbyotherhouses。
Forinstance(thegossipssay)，"TheRiseandFallofSilasLatham"wasunfavourablypasseduponbytheelevator-man；theoffice-boyunanimouslyrejected"TheBoss"；"IntheBishop"sCarriage"wascontemptuouslylookeduponbythestreet-carconductor；"TheDeliver-
ance"wasturneddownbyaclerkinthesubscriptiondepartmentwhosewife"smotherhadjustbegunatwo-
months"visitathishome；"TheQueen"sQuair"camebackfromthejanitorwiththecomment:"Soisthebook。"
ButneverthelesstheHearthstoneadherestoitstheoryandsystem，anditwillneverlackvolunteerreaders；
foreachoneofthewidelyscatteredstaff，fromtheyoungladystenographerintheeditorialofficetothemanwhoshovelsincoal(whoseadversedecisionlosttotheHearth-
stoneCompanythemanuscriptof"TheUnderWorld")，hasexpectationsofbecomingeditorofthemagazinesomeday。
ThismethodoftheHearthstonewaswellknowntoAllenSlaytonwhenhewrotehisnoveletteentitled"LoveIsAll。"SlaytonhadhungabouttheeditorialofficesofallthemagazinessopersistentlythathewasacquaintedwiththeinnerworkingsofeveryoneinGotham。
HeknewnotonlythattheeditoroftheHearthstonehandedhisMSS。aroundamongdifferenttypesofpeopleforreading，butthatthestoriesofsentimentallove-
interestwenttoMissPuffkin，theeditor"sstenographer。
Anotheroftheeditor"speculiarcustomswastoconcealinvariablythenameofthewriterfromhisreadersofMSS。sothataglitteringnamemightnotinfluencethesincerityoftheirreports。
Slaytonmade"LoveIsAll"theeffortofhislife。Hegaveitsixmonthsofthebestworkofhisheartandbrain。Itwasapurelove-story，fine，elevated，romantic，passionate——aprosepoemthatsetthedivineblessingoflove(Iamtransposingfromthemanuscript)highaboveallearthlygiftsandhonours，andlisteditinthecatalogueofheaven"schoicestrewards。Slayton"sliteraryambitionwasintense。Hewouldhavesacrificedallotherworldlypossessionstohavegainedfameinhischosenart。Hewouldalmosthavecutoffhisrighthand，orhaveofferedhimselftotheknifeoftheappendi-
citisfanciertohaverealizedhisdreamofseeingoneofhiseffortspublishedintheHearthstone。
Slaytonfinished"LoveIsAll，"andtookittothyHearthstoneinperson。Theofficeofthemagazinewasinalarge，conglomeratebuilding，presidedunderbyajanitor。
Asthewritersteppedinsidethedooronhiswaytotheelevatorapotatomasherflewthroughthehall，wreck-
ing，Slayton"shat，andsmashingtheglassofthedoor。
Closelyfollowinginthewakeoftheutensilflewthejanitor，abulky，unwholesomeman，suspenderlessandsordid，panic-strickenandbreathless。Afrowsy，tallwomanwithflyinghairfollowedthemissile。Thejanitor"sfootslippedonthetiledfloor，hefellinaheapwithanexclamationofdespair。Thewomanpounceduponhimandseizedhishair。Themanbellowedlustily。
Hervengeancewreaked，theviragoroseandstalkedtriumphantasMinerva，backtosomecrypticdomesticretreatattherear。Thejanitorgottohisfeet，blownandhumiliated。
"Thisismarriedlife，"hesaidtoSlayton，withacertainbruisedhumour。"That"sthegirlIusedtolayawakeofnightsthinkingabout。Sorryaboutyourhat，mister。
Say，don"tsnitchtothetenantsaboutthis，willyer？
Idon"twanttolosemejob。"
SlaytontooktheelevatorattheendofthehallandwentuptotheofficesoftheHearthstone。HelefttheMS。of"LoveIsAll"withtheeditor，whoagreedtogive，himananswerastoitsavailabilityattheendofaweek。
Slaytonformulatedhisgreatwinningschemeonhiswaydown。Itstruckhimwithonebrilliantflash，andhecouldnotrefrainfromadmiringhisowngeniusinconceivingtheidea。Thatverynighthesetaboutcarry-
ingitintoexecution。
MissPuffkin，theHearthstonestenographer，boardedinthesamehousewiththeauthor。Shewasanoldish，thin，exclusive，languishing，sentimentalmaid；andSlaytonhadbeenintroducedtohersometimebefore。
Thewriter"sdaringandself-sacrificingprojectwasthis:HeknewthattheeditoroftheHearthstonereliedstronglyuponMissPuffkin"sjudgmentinthemanuscriptofromanticandsentimentalfiction。Hertasterepresentedtheimmenseaverageofmediocrewomenwhodevournovelsandstoriesofthattype。Thecentralideaandkeynoteof"LoveIsAll"wasloveatfirstsight——theenrapturing，irresistible，soul-thrilling，feelingthatcom-
pelsamanorawomantorecognizehisorherspirit-mateassoonasheartspeakstoheart。SupposeheshouldimpressthisdivinetruthuponMissPuffkinpersonally!——
wouldshenotsurelyindorsehernewandrapturoussensationsbyrecommendinghighlytotheeditoroftheHearthstonethenovelette"LoveIsAll"？
Slaytonthoughtso。AndthatnighthetookMissPuffkintothetheatre。Thenextnighthemadevehementlovetoherinthedimparlouroftheboarding-house。Hequotedfreelyfrom"LoveIsAll"；andhewoundupwithMissPuffkin"sheadonhisshoulder，andvisionsofliteraryfamedancinginhishead。
ButSlaytondidnotstopatlove-making。This，hesaidtohimself，wastheturningpointofhislife；and，likeatruesportsman，he"wentthelimit。"OnThursdaynightheandMissPuffkinwalkedovertotheBigChurchintheMiddleoftheBlockandweremarried。
BraveSlayton!Chateaubrianddiedinagarret，Byroncourtedawidow，Keatsstarvedtodeath，Poemixedhisdrinks，DeQuinceyhitthepipe，AdelivedinChica-o，Jameskeptondoingit，DicKensworewhitesocks，DeMaupassantworeastrait-jacket，TomWatsonbecameaPopulist，Jeremiahwept，alltheseauthorsdidthesethingsforthesakeofliterature，butthoudidstcapthemall；thoumarriedstawifefortocarveforthyselfanicheinthetempleoffame!
OnFridaymorningMrs。SlaytonsaidshewouldgoovertotheHearthstoneoffice，handinoneortwomanu-
riptsthattheeditorhadgiventohertoread，andresignherpositionasstenographer。
"Wasthereanything——er——that——er——youparticu-
larlyfanciedinthestoriesyouaregoingtoturnin？"
askedSlaytonwithathumpingheart。
"Therewasoneanovelette，thatIlikedsomuch，"
saidhiswife。"Ihaven"treadanythinginyearsthatIthoughtwashalfasniceandtruetolife。"
ThatafternoonSlaytonhurrieddowntotheHearth-
stoneoffice。Hefeltthathisrewardwascloseathand。
WithanoveletteintheHearthstone，literaryreputationwouldsoonbehis。
Theofficeboymethimattherailingintheouteroffice。Itwasnotforunsuccessfulauthorstoholdpersonalcolloquywiththeeditorexceptatrareintervals。
Slayton，hugginghimselfinternally，wasnursinginhishearttheexquisitehopeofbeingabletocrushtheofficeboywithhisforthcomingsuccess。
Heinquiredconcerninghisnovelette。Theofficeboywentintothesacredprecinctsandbroughtforthalargeenvelope，thickwithmorethanthebulkofathousanddiecks。
"Thebosstoldmetotellyouhe"ssorry，"saidtheboy，"butyourmanuscriptain"tavailableforthemagazine。"
Slaytonstood，dazed。"Canyoutellme，"hestammered，"whetherornoMissPuff——thatismy——ImeanMissruffkin——handedinanovelettethismorningthatshehadbeenaskedtoread？"
"Sureshedid，"answeredtheofficeboywisely。"I
heardtheoldmansaythatMissPuffkinsaiditwasadaisy。Thenameofitwas，"MarriedfortheMazuma，oraWorkingGirl"sTriumph。""
"Say，you!"saidtheofficeboyconfidentially，"yourname"sSlayton，ain"tit？IguessImixedcasesonvouwithoutmeanin"todoit。Thebossgivemesomemanu-
scripttohandaroundtheotherdayandIgottheonesforMissPuffkinandthejanitormixed。Iguessit"sallright，though。"
AndthenSlaytonlookedcloserandsawonthecoverofhismanuscript，underthetitle"LoveIsAll，"thejanitor"scommentscribbledwithapieceofcharcoal:
"The——yousay!"
THEROADSWETAKE
TWIENTYmilesWestofTucson，the"SunsetExpress"
stoppedatatanktotakeonwater。Besidestheaqueous，additiontheengineofthatfamousflyeracquiredsomeotherthingsthatwerenotgoodforit。
Whilethefiremanwasloweringthefeedinghose，BobTidball，"Shark"Dodsonandaquarter-bredCreekIndiancalledJohnBigDogclimbedontheengineandshowedtheengineerthreeroundorificesinpiecesofordnancethatthecarried。Theseorificessoimpressedtheengineerwiththeirpossibilitiesthatheraisedbothhandsinagesturesuchasaccompaniestheejaculation"Dotell!"
AtthecrispcommandofSharkDodson，whowasleaderoftheattackingforcetheengineerdescendedtothegroundanduncoupledtheengineandtender。
ThenJohnBigDog，percheduponthecoal，sportivelyheldtwogunsupontheenginedriverandthefireman，andsuggestedthattheyruntheenginefiftyyardsawayandthereawaitfurtherorders。
SharkDodsonandBobTidball，scorningtoputsuchlow-gradeoreasthepassengersthroughthemill，struckoutfortherichpocketoftheexpresscar。Theyfoundthemessengersereneinthebeliefthatthe"SunsetExpress"wastakingonnothingmorestimulatinganddangerousthanaquapura。WhileBobwasknockingthisideaoutofhisheadwiththebutt-endofhissix-shooterSharkDodsonwasalreadydosingtheexpress-carsafewithdynamite。
Thesafeexplodedtothetuneof$30，000，allgoldandcurrency。Thepassengersthrusttheirheadscasuallyoutofthewindowstolookforthethunder-cloud。Theconductorjerkedatthebell-rope，whichsaggeddownlooseandunresisting，athistug。SharkDodsonandBobTidball，withtheirbootyinastoutcanvasbag，tumbledoutoftheexpresscarandranawkwardlyintheirhigh-heeledbootstotheengine。
Theengineer，sullenlyangrybutwise，rantheengine，accordingtoorders，rapidlyawayfromtheinerttrain。
Butbeforethiswasaccomplishedtheexpressmessenger，recoveredfromBobTidball"spersuadertoneutrality，jumpedoutofhiscarwithaWinchesterrifleandtookatrickinthegame。Mr。JohnBigDog，sittingonthecoaltender，unwittinglymadeawrongleadbygivinganimitationofatarget，andthemessengertrumpedhim。
WithaballexactlybetweenhisshoulderbladestheCreekchevalierofindustryrolledofftotheground，thusincreasingtheshareofhiscomradesinthelootbyone-sixtheach。
Twomilesfromthetanktheengineerwasorderedtostop。
Therobberswavedadefiantadieuandplungeddownthesteepslopeintothethickwoodsthatlinedthetrack。
Fiveminutesofcrashingthroughathicketofchapparalbroughtthemtoopenwoods，wherethreehorsesweretiedtolow-hangingbranches。OnewaswaitingforJohnBigDog，whowouldneverridebynightordayagain。
Thisanimaltherobbersdivestedofsaddleandbridleandsetfree。Theymountedtheothertwowiththebagacrossonepommel，androdefastandwithdiscre-
tionthroughtheforestandupaprimeval，lonelygorge。
HeretheanimalthatboreBobTidballslippedonamossyboulderandbrokeaforeleg。Theyshothimthroughtheheadatonceandsatdowntoholdacouncilofflight。
Madesecureforthepresentbythetortuoustrailthey-
hadtravelled，thequestionoftimewasnolongersobig。
Manymilesandhourslaybetweenthemandthespryestpossethatcouldfollow。SharkDodson"shorse，withtrailingropeanddroppedbridle，pantedandcroppedthankfullyofthegrassalongthestreaminthegorge。
BobTidballopenedthesack，drewoutdoublehandfulsoftheneatpackagesofcurrencyandtheonesackofgoldandchuckledwiththegleeofachild。
"Say，youolddouble-deckedpirate，"hecalledjoyfullytoDodson，"yousaidwecoulddoit——yougotaheadforfinancingthatknocksthehornsoffofanythinginArizona。"
"Whatarewegoingtodoaboutahossforyou，Bob？
Weain"tgotlongtowaithere。They"llbeonourtrailbeforedaylightinthemornin"。"
"Oh，Iguessthatcayuseofyourn"llcarrydoubleforawhile，"answeredthesanguineBob。"We"llannexthefirstanimalwecomeacross。Byjingoes，wemadeahaul，didn"twe？Accordin"tothemarksonthismoneythere"s$30，000——$15，000apiece!"
"It"sshortofwhatIexpected，"saidSharkDodson，kickingsoftlyatthepackageswiththetoeofhisbootandthenhelookedpensivelyatthewetsidesofhistiredhorse。
"OldBolivar"smightynighplayedout，"hesaid，slowly。"Iwishthatsorrelofyourshadn"tgothurt。"
"SodoI，"saidBob，heartily，"butitcan"tbehelped。
Bolivar"sgotplentyofbottom——he"llgetusbothfarenoughtogetfreshmounts。Dangit，Shark，Ican"tbelpthinkin"howfunnyitisthatanEasternerlikeyoucancomeouthereandgiveusWesternfellowscardsandspadesinthedesperadobusiness。WhatpartoftheEastwasyoufrom，anyway？"
"NewYorkState，"saidSharkDodson，sittingdownonaboulderandchewingatwig。"IwasbornonafarminUlsterCounty。IranawayfromhomewhenIwasseventeen。ItwasanaccidentmycomingWest。Iwaswalkin"alongtheroadwithmyclothesinabundle，makin"forNewYorkCity。Ihadanideaofgoin"thereandmakin"lotsofmoney。IalwaysfeltlikeIcoulddoit。Icametoaplaceoneevenin"wheretheroadforkedandIdidn"tknowwhichforktotake。I
studiedaboutitforhalfanhour，andthenItooktheleft-
hand。ThatnightIrunintothecampofaWildWestshowthatwastravellin"amongthelittletowns，andIwentWestwithit。I"veoftenwonderedifI
wouldn"thaveturnedoutdifferentifI"dtooktheotherroad。"
"Oh，Ireckonyou"dhaveendedupaboutthesame，"
saidBobTidball，cheerfullyphilosophical。"Itain"ttheroadswetake；it"swhat"sinsideofusthatmakesusturnoutthewaywedo。"
SharkDodsongotupandleanedagainstatree。
"I"dagooddealratherthatsorrelofyournhadn"thurthimself，Bob，"hesaidagain，almostpathetically。
"Samehere，"agreedBob；"hewassureafirst-ratekindofacrowbait。ButBolivar，he"llpullusthroughallright。Reckonwe"dbetterbemovin"on，hadn"twe，Shark？I"llbagthisboodleag"inandwe"llhitthetrailforhighertimber。"
BobTidballreplacedthespoilinthebagandtiedthemouthofittightlywithacord。WhenhelookedupthemostprominentobjectthathesawwasthemuzzleofSharkDodson"s。45helduponhimwithoutawaver。
"Stopyourfunnin"，"saidBob，withagrin。"Wegottobehittin"thebreeze。"
"Setstill，"saidShark。"Youain"tgoin"tohitnobreeze，Bob。Ihatetotellyou，butthereain"tanychanceforbutoneofus。Bolivar，he"splentytired，andhecan"tcarrydouble。"
"Webeenpards，meandyou，SharkDodson，forthreeyear，"Bobsaidquietly。"We"veriskedourlivestogethertimeandagain。I"vealwaysgiveyouasquaredeal，andIthoughtyouwasaman。I"veheardsomequeerstoriesaboutyoushootin"oneortwomeninapeculiarway，butIneverbelieved"em。Nowifyou"rejusthavin"
alittlefunwithme，Shark，putyourgunup，andwe"llgetonBolivarandvamose。Ifyoumeantoshoot——
shoot，youblackheartedsonofatarantula!"
SharkDodson"sfaceboreadeeplysorrowfullook。
"Youdon"tknowhowbadIfeel，"hesighed，"aboutthatsorrelofyournbreakin"hisleg，Bob。"
TheexpressiononDodson"sfacechangedinaninstanttooneofcoldferocitymingledwithinexorablecupidity。
Thesoulofthemanshoweditselfforamomentlikeanevilfaceinthewindowofareputablehouse。
TrulyBobTidballwasneverto"hitthebreeze"again。
Thedeadly。45ofthefalsefriendcrackedandfilledthegorgewitharoarthatthewallshurledbackwithindignantechoes。AndBolivar，unconsciousaccomplice，swiftlyboreawaythelastoftheholders-upofthe"SunsetExpress，"notputtothestressof"carryingdouble。"
Butas"Shark"Dodsongallopedawaythewoodsseemedtofadefromhisview；therevolverinhisrighthandturnedtothecurvedarmofamahoganychair；hissaddlewasstrangelyupholstered，andheopenedhiseyesandsawhisfeet，notinstirrups，butrestingquietlyontheedgeofaquartered-oakdesk。
IamtellingyouthatDodson，ofthefirmofDodson&Decker，WallStreetbrokers，openedhiseyes。Peabody，theconfidentialclerk，wasstandingbyhischair，hesitatingtospeak。Therewasaconfusedhumofwheelsbelow，andthesedativebuzzofanelectricfan。
"Ahem!Peabody，"saidDodson，blinking。"Imusthavefallenasleep。Ihadamostremarkabledream。
Whatisit，Peabody？"
"Mr。Williams，sir，ofTracy&Williams，isoutside。
HehascometosettlehisdealinX。Y。Z。Themarketcaughthimshort，sir，ifyouremember。"
"Yes，Iremember。WhatisX。Y。Z。quotedatto-day，Peabody？"
"Oneeighty-five，sir。"
"Thenthat"shisprice。"
"Excuseme，"saidPeabody，rathernervously"forspeakingofit，butI"vebeentalkingtoWilliams。He"sanoldfriendofyours，Mr。Dodson，andyoupracticallyhaveacornerinX。Y。Z。Ithoughtyoumight——thatis，Ithoughtyoumightnotrememberthathesoldyouthestockat98。Ifhesettlesatthemarketpriceitwilltakeeverycenthehasintheworldandhishometootodelivertheshares。"
TheexpressiononDodson"sfacechangedinaninstanttooneofcoldferocitymingledwithinexorablecupidity。
Thesoulofthemanshoweditselfforamomentlikeanevilfaceinthewindowofareputablehouse。
"Hewillsettleatoneeighty-five，"saidDodson。
"Bolivarcannotcarrydouble。"
ABLACKJACKBARGAINER
ThemostdisreputablethinginYanceyGoree"slawofficewasGoreehimself，sprawledinhiscreakvoldarm-
chair。Thericketylittleoffice，builtofredbrick，wassetflushwiththestreet——themainstreetofthetownofBethel。
Bethelresteduponthefoot-hillsoftheBlueRidge。
Aboveitthemountainswerepiledtothesky。FarbelowittheturbidCatawbagleamedyellowalongitsdisconsolatevalley。
TheJunedaywasatitssultriesthour。Betheldozedinthetepidshade。Tradewasnot。ItwassostillthatGoree，reclininginhischair，distinctlyheardtheclickingofthechipsinthegrand-juryroom，wherethe"court-
housegang"wasplayingpoker。Fromtheopenbackdooroftheofficeawell-wornpathmeanderedacrossthegrassylottothecourt-house。ThetreadingoutofthatpathhadcostGoreeallheeverhad——firstinheritanceofafewthousanddollars，nexttheoldfamilyhome，and，latterlythelastshredsofhisself-respectandmanhood。
The"gang"hadcleanedhimout。Thebrokengamblerhadturneddrunkardandparasite；hehadlivedtoseethisdaycomewhenthemenwhohadstrippedhimdeniedhimaseatatthegame。Hiswordwasnolongertobetaken。Thedailyboutsatcardshadarrangeditselfaccordingly，andtohimwasassignedtheignoblepartoftheonlooker。Thesheriff，thecountyclerk，asportivedeputy，agayattorney，andachalk-facedmanhailing"fromthevalley，"satattable，andtheshearedonewasthustacitlyadvisedtogoandgrowmorewool。
Soonwearyingofhisostracism，Goreehaddepartedforhisoffice，mutteringtohimselfasheunsteadilytra-
versedtheunluckypathway。Afteradrinkofcornwhiskeyfromademijohnunderthetable，hehadflunghimselfintothechair，staring，inasortofmaudlinapathy，outatthemountainsimmersedinthesummerhaze。
ThelittlewhitepatchhesawawayuponthesideofBlackjackwasLaurel，thevillagenearwhichhehadbeenbornandbred。There，also，wasthebirthplaceofthefeudbetweentheGoreesandtheColtranes。NownodirectheiroftheGoreessurvivedexceptthispluckedandsingedbirdofmisfortune。TotheColtranes，also，butonemalesupporterwasleft——ColonelAbnerCol-
trane，amanofsubstanceandstanding，amemberoftheStateLegislature，andacontemporarywithGoree"sfather。Thefeudhadbeenatypicaloneoftheregion；
ithadleftaredrecordofhate，wrongandslaughter。
ButYanceyGoreewasnotthinkingoffeuds。Hisbefuddledbrainwashopelesslyattackingtheproblemofthefuturemaintenanceofhimselfandhisfavouritefollies。Oflate，oldfriendsofthefamilyhadseentoitthathehadwhereoftoeatandaplacetosleep——butwhiskeytheywouldnotbuyforhim，andhemusthavewhiskey。
Hislawbusinesswasextinct；nocasehadbeenintrustedtohimintwoyears。Hehadbeenaborrowerandasponge，anditseemedthatifhefellnoloweritwouldbefromlackofopportunity。Onemorechance——hewassayingtohimself——ifhehadonemorestakeatthegame，hethoughthecouldwin；buthehadnothinglefttosell，andhiscreditwasmorethanexhausted。
Hecouldnothelpsmiling，eveninhismisery，ashethoughtofthemantowhom，sixmonthsbefore，hehadsoldtheoldGoreehomestead。Therehadcomefrom"backyan""inthemountainstwoofthestrangestcreatures，amannamedPikeGarveyandhiswife。"Backyan"，"withawaveofthehandtowardthehills，wasunderstoodamongthemountaineerstodesignatetheremotestfastnesses，theunplumbedgorges，thehauntsoflawbreakers，thewolf"sden，andtheboudoirofthebear。
InthecabinfaruponBlackjack"sshoulder，inthewildestpartoftheseretreats，thisoddcouplehadlivedfortwentyyears。Theyhadneitherdognorchildrentomitigatetheheavysilenceofthehills。PikeGarveywaslittleknowninthesettlements，butallwhohaddealtwithhimpronouncedhim"crazyasaloon。"Heacknowledgednooccupationsavethatofasquirrelhunter，buthe"moonshined"occasionallybywayofdiversion。Oncethe"revenues"haddraggedhimfromhislair，fightingsilentlyanddesperatelylikeaterrier，andhehadbeensenttostate"sprisonfortwoyears。Released，hepoppedbackintohisholelikeanangryweasel。
Fortune，passingovermanyanxiouswooers，madeafreakishflightintoBlackjack"sboskypocketstosmileuponPikeandhisfaithfulpartner。
Onedayapartyofspectacled，knickerbockered，andaltogetherabsurdprospectorsinvadedthevicinityoftheGarvey"scabin。Pikeliftedhissquirrelrifleoffthehooksandtookashotatthematlongrangeonthechanceoftheirbeingrevenues。Happilyhemissed，andtheunconsciousagentsofgoodluckdrewnearer，disclosingtheirinnocenceofanythingresemblinglaworjustice。
Lateron，theyofferedtheGarveysanenormousquantityofready，green，crispmoneyfortheirthirty-acrepatchofclearedland，mentioning，asanexcuseforsuchamadaction，someirrelevantandinadequatenonsenseaboutabedofmicaunderlyingthesaidproperty。
WhentheGarveysbecamepossessedofsomanydol-
larsthattheyfalteredincomputingthem，thedeficienciesoflifeonBlackjackbegantogrowprominent。Pikebegantotalkofnewshoes，ahogsheadoftobaccotosetinthecorner，anewlocktohisrifle；and，leadingMartellatoacertainspotonthemountain-side，hepointedouttoherhowasmallcannon——doubtlessathingnotbeyondthescopeoftheirfortuneinprice——
mightbeplantedsoastocommandanddefendthesoleaccessibletrailtothecabin，totheconfusionofrevenuesandmeddlingstrangersforever。
ButAdamreckonedwithouthisEve。Thesethingsrepresentedtohimtheappliedpowerofwealth，butthereslumberedinhisdingycabinanambitionthatsoaredfarabovehisprimitivewants。SomewhereinMrs。Garvey"sbosomstillsurvivedaspotoffemininityunstarvedbytwentyyearsofBlackjack。Forsolongatimethesoundsinherearshadbeenthescaly-barksdroppinginthewoodsatnoon，andthewolvessingingamongtherocksatnight，anditwasenoughtohavepurgedherofvanities。Shehadgrownfatandsadandyellowanddull。Butwhenthemeanscame，shefeltarekindleddesiretoassumetheperquisitesofhersex——
tositatteatables；tobuyfutilethings；towhitewashthehideousveracityoflifewithalittleformandceremony。
SoshecoldlyvetoedPike"sproposedsystemoffortifica-
tions，andannouncedthatthevwoulddescendupontheworld，andgyratesocially。
Andthus，atlength，itwasdecided，andthethingdone。ThevillageofLaurelwastheircompromisebetweenMrs。Garvey"spreferenceforoneofthelargevalleytownsandPike"shankeringforprimevalsolitudes。
LaurelyieldedahaltingroundoffeeblesocialdistractionsomportablewithMartella"sambitions，andwasnotentirelywithoutrecommendationtoPike，itscontiguitytothemountainspresentingadvantagesforsuddenretreatincasefashionablesocietyshouldmakeitadvisable。
TheirdescentuponLaurelhadbeencoincidentwithYanceyGoree"sfeverishdesiretoconvertpropertyintocash，andtheyboughttheoldGoreehomestead，payingfourthousanddollarsreadymoneyintothespendthrift"sshakinghands。
ThusithappenedthatwhilethedisreputablelastoftheGoreessprawledinhisdisreputableoffice，attheendofhisrow，spurnedbythecronieswhomhehadgorged，strangersdweltinthehallsofhisfathers。
Acloudofdustwasrolling，slowlyuptheparchedstreet，withsomethingtravellinginthemidstofit。A
littlebreezewaftedthecloudtooneside，andanew，brightlypaintedcarryall，drawnbyaslothfulgrayhorse，becamevisible。ThevehicledeflectedfromthemiddleofthestreetasitnearedGoree"soffice，andstoppedinthegutterdirectlyinfrontofhisdoor。
Onthefrontseatsatagaunt，tallman，dressedinblackbroadcloth，hisrigidhandsincarceratedinyellowkidgloves。OnthebackseatwasaladywhotriumphedovertheJuneheat。Herstoutformwasarmouredinaskintightsilkdressofthedescriptionknownas"change-
able，"beingagorgeouscombinationofshiftinghues。
Shesaterect，wavingamuch-omamentedfan，withhereyesfixedstonilyfardownthestreet。HoweverMartellaGarvey"sheartmightberejoicingatthepleasuresofhernewlife，Blackjackhaddonehisworkwithherexterior。
Hehadcarvedhercountenancetotheimageofemptinessandinanity；hadimbuedherwiththestolidityofhiscrags，andthereserveofhishushedinteriors。Shealwaysseemedtohear，whateverhersurroundingswere，thescaly-barksfallingandpatteringdownthemountain-
side。ShecouldalwaysheartheawfulsilenceofBlack-
jacksoundingthroughthestillestofnights。
Goreewatchedthissolemnequipage，asitdrovetohisdoor，withonlyfaintinterest；butwhenthelankdriverwrappedthereinsabouthiswhip，awkwardlydescended，andsteppedintotheoffice，heroseunsteadilytoreceivehim，recognizingPikeGarvey，thenew，thetransformed，therecentlycivilized。
ThemountaineertookthechairGoreeofferedhim。
TheywhocastdoubtsuponGarvey"ssoundnessofmindhadastrongwitnessintheman"scountenance。Hisfacewastoolong，adullsaffroninhue，andimmobileasastatue"s。Pale-blue，unwinkingroundeyeswithoutlashesaddedtothesingularityofhisgruesomevisage。
Goreewasatalosstoaccountforthevisit。
"EverythingallrightatLaurel，Mr。Garvey？"heinquired。
"Everythingallright，sir，andmightypleasedisMissisGarveyandmewiththeproperty。MissisGarveylikesyo"oldplace，andshelikestheneighbourhood。Societyiswhatshe"lowsshewants，andsheisgettin"ofit。TheRogerses，theHapgoods，thePrattsandtheTroyshevbeentoseeMissisGarvey，andshehevetmealstomostoftharhouses。Thebestfolkshevaxedhertodiffer"ntkindsofdoin"s。Icyan"tsay，Mr。Goree，thatsechthingssuitsme——furme，givemethemthar。"Garvey"shuge，yellow-glovedhandflourishedinthedirectionofthemountains。"That"swharIb"long，"mongstthewildhoneybeesandtheb"ars。Butthatain"twhatI
comefurtosay，Mr。Goree。Thar"ssomethin"yougotwhatmeandMissisGarveywantstobuy。"
"Buy!"echoedGoree。"Fromme？"Thenhelaughedharshly。"Ireckonyouaremistakenaboutthat。Ireckonyouaremistakenaboutthat。Isoldouttoyou，asyouyourselfexpressedit，"lock，stockandbarrel。"Thereisn"tevenaramrodlefttosell。"
"You"vegotit；andwe"unswantit。"Takethemoney，"saysMissisGarvey，"andbuyitfa"randsquared"。""
Goreeshookhishead。"Thecupboard"sbare，"hesaid。
"We"veriz，"pursuedthemountaineer，undetectedfromhisobject，"aheap。Wewasporeaspossums，andnowwecouldhevfolkstodinnereveryday。Webeenrecognized，MissisGarveysays，bythebestsociety。
Butthere"ssomethin"weneedweain"tgot。Shesaysitoughttobeenputinthe"ventoryovthesale，butittain"tthar。"Takethemoney，then，"saysshe，"andbuyitfa"randsquar"。""
"Outwithit，"saidGoree，hisrackednervesgrowingimpatient。
Garveythrewhisslouchbatuponthetable，andleanedforward，fixinghisunblinkingevesuponGoree"s。
"There"saoldfeud，"hesaiddistinctlyandslowly，""tweenyou"unsandtheColtranes。"
Goreefrownedominously。Tospeakofhisfeudtoafeudistisaseriousbreachofthemountainetiquette。
Themanfrom"backyan""knewitaswellasthelawyerdid。
"Naoffense，"hewenton"butpurelyinthewayofbusiness。MissisGarveyhevstudiedallaboutfeuds。
Mostofthequalityfolksinthemountainshev"em。TheSettlesandtheGoforths，theRankinsandtheBoyds，theSilersandtheGalloways，hevallbeencyarin"onfeudsf"omtwentytoahundredyear。Thelastmantodrapwaswhenyo"uncle，JedgePaisleyGoree，"journedco"tandshotLenColtranef"omthebench。MissisGarveyandme，wecomef"omthepo"whitetrash。Nobodywouldn"tpickafeudwithwe"uns，nomo"nwithafam"lyoftree-toads。Qualitypeopleeverywhar，saysMissisGarvey，hasfeuds。We"unsain"tquality，butwe"reuyin"intoitasfuraswecan。"Takethemoney，then，"
saysMissisGarvey，"andbuyMr。Goree"sfeud，fa"randsquar"。""
Thesquirrelhunterstraightenedaleghalfacrosstheroom，drewarollofbillsfromhispocket，andthrewthemonthetable。
"Thar"stwohundreddollars，Mr。Goree；whatyouwouldcallafa"rpriceforafeudthat"sbeen"lowedtorundownlikeyournhev。Thar"sonlyyoulefttocyar"
onyo"sideofit，andyou"dmakemightypo"killin"。I"lltakeitoffyo"hands，andit"llsetmeandMissisGarveyupamongthequality。Thar"sthemoney。"
Thelittlerollofcurrencyonthetableslowlyuntwisteditself，writhingandjumpingasitsfoldsrelaxed。InthesilencethatfollowedGarvey"slastspeechtherattlingofthepokerchipsinthecourt-housecouldbeplainlyheard。
Goreeknewthatthesheriffhadjustwonapot，forthesubduedwhoopwithwhichhealwaysgreetedavictoryfloatedacrossthesqquareuponthecrinklyheatwaves。
BeadsofmoisturestoodonGoree"sbrow。Stooping，hedrewthewicker-covereddemijohnfromunderthetable，andfilledatumblerfromit。
"Alittlecornliquor，Mr。Garvey？Ofcourseyouarejokingaboutwhatyouspokeof？Opensquiteanewmarket，doesn"tit？Feuds。Prime，two-fiftytothree。Feuds，slightlydamaged——twohundred，I
believeyousaid，Mr。Garvey？"
Goreelaughedself-consciously。
ThemountaineertooktheglassGoreehandedhim，anddrankthewhiskywithoutatremorofthelidsofhisstaringeyes。Thelawyerapplaudedthefeatbyalookofenviousadmiration。Hepouredhisowndrink，andtookitlikeadrunkard，bygulps，andwithshuddersatthesmellandtaste。
"Twohundred，"repeatedGarvey。"Thar"sthemoney。"
AsuddenpassionflaredupinGoree"sbrain。Hestruckthetablewithhisfist。Oneofthebillsflippedoverandtouchedhishand。Heflinchedasifsomethinghadstunghim。
"Doyoucometome，"heshouted，"seriouslywithsucharidiculous，insulting，darned-foolproposition？"
"It"sfa"randsquar"，"saidthesquirrelhunter，buthereachedouthishandasiftotakebackthemoney；andthenGoreeknewthathisownflurryofragehadnotbeenfromprideorresentment，butfromangerathimself，knowingthathewouldsetfootinthedeeperdepthsthatwerebeingopenedtohim。Heturnedinaninstantfromanoutragedgentlemantoananxiouschaffererrecom-
mendinghisgoods。
"Don"tbeinahurry，Garvey，"hesaid，hisfacecrimsonandhisspeechthick。"Iacceptyourp-p-proposition，thoughit"sdirtcheapattwohundred。At-trade"sallrightwhenbothp-purchaserandb-buyerares-satisfied。
ShallIw-wrapitupforyou，Mr。Garvey？"
Garveyrose，andshookouthisbroadcloth。"MissisGarvevwillbepleased。Youairoutofit，anditstandsColtraneandGarvey。Justascrapovwritin"，Mr。
Goree，youbein"alawyer，toshowwetraded。"
Goreeseizedasheetofpaperandapen。Themoneywasclutchedinhismoisthand。Everythingelsesud-
denlyseemedtogrowtrivialandlight。
"Billofsale，byallmeans。"Right，title，andinterestinandto"……"foreverwarrantand——"No，Garvey，we"llhavetoleaveoutthat"defend，""saidGoreewithaloudlaugh。"You"llhavetodefendthistitleyourself。"
Themountaineerreceivedtheamazingscreedthatthelawyerhandedhim，foldeditwithimmenselabour，andlaceditcarefullyinhispocket。
Goreewasstandingnearthewindow。"Stephere，said，raisinghisfinger，"andI"llshowyouyourrecentlypurchasedenemy。Therehegoes，downtheothersideofthestreet。"
Themountaineercrookedhislongframetolookthroughthewindowinthedirectionindicatedbytheother。
ColonelAbnerColtrane，anerect，portlygentlemanofaboutfifty，wearingtheinevitablelong，double-breastedfrockcoatoftheSouthernlawmaker，andanoldhighsilkhat，waspassingontheoppositesidewalk。AsGarveylooked，Goreeglancedathisface。Iftherebesuchathingasayellowwolf，herewasitscounterpart。
Garveysnarledashisunhumaneyesfollowedthemovingfigure，disclosinglong，amber-colouredfangs。
"Isthathim？Why，that"sthemanwhosentmetothepenitentiaryonce!"
"Heusedtobedistrictattorney，"saidGoreecare-
lessly。"And，bytheway，he"safirst-classshot。"
"Ikinhitasquirrel"seyeatahundredyard，"saidGarvey。"Sothatthar"sColtrane!ImadeabettertradethanIwasthinkin"。I"lltakekeerovthisfeud，Mr。Goree，better"nyoueverdid!"
Hemovedtowardthedoor，butlingeredthere，betray-
ingaslightperplexity。
"Anythingelseto-day？"inquiredGoreewithfrothysarcasm。"Anyfamilytraditions，ancestralghosts，orskeletonsinthecloset？Pricesaslowasthelowest。"
"Tharwasanotherthing，"repliedtheunmovedsquirrelhunter，"thatMissisGarveywasthinkin"of。"Tain"tsomuchinmylineast"other，butshewantedpartic"larthatIshouldinquire，andefyouwaswillin"，"payfurit，"
shesays，"fa"randsquar"。"Thar"saburyin"groun"，asyouknow，Mr。Goree，intheyardofyo"oldplace，underthecedars。Themthatliestharisyo"folkswhatwaskilledbytheColtranes。Themonymentshasthenameson"em。MissisGarvevsaysafam"lyburyin"
groun"-isasho"signofquality。Shesaysefwegitthefeudthar"ssomethin"elseoughttogowithit。Thenamesonthemmoiivmentsis"Goree，"buttheycanbechangedtoournby——"
"Go。Go!"screamedGoree，hisfaceturningpurple。
Hestretchedoutbothhandstowardthemountaineer，hisfingershookedandshaking。"Go，youghoul!EvenaCh-Chinamanprotectstheg-gravesofhisancestors——go!"
Thesquirrelhunterslouchedoutofthedoortohiscarryall。WhilehewasclimbingoverthewheelGoreewascollecting，withfeverishcelerity，themoneythathadfallenfromhishandtothefloor。Asthevehicleslowlyturnedabout，thesheep，withacoatofnewlygrownwool，washurrying，inindecenthaste，alongthepathtothecourt-house。
Atthreeo"clockinthemorningtheybroughthimbacktohisoffice，shornandunconscious。Thesheriff，thesportivedeputy，thecountyclerk，andthegayattorneycarriedhim，thechalk-facedman"fromthevalley"
actingasescort。
"Onthetable，"saidoneofthem，andtheydepositedhimthereamongthelitterofhisunprofitablebooksandpapers。
"Yancethinksalotofapairofdeuceswhenhe"sliquoredup，"sighedthesheriffreflectively。
"Toomuch，"saidthegayattorney。"Amanhasnobusinesstoplaypokerwhodrinksasmuchashedoes。I
wonderhowmuchhedroppedto-night。"
"Closetotwohundred。WhatIwonderiswharhegotit。Yanceain"thadacentfuroveramonth，I
know。"
"Struckaclient，maybe。Well，let"sgethomebeforedaylight。He"llbeallrightwhenhewakesup，exceptforasortofbeehiveaboutthecranium。"
Thegangslippedawaythroughtheearlymorningtwilight。ThenexteyetogazeuponthemiserableGoreewastheorbofday。Hepeeredthroughtheuncurtainedwindow，firstdelugingthesleeperinafloodoffaintgold，butsoonpouringuponthemottledredofhisfleshasearching，white，summerheat。Goreestirred，halfunconsciously，amongthetable"sd閎ris，andturnedhisfacefromthewindow。Hismovementdislodgedaheavylawbook，whichcrasheduponthefloor。Openinghiseyes，hesaw，bendingoverhim，amaninablackfrockcoat。Lookinghigher，hediscoveredawell-wornsilkhat，andbeneathitthekindly，smoothfaceofColonelAbnerColtrane。
Alittleuncertainoftheoutcome，thecolonelwaitedfortheothertomakesomesignofrecognition。Notintwentyyearshadmalemembersofthesetwofamiliesfacedeachotherinpeace。Goree"seyelidspuckeredashestrainedhisblurredsighttowardthisvisitor，andthenhesmiledserenely。
"HaveyoubroughtStellaandLucyovertoplay？"
hesaidcalmly。
"Doyouknowme，Yancey？"askedColtrane。
"OfcourseIdo。Youbroughtmeawhipwithawhistleintheend。"
Sohehad——twenty-fouryearsago；whenYancey"sfatherwashisbestfriend。
Goree"seyeswanderedabouttheroom。Thecolonelunderstood。"Liestill，andI"llbringyousome，"saidhe。
Therewasapumpintheyardattherear，andGoreeclosedhiseyes，listeningwithrapturetotheclickofitshandle，andthebubblingofthefallingstream。Col-
tranebroughtapitcherofthecoolwater，andhelditforhimtodrink。PresentlyGoreesatup——amostforlornobject，hissummersuitofflaxsoiledandcrumpled，hisdiscreditableheadtousledandunsteady。Hetriedtowaveoneofhishandstowardthecolonel。
"Ex-excuse-everything，willyou？"hesaid。"I
musthavedrunktoomuchwhiskeylastnight，andgonetobedonthetable。"Hisbrowsknittedintoapuzzledfrown。
"Outwiththeboysawhile？"askedColtranekindly。
"No，Iwentnowhere。Ihaven"thadadollartospendinthelasttwomonths。Struckthedemijohntoooften。
Ireckon，asusual。"
ColonelColtranetouchedhimontheshoulder。
"Alittlewhileago，Yancey，"hebegan，"youaskedmeifIhadbroughtStellaandLucyovertoplay。Youweren"tquiteawakethen，andmusthavebeendreamingyouwereaboyagain。Youareawakenow，andIwantyoutolistentome。IhavecomefromStellaandLucytotheiroldplaymate，andtomyoldfriend"sson。TheyknowthatIamgoingtobringyouhomewithme，andyouwillfindthemasreadywithawelcomeastheywereintheolddays。Iwantyoutocometomyhouseandstayuntilyouareyourselfaain，andasmuchlongerasyouwill。Weheardofyourbeingdownintheworld，andinthemidstoftemptation，andweagreedthatyoushouldcomeoverandplayatourhouseoncemore。Willyoucome，myboy？Willyoudropouroldfamilytroubleandcomewithme？"
"Trouble!"saidGoree，openinghiseyeswide。"TherewasneveranytroublebetweenusthatIknowof。I"msurewe"vealwaysbeenthebestfriends。But，goodLord，Colonel，howcouldIgotoyourhomeasIam——adrunkenwretch，amiserable，degradedspendthriftandgambler——"
Helurchedfromthetableintohisarmchair，andbegantoweepmaudlintears，mingledwithgenuinedropsofremorseandshame。Coltranetalkedtohimpersist-
entlyandreasonably，remindinghimofthesimplemoun-
tainpleasuresofwhichhehadoncebeensofond，andinsistinguponthegenuinenessoftheinvitation。