第6章

Demorestglancedatit，turneditover，readitscontents，andinagravevoicesaid，"Thereissomethingwronghere。Itislikemyhandwriting，butIneverwrotetheletter，norhasitbeeninmyhandbefore。"

Stacysprangtohisside。"Thenit’saforgery！"

"Waitamoment。"Demorest，who，althoughverygrave，wasthemorecollectedofthetwo，wenttoawriting-desk，selectedasheetofpaper，andtookupapen。"Now，"hesaid，"dictatethatlettertome。"

Stacybegan，Demorest’spenrapidlyfollowinghim：——

"DEARJIM，——OnreceiptofthisgetridofmyWheatTrustsharesatwhateverfigureyoucan。FromthewaythingspointedinNewYork"——

"Stop！"interruptedDemorest。

"Well？"saidStacyimpatiently。

"Now，mydearJim，"saidDemorestplaintively，"whendidyoueverknowmetowritesuchasentenceas’thewaythingspointed’？"

"Letmefinishreading，"saidStacy。Thisliterarysensitivenessatsuchamomentseemedlittleshortofpuerilitytothemanofbusiness。

"FromthewaythingspointedinNewYork，"continuedStacy，"andfromprivateadvicesreceived，thisseemstobetheonlyprudentcoursebeforethefeathersbegintofly。Longingtoseeyouagainandthedearoldstamping-groundatHeavyTree。LovetoBarker。

Hasthedearoldboybeenatanyfreshcranklately？

"Yours，PHILDEMOREST。"

Thedictationandcopyfinishedtogether。DemorestlaidthefreshlywrittensheetbesidetheletterStacyhadproduced。Theywereverymuchalikeandyetquitedistinctfromeachother。Onlythesignatureseemedidentical。

"That’stheinvariablemistakewiththeforger，"saidDemorest；"healwaysforgetsthatsignaturesoughttobeidenticalwiththetextratherthanwitheachother。"

ButStacydidnotseemtohearthisorrequirefurtherproof。Hisfacewasquitegrayandhislipscompresseduntillostinhiscloselysetbeardashegazedfixedlyoutofthewindow。Forthefirsttime，reallyconcernedandtouched，Demorestlaidhishandgentlyonhisshoulder。

"Tellme，Jim，howmuchdoesthismeantoyouapartfromme？Don’tthinkofme。"

"Idon’tknowyet，"saidStacyslowly。"That’sthetrouble。AndI

won’tknowuntilIknowwho’satthebottomofit。Doesanybodyknowofyouraffairswithme？"

"Noone。"

"Noconfidentialfriend，eh？"

"None。"

"Noonewhohasaccesstoyoursecrets？No——no——woman？Excuseme，Phil，"hesaid，asapeculiarlookpassedoverDemorest’sface，"butthisisbusiness。"

"No，"hereturned，withthatgentlenessthatusedtofrightenthemintheolddays，"it’signorance。Youfellowsalwayssay’Cherchezlafemme’whenyoucan’tsayanythingelse。Comenow，"hewentonmorebrightly，"lookattheletter。Here’saman，commerciallyeducated，forhehasusedtheusualbusinessformulas，’onreceiptofthis，’and’advicesreceived，’whichIwon’tmerelysayIdon’tuse，butwhichfewbutcommercialmenuse。Next，here’samanwhousesslang，notonlyineptly，butartificially，togivethelettertheeasy，familiarturnithasn’tfrombeginningtoend。Ineedonlysay，mydearStacy，thatIdon’twriteslangtoyou，butthatnobodywhounderstandsslangeverwritesitinthatway。AndthentheknowledgeofmyopinionofBarkerissuchasmightbegainedfromthereadingofmylettersbyapersonwhocouldn’tcomprehendmyfeelings。Now，letmeplayinquisitorforafewmoments。HasanybodyaccesstomyletterstoYOU？"

"Noone。Ikeepthemlockedupinacabinet。Ionlymakememorandumsofyourinstructions，whichIgivetomyclerks，butneveryourletters。"

"Butyourclerkssometimesseeyoumakememorandumsfromthem？"

"Yes，butnoneofthemhavetheabilitytodothissortofthing，northeopportunityofprofitingbyit。"

"Hasanywoman——nowthisisnotretaliation，mydearJim，forI

fancyIdetectawoman’sclevernessandawoman’sstupidityinthisforgery——anyaccesstoyoursecretsormyletters？Awoman’svillainyisalwayseffectiveforthemoment，butalwaysdefectivewhenprobed。"

ThelookofscornwhichpassedoverStacy’sfacewasquiteasdistinctasDemorest’spreviousprotest，ashesaidcontemptuously，"I’mnotsuchafoolastomixuppetticoatswithmybusiness，whateverIdo。"

"Well，onethingmore。Ihavetoldyouthatinmyopiniontheforgerhasacommercialeducationorstyle，thathedoesn’tknowmenorBarker，anddon’tunderstandslang。Now，Ihavetoaddwhatmusthaveoccurredtoyou，Jim，thattheforgeriseitheracoward，orhisobjectisnotaltogethermercenary：forthesameabilitydisplayedinthisletterwouldonthesignaturealone——haditbeenonacheckordraft——havedrawnfromyourbanktwentytimestheamountconcerned。Now，whatistheactuallossbythisforgery？"

"Verylittle；foryou’vegotagoodpriceforyourstocks，consideringthedepreciationinrealizingsuddenlyonsolargeanamount。Itoldmybrokertosellslowlyandinsmallquantitiestoavoidapanic。Butthereallossisthecontrolofthestock。"

"ButtheamountIhadwasnotenoughtoaffectthat，"saidDemorest。

"No，butIwascarryingalargeamountmyself，andtogetherwecontrolledthemarket，andnowIhaveunloaded，too。"

"Yousoldout！andwithyourdoubts？"saidDemorest。

"That’sjustit，"saidStacy，lookingsteadilyathiscompanion’sface，"becauseIHADdoubts，anditwon’tdoformetohavethem。

Ioughteithertohavedisobeyedyourletterandkeptyourstockandmyown，orhavedonejustwhatIdid。Imighthavehedgedonmyownstock，butIdon’tbelieveinhedging。Thereisnomiddlecoursetoamaninmybusinessifhewantstokeepatthetop。Nogreatsuccess，nogreatpower，wasevercreatedbyit。"

Demorestsmiled。"Yetyouacceptthealternativealso，whichisruin？"

"Precisely，"saidStacy。"WhenyoureturnedtheotherdayyouwereboundtofindmewhatIwasorabeggar。Butnothingbetween。

However，"headded，"thishasnothingtodowiththeforgery，or，"

hesmiledgrimly，"everythingtodowithit。Hush！Barkeriscoming。"

Therewasaquickstepalongthecorridorapproachingtheroom。

ThenextmomentthedoorflewopentotheboundingstepandlaughingfaceofBarker。Whateverofthoughtfulnessordespondencyhehadcarriedfromtheroomwithhimwascompletelygone。Withhisamazingbuoyancyandpowerofreactionhewasthereagaininhisusualfrank，cheerfulsimplicity。

"IthoughtI’dcomeinandsaygoodnight，"hebegan，withalaugh。

"IgotStaasleepaftersomehighjinkswehadtogether，andthenI

reckoneditwasn’tthesquarethingtoleavejustyoutwotogether，thefirstnightyoucame。AndIrememberedIhadsomebusinesstotalkover，too，soIthoughtI’dchipinagainandtakeahand。

It’sonlytheshankoftheeveningyet，"hecontinuedgayly，"andweoughttositupatleastlongenoughtoseetheoldsnow-linevanish，aswedidinoldtimes。ButIsay，"headdedsuddenly，asheglancedfromtheonetotheother，"you’vebeenhavingitprettystrongalready。Why，youbothlookasyoudidthatnightthebackwateroftheSouthForkcameintoourcabin。What’sup？"

"Nothing，"saidDemoresthastily，ashecaughtaglanceofStacy’simpatientface。"Onlyallbusinessisserious，Barkerboy，thoughyoudon’tseemtofeelitso。"

"Ireckonyou’rerightthere，"saidBarker，withachuckle。

"Peoplealwayslaugh，ofcourse，whenItalkbusiness，soitmightmakeitalittlelivelierforyouandmoreofachangeifIchippedinnow。OnlyIdon’tknowwhichyou’lldo。Handmeapipe。

Well，"hecontinued，fillingthepipeDemorestshovedtowardshim，"yousee，IwasinSacramentoyesterday，andIwentintoVanLoo’sbranchoffice，asIheardhewasthere，andIwantedtofindoutsomethingaboutKitty’sinvestments，whichIdon’tthinkhe’smanagingexactlyright。Hewasn’tthere，however，butasIwaswaitingIheardhisclerkstalkaboutadropintheWheatTrust，andthattherewasalotofitputuponthemarket。Theyseemedtothinkthatsomethinghadhappened，anditwasgoingdownstillfurther。NowIknewitwasyourpetscheme，andthatPhilhadalotofsharesinit，too，soIjustslippedoutandwenttoabroker’sandtoldhimtobuyallhecouldofit。And，byJove！I

wasalittletakenabackwhenIfoundwhatIwasinfor，foreverybodyseemedtohaveunloaded，andIfoundIhadn’tmoneyenoughtopaymargins，butIknewthatDemorestwashere，andI

reckonedonhisseeingmethrough。"Hestoppedandcolored，butaddedhopefully，"IreckonI’msafe，anyway，forjustasthethingwasoverthosesameclerksofVanLoo’scameboundingintotheofficetobuyupeverything。Andofferedtotakeitoffmyhandsandpaythemargins。"

"Andyou？"saidbothmeneagerly，andinabreath。

Barkerstaredatthem，andreddenedandpaledbyturns。"Iheldon，"hestammered。"Yousee，boys"——

Bothmenhadcaughthimbythearms。"Howmuchhaveyougot？"theysaid，shakinghimasiftoprecipitatetheanswer。

"It’saheap！"saidBarker。"It’saghastlylotnowIthinkofit。

I’mafraidI’minforfiftythousand，ifacent。"

Tohisinfiniteastonishmentanddelighthewasalternatelyhuggedandtossedbackwardsandforwardsbetweenthetwomenquiteinthefashionoftheolddays。Breathlessbutlaughing，heatlengthgaspedout，"Whatdoesitallmean？"

"Tellhimeverything，Jim，——EVERYTHING，"saidDemorestquickly。

Stacybrieflyrelatedthestoryoftheforgery，andthenlaidtheletteranditscopybeforehim。ButBarkeronlyreadtheforgery。

"HowcouldYOU，Stacy——oneofthethreepartnersofHeavyTree——bedeceived！Don’tyouseeit’sPhil’shandwriting——butitisn’tPHIL！"

"ButhaveyouanyideaWHOitis？"saidStacy。

"Notme，"saidBarker，withwidelyopenedeyes。"Youseeitmustbesomebodywhomwearefamiliarwith。Ican’timaginesuchascoundrel。"

"HowdidYOUknowthatDemoresthadstock？"askedStacy。

"Hetoldmeinoneofhislettersandadvisedmetogointoit。

ButjustthenKittywantedmoney，Ithink，andIdidn’tgoin。"

"Irememberit，"struckinDemorest。"Butsurelyitwasnosecret。

Mynamewouldbeonthetransferbooksforanyonetosee。"

"Notso，"saidStacyquickly。"Youwereoneoftheoriginalshareholders；therewasnotransfer，andthebooksaswellasthesharesofthecompanywereinmyhands。"

"Andyourclerks？"addedDemorest。

Stacywassilent。Afterapauseheasked，"Didanybodyeverseethatletter，Barker？"

"NoonebutmyselfandKitty。"

"Andwouldshebelikelytotalkofit？"continuedStacy。

"Ofcoursenot。Whyshouldshe？Whomcouldshetalkto？"Yethestoppedsuddenly，andthenwithhischaracteristicreactionadded，withalaugh，"Whyno，certainlynot。"

"Ofcourse，everybodyknewthatyouhadboughtthesharesatSacramento？"

"Yes。Why，youknowItoldyoutheVanLooclerkscametomeandwantedtotakeitoffmyhands。"

"Yes，Iremember；theVanLooclerks；theyknewit，ofcourse，"

saidStacywithagrimsmile。"Well，boys，"hesaid，withsuddenalacrity，"I’mgoingtoturnin，forbysun-upto-morrowImustbeonmywaytocatchthefirsttrainattheDividefor’Frisco。

We’llhuntthisthingdowntogether，forIreckonwe’reallconcernedinit，"headded，lookingattheothers，"andoncemorewe’repartnersasintheoldtimes。LetusevensaythatI’vegivenBarker’ssignalorpassword，"headded，withalaugh，"andwe’llsticktogether。Barkerboy，"hewenton，graspinghisyoungerpartner’shand，"yourinstincthassavedusthistime；

d————difIdon’tsometimesthinkitbetterthananyotherman’ssabe；only，"hedroppedhisvoiceslightly，"IwishyouhaditinotherthingsthanFINANCE。Phil，I’veawordtosaytoyoualonebeforeIgo。Imaywantyoutofollowme。"

"ButwhatcanIdo？"saidBarkereagerly。"You’renotgoingtoleavemeout。"

"You’vedonequiteenoughforus，oldman，"saidStacy，layinghishandonBarker’sshoulder。"AnditmaybeforUStodosomethingforYOU。Trotofftobednow，likeagoodboy。I’llkeepyoupostedwhenthetimecomes。"

Shovingtheprotestingandleave-takingBarkerwithpaternalfamiliarityfromtheroom，heclosedthedoorandfacedDemorest。

"He’sthebestfellowintheworld，"saidStacyquietly，"andhassavedthesituation；butwemustn’ttrusttoomuchtohimforthepresent——notevenseemto。"

"Nonsense，man！"saidDemorestimpatiently。"You’relettingyourprejudicesgotoofar。Doyoumeantosaythatyoususpecthiswife。"

"D——nhiswife！"saidStacyalmostsavagely。"Leaveheroutofthis。It’sVanLoothatIsuspect。ItwasVanLoowhoIknewwasbehindit，whoexpectedtoprofitbyit，andnowwehavelosthim。"

"Buthow？"saidDemorest，astonished。

"How？"repeatedStacyimpatiently。"YouknowwhatBarkersaid？

VanLoo，eitherthroughstupidity，fright，orthewishtogetthelowestprices，wastoolatetobuyupthemarket。Ifhehad，wemighthaveopenlydeclaredtheforgery，andifitwasknownthatheorhisfriendshadprofitedbyit，evenifwecouldnothaveprovenhisactualcomplicity，wecouldatleasthavemadeittoohotforhiminCalifornia。But，"saidStacy，lookingintentlyathisfriend，"doyouknowhowthecasestandsnow？"

"Well，"saidDemorest，alittleuneasilyunderhisfriend’skeeneyes，"we’velostthatchance，butwe’vekeptcontrolofthestock。"

"Youthinkso？Well，letmetellyouhowthecasestandsandthepricewepayforit，"saidStacydeliberately，ashefoldedhisarmsandgazedatDemorest。"YouandI，wellknownasoldfriendsandformerpartners，fornoapparentreason——forwecannotprovetheforgerynow——havethrownuponthemarketallourstock，withtheusualeffectofdepreciatingit。Anotheroldfriendandformerpartnerhasboughtitinandsentuptheprice。Acommontrick，avulgartrick，butnotatrickworthyofJamesStacyorStacy’sBank！"

"ButwhynotsimplydeclaretheforgerywithoutmakinganyspecificchargeagainstVanLoo？"

"Doyouimagine，Phil，thatanymanwouldbelieveit，andthestoryofaprovidentiallyappointedfriendlikeBarkerwhosavedusfromloss？Why，allCalifornia，fromCapeMendocinotoLosAngeles，wouldroarwithlaughteroverit！No！Wemustswallowitandthereputationof’jockeying’withtheWheatTrust，too。ThatTrust’sasgoodasdonefor，forthepresent！NowyouknowwhyIdidn’twantpoorBarkertoknowit，norhavemuchtodowithoursearchfortheforger。"

"Itwouldbreakthedearfellow’sheartifheknewit，"saidDemorest。

"Well，it’stosavehimfromhavinghisheartbrokenfurtherthatI

intendtofindoutthisforger，"saidStacygrimly。"Good-night，Phil！I’lltelegraphtoyouwhenIwantyou，andthenCOME！"

WithanothergripofthehandheleftDemoresttohisthoughts。Inthefirstexcitementofmeetinghisoldpartners，andinthelaterdiscoveryoftheforgery，Demoresthadbeendivertedfromhisoldsorrow，andforthetimehadforgottenitinsympatheticinterestwiththepresent。But，tohishorror，whenaloneagain，hefoundthatinterestgrowingasremoteandvapidasthestoriestheyhadlaughedoveratthetable，andeventheexcitementoftheforgedletteranditsconsequencesbegantobeasunreal，asimpotent，asshadowy，asthememoryoftheattemptedrobberyintheoldcabinonthatveryspot。Hewasashamedofthatselfishnesswhichstillmadehimclingtothispast，somuchhisown，thatheknewitdebarredhimfromthehumansympathyofhiscomrades。AndevenBarker，inwhosecourtshipandmarriagehehadtriedtoresuscitatehisyouthfulemotionsandcondonehisselfisherrors——eventhesuggestionofhisunhappinessonlytouchedhimvaguely。HewouldnolongerbeaslavetothePast，orthememorythathaddeludedhimafewhoursago。Hewalkedtothewindow；alas，therewasthesameprospectthathadlookeduponhisdreams，hadlentitselftohisoldvisions。Therewastheeternaloutlineofthehills；thererosethesteadfastpines；therewasnochangeinTHEM。Itwasthissurroundingconstancyofnaturethathadaffectedhim。Heturnedawayandenteredthebedroom。Herehesuddenlyrememberedthatthemotherofthisvagueenemy，VanLoo，——forhisfeelingtowardshimwasstillvague，asfewmenreallyhatethepersonalitytheydon’tknow，——hadonlymomentarilyvacatedit，andtohisdistasteofhisownintrusionwasnowaddedtheprofoundironyofhissleepinginthesamebedlatelyoccupiedbythemotherofthemanwhowassuspectedofhavingforgedhisname。Hesmiledfaintlyandlookedaroundtheapartment。Itwashandsomelyfurnished，andalthoughitstillhadmuchofthecharacterlessnessofthehotelroom，itwasdistinctlyflavoredbyitslastoccupant，andstillbrightenedbythatmysteriousinstinctofthesexwhichisinevitable。Whereamanwouldhavesimplylefthisforgottenslippersorcollarstherewasaglassofstillunfadedflowers；thecoldmarbletopofthedressing-tablewaslitteredwithafewlinenandsilktoiletcovers；andonthemantel-shelfwasasheafofphotographs。Hewalkedtowardsthemmechanically，glancedatthemabstractedly，andthenstoppedsuddenlywithabeatingheart。Beforehimwasthepictureofhispast，thephotographoftheonewomanwhohadfilledhislife！

Hecastahurriedglancearoundtheroomasifhehalfexpectedtoseetheoriginalstartupbeforehim，andtheneagerlyseizeditandhurriedwithittothelight。Yes！yes！ItwasSHE，——sheasshehadlivedinhisactualmemory；sheasshehadlivedinhisdream。Hesawhersweeteyes，butthefrightened，innocenttroublehadpassedfromthem；therewasthesensitiveeleganceofhergracefulfigureineveningdress；butthefigurewasfullerandmaturer。Couldhebemistakenbysomewonderfulresemblanceactinguponhistoowillingbrain？Heturnedthephotographover。No；

thereontheotherside，writteninherownchildlikehand，endearedandfamiliartohisrecollection，washerownname，andthedate！Itwassurelyshe！

Howdiditcomethere？DidtheVanLoosknowher？ItwastakeninVenice；therewastheaddressofthephotographers。TheVanLooswereforeigners，heremembered；theyhadtraveled；perhapshadmethertherein1858：thatwasthedateinherhandwriting；thatwasthedateonthephotographer’saddress——1858。Suddenlyhelaidthephotographdown，tookwithtremblingfingersaletter-casefromhispocket，openedit，andlaidhislastlettertoher，indorsedwiththecruelannouncementofherdeath，beforehimonthetable。Hepassedhishandacrosshisforeheadandopenedtheletter。Itwasdated1856！ThephotographmusthavebeentakentwoyearsAFTER

herallegeddeath！

Heexamineditagaineagerly，fixedly，tremblingly。AwildimpulsetosummonBarkerorStacyonthespotwasrestrainedwithdifficultyandonlywhenherememberedthattheycouldnothelphim。Thenhebegantooscillatebetweenajoyandanewfear，whichnow，forthefirsttime，begantodawnuponhim。Ifthenewsofherdeathhadbeenafiendishtrickofherrelations，whyhadSHEneversoughthim？Itwasnotillhealth，restraint，norfear；

therewasnothingbuthappinessandthestrengthofyouthandbeautyinthatfaceandfigure。HEhadnotdisappearedfromtheworld；hewasknownofmen；more，hismemorablegoodfortunemusthavereachedherears。Hadhewastedallthesemiserableyearstofindhimselfabandoned，forgotten，perhapsevenadupe？Forthefirsttimethestingofjealousyenteredhissoul。Perhaps，unconsciouslytohimself，hisstrangeandvaryingfeelingsthatafternoonhadbeenthegatheringclimaxofhismentalcondition；atallevents，inthesuddenrevulsiontherewasashakingoffofhisapatheticthought；therewasactivity，evenifitwastheactivityofpain。Herewasamysterytobesolved，asecrettobediscovered，apastwrongtobeexposed，anenemyor，perhaps，evenafaithlesslovetobepunished。Perhapshehadevensavedhisreasonattheexpenseofhislove。Hequicklyreplacedthephotographonthemantel-shelf，returnedthelettercarefullytohispocket-book，——nolongerasouvenirofthepast，butaproofoftreachery，——andbegantomechanicallyundresshimself。Hewasquitecalmnow，andwenttobedwithastrangesenseofrelief，andsleptashehadnotsleptsincehewasaboy。

Thewholehotelhadsunktorestbythistime，andthenbegantheusualslow，nightlyinvasionandinvestmentofitbynature。Forallitsbroadverandasandglaringterraces，itslongrangesofwindowsandglitteringcrestofcupolaandtower，itgraduallysuccumbedtothemorepotentinfluencesaroundit，andbecametheirsportandplayground。Themountainbreezesfromthedistantsummitsweptdownuponitsflimsystructure，shookthegreatglasswindowsaswithastronghand，andsentthebalmofbayandsprucethrougheverychinkandcranny。Inthegreathallandcorridorsthecarpetsbillowedwiththeintrudingblastalongthefloors；therewasthemurmurofthepinesinthepassages，andthedampodorofleavesinthedining-room。Therewasthecryofnightbirdsinthecreakingcupola，andtheswiftrushofdarkwingspastbedroomwindows。Lissomeshapescreptalongtheterracesbetweenthestolidwoodenstatues，or，bolder，scamperedthewholelengthofthegreatveranda。Inthelullingofthewindthebreathofthewoodswaseverywhere；eventhearomaofswellingsap——asiftheghastlystumpsonthedeforestedslopebehindthehotelwerebleedingafreshinthedewlessnight——stungtheeyesandnostrilsofthesleepers。

Itwas，perhaps，fromsuchcauseasthisthatBarkerwasawakenedsuddenlybythevoiceoftheboyfromthecribbesidehim，crying，"Mamma！mamma！"Takingthechildinhisarms，hecomfortedhim，sayingshewouldcomethatmorning，andshowedhimthefaintdawnalreadyveilingwithcolortheghostlypalloroftheSierras。Astheylookedatitagreatstarshotforthfromitsbrethrenandfell。Itdidnotfallperpendicularly，butseemedforsomesecondstoslipalongtheslopesofBlackSpur，gleamingthroughthetreeslikeachariotoffire。Itpleasedthechildtosaythatitwasthelightofmamma’sbuggythatwasfetchingherhome，anditpleasedthefathertoencouragetheboy’sfancy。Andtalkingthusinconfidentialwhisperstheyfellasleeponcemore，thefather——

himselfachildinsomanythings——holdingthesmallerandfrailerhandinhis。

TheydidnotknowthatontheothersideoftheDividethewifeandmother，scared，doubting，anddesperate，bythesideofherscared，doubting，anddesperateaccomplice，wasflyingdowntheslopeonhernight-longroadtoruin。Stilllessdidtheyknowthat，withtheearlysingingbirds，acarelesshorseman，emergingfromthetrailasthedust-stainedbuggydashedpasthim，glancedatitwithapuzzledair，utteredaquietwhistleofsurprise，andthen，wheelinghishorse，gaylycanteredafterit。

CHAPTERV。

Intheexerciseofhisarduousprofession，JackHamlinhadsatupallnightinthemagnoliasaloonoftheDivide，andasitwasratherearlytogotobed，hehad，afterhisusualhabit，shakenoffthesedentaryattitudeandpreparedhimselfforsleepbyafiercepreliminarygallopinthewoods。Besides，hehadbeenalargewinner，andonthoseoccasionshegenerallyisolatedhimselffromhiscompanionstoavoidfoolishaltercationswithinexperiencedplayers。EveninfightingJackwasfastidious，anddidnotliketohavehisstomachforarealdifficultydistendedandvitiatedbysmallpreliminaryindulgences。

Hewasjustemergingfromthewoodintothehighroadwhenabuggydashedpasthim，containingamanandawoman。Thewomanworeathickveil；themanwasalmostundistinguishablefromdust。Theglimpsewasmomentary，butdislikehasakeeneye，andinthatglimpseMr。HamlinrecognizedVanLoo。Thesituationwasequallyclear。Thebentheadsandavertedfaces，thedustcollectedintheheedlessnessofhaste，theearlyhour，——indicatinganight-longflight，——allmadeitplaintohimthatVanLoowasrunningawaywithsomewoman。Mr。Hamlinhadnomoralscruples，buthehadtheethicsofasportsman，whichheknewMr。VanLoowasnot。Whetherthewomanwasaninnocentschoolgirloranactress，hewassatisfiedthatVanLoowasdoingameanthingmeanly。Mr。Hamlinalsohadatasteformischief，andwhetherthewomanwasorwasnotfairgame，heknewthatforHISpurposesVanLoowas。Withthegreatestcheerfulnessintheworldhewheeledhishorseandcanteredafterthem。

TheywereevidentlymakingfortheDivideandafreshhorse，ortotakethecoachdueanhourlater。ItwasMr。Hamlin’spresentobjecttocircumventthis，and，therefore，itwasquiteinhiswaytoreturn。Incidentally，however，thesuperiorspeedofhishorsegavehimtheopportunityoffrequentlylungingtowardsthematafuriouspace，whichhadtheeffectoffranticallyincreasingtheirownspeed，whenhewouldpullupwithasilentlaughbeforehewasfairlydiscovered，andallowthesoundofhisrapidhorse’shoofstodieout。InthiswayheamusedhimselfuntilthestragglingtownoftheDividecameinsight，when，puttinghisspurstohishorseagain，hemanaged，underpretenseoftheanimalbecomingungovernable，totwice"crossthebows"ofthefugitives，compellingthemtoslackenspeed。AtthesecondofthesepassagesVanLooapparentlylostprudence，andslashingoutwithhiswhip，thelashcaughtslightlyonthecounterofHamlin’shorse。Mr。

Hamlininstantlyacknowledgeditbyliftinghishatgravely，andspeededontothehotel，arrivingatthestepsandthrowinghimselffromthesaddleexactlyasthebuggydroveup。Withcharacteristicaudacity，heactuallyassistedthefrightenedandeagerwomantoalightandrunintothehotel。Butinthisactionherveilwasaccidentallylifted。Mr。HamlininstantlyrecognizedtheprettywomanwhohadbeenpointedouttohiminSanFranciscoasMrs。

Barker，thewifeofoneofthepartnerswhosefortuneshadinterestedhimfiveyearsago。ItstruckhimthatthiswasanadditionalreasonforhisinterferenceonBarker’saccount，althoughpersonallyhecouldnotconceivewhyamanshouldevertrytopreventawomanfromrunningawayfromhim。ButthenMr。

Hamlin’spersonalexperienceshadbeenquitetheotherway。

Itwasenough，however，tocausehimtolayhishandlightlyonVanLoo’sarmasthelatter，leapingdown，wasabouttofollowMrs。

Barkerintothehotel。"You’llhavetimeenoughnow，"saidHamlin。

"Timeforwhat？"saidVanLoosavagely。

"Timetoapologizeforhavingcutmyhorsewithyourwhip，"saidJacksweetly。"Wedon’twanttoquarrelbeforeawoman。"

"I’venotimeforfooling！"saidVanLoo，endeavoringtopass。

ButJack’shandhadslippedtoVanLoo’swrist，althoughhestillsmiledcheerfully。"Ah！ThenyouDIDmeanit，andyouproposetogivemesatisfaction？"

VanLoopaledslightly；heknewJack’sreputationasaduelist。

Buthewasdesperate。"Youseemyposition，"hesaidhurriedly。

"I’minahurry；Ihavealadywithme。Nomanofhonor"——

"Youdomewrong，"interruptedJack，withapainedexpression，——

"youdo，indeed。Youareinahurry——well，Ihaveplentyoftime。

Ifyoucannotattendtomenow，whyIwillbegladtoaccompanyyouandtheladytothenextstation。Ofcourse，"headded，withasmile，"ataproperdistance，andwithoutinterferingwiththelady，whomIampleasedtorecognizeasthewifeofanoldfriend。

Itwouldbemoresociable，perhaps，ifwehadsomegeneralconversationontheroad；itwouldpreventherbeingalarmed。I

mightevenbeofsomeusetoYOU。Ifweareovertakenbyherhusbandontheroad，forinstance，Ishouldcertainlyclaimtherighttohavethefirstshotatyou。Boy！"hecalledtothehostler，"justspongeoutPancho’smouth，willyou，tobereadywhenthebuggygoes？"And，looseninghisgripofVanLoo’swrist，heturnedawayastheotherquicklyenteredthehotel。

ButMr。VanLoodidnotimmediatelyseekMrs。Barker。Hehadalreadysomeexperienceofthatlady’snervesandirascibilityonthedrive，andhadbeguntoseehiserrorintakingsodangerousanimpedimenttohisflightfromthecountry。Andanotherideahadcometohim。Hehadalreadyeffectedhispurposeofcompromisingherwithhiminthatflight，butitwasstillknownonlytofew。

Ifheleftherbehindforthefoolish，dotinghusband，wouldnotthatdevotedmantakeherbacktoavoidascandal，andevenforbeartopursueHIMforhisfinancialirregularities？WhatweretwentythousanddollarsofMrs。Barker’smoneytothescandalofMrs。

Barker’selopement？Again，thefailuretorealizetheforgeryhadlefthimsafe，andBarkerwassufficientlypotentwiththebankandDemoresttohushupthatalso。Hamlinwasnowtheonlyobstacletohisflight；butevenhewouldscarcelypursueHIMifMrs。Barkerwereleftbehind。Anditwouldbeeasiertoeludehimifhedid。

InhispreoccupationVanLoodidnotseethathehadenteredthebar-room，but，findinghimselfthere，hemovedtowardsthebar；aglassofspiritswouldrevivehim。Ashedrankithesawthattheroomwasfullofroughmen，apparentlyminersorpackers——someofthemMexican，withhereandthereaKanakaorAustralian。Twomenmoreostentatiouslyclad，thoughapparentlyonequaltermswiththeothers，werestandinginthecornerwiththeirbackstowardshim。

Fromthegeneralsilenceasheenteredheimaginedthathehadbeenthesubjectofconversation，andthathisaltercationwithHamlinhadbeenoverheard。Suddenlyoneofthetwomenturnedandapproachedhim。TohisconsternationherecognizedSteptoe，——

Steptoe，whomhehadnotseenforfiveyearsuntillastnight，whenhehadavoidedhiminthecourtyardoftheBoomvilleHotel。Hisfirstinstinctwastoretreat，butitwastoolate。Andthespiritshadwarmedhimintotemporaryrecklessness。

"Youain’tgoin’tobebackeddownbyashort-cardgambler，areyer？"saidSteptoe，withcoarsefamiliarity。

"Ihavealadywithme，andampressedfortime，"saidVanLooquickly。"Heknowsit，otherwisehewouldnothavedared"——

"Well，lookhere，"saidSteptoeroughly。"Iain’tparticularlysweetonyou，asyouknow；butIandthesegentlemen，"headded，glancingaroundtheroom，"ain’tparticularlysweetonMr。JackHamlinneither，andwekalkilatetostandbyyouifyousayso。

Now，Ireckonyouwanttogetawaywiththewoman，andthequickerthebetter，asyou’reafraidthere’llbesomebodyafteryouaforelong。That’sthewayitpansout，don’tit？Well，whenyou’rereadytogo，andyoujusttipusthewink，we’llgetinacircleroundJackandcoverhim，andifhestartsafteryouwe’llsendhimonalittlelongerjourney！——eh，boys？"

Themenmutteredtheirapproval，andoneortwodrewtheirrevolversfromtheirbelts。VanLoo’sheart，whichhadleapedatfirstatthisproposalofhelp，sankatthisfailureofhislittleplanofabandoningMrs。Barker。Hehesitated，andthenstammered，"Thankyou！Hasteiseverythingwithusnow；butIshouldn’tmindleavingtheladyamongCHIVALROUSGENTLEMENlikeyourselvesforafewhoursonly，untilIcouldcommunicatewithmyfriendsandreturntoproperlychastisethisscoundrel。"

Steptoedrewinhisbreathwithaslightwhistle，andgazedatVanLoo。Heinstantlyunderstoodhim。ButthepleadidnotsuitSteptoe，who，forpurposesofhisown，wishedtoputMrs。Barkerbeyondherhusband’spossiblereach。Hesmiledgrimly。"Ithinkyou’dbettertakethewomanwithyou，"hesaid。"Idon’tthink，"

headdedinalowervoice，"thattheboyswouldlikeyourleavingher。They’reveryhigh-toned，theyare！"heconcludedironically。

"Then，"saidVanLoo，withanotherdesperateidea，"couldyounotletushavesaddle-horsesinsteadofthebuggy？Wecouldtravelfaster，andintheeventofpursuitandanythinghappeningtoME，"

headdedloftily，"SHEatleastcouldescapeherpursuer’svengeance。"

ThissuitedSteptoeequallywell，aslongastheguiltycouplefledTOGETHER，andinthepresenceofwitnesses。ButhewasnotdeceivedbyVanLoo’sheroicsuggestionofself-sacrifice。"Quiteright，"hesaidsarcastically，"itshallbedone，andI’venodoubtONEofyouwillescape。I’llsendthehorsesroundtothebackdoorandkeepthebuggyinfront。ThatwillkeepJackthere，TOO，——

withtheboyshandy。"

ButMr。HamlinhadquiteasaccurateanideaofMr。VanLoo’smethodsandofhisOWNstandingwithSteptoe’sgangofroughsasMr。Steptoehimself。Morethanthat，healsohadaholdonasmallerbutmoredevotedandloyalfollowingthanSteptoe’s。Theemployeesandhostlersofthehotelworshipedhim。AsinglewordofinquiryrevealedtohimthefactthatthebuggywasNOTgoingon，butthatMr。VanLooandMrs。BarkerWERE——ontwohorses，atemporaryside-saddlehavingbeenconstructedoutofamule’spack-

tree。AtwhichMr。Hamlin，withhisusualaudacity，walkedintothebar-room，andgoingtothebarleanedcarelesslyagainstit。

Thenturningtotheloweringfacesaroundhim，hesaid，withaflashofhiswhiteteeth，"Well，boys，I’mcalculatingtoleavetheDivideinafewminutestofollowsomefriendsinthebuggy，anditseemstomeonlythesquarethingtostandtheliquorforthecrowd，withoutprejudicetoanyfeelingorroughnesstheremaybeagainstme。EverybodywhoknowsmeknowsthatI’mgenerallytherewhenthebandplays，andI’mprettysuretoturnupforTHATsortofthing。Soyou’lljustconsiderthatI’vehadagoodgameontheDivide，andI’mreckoningit’sonlyfairtoleavealittleofitbehindmehere，to’sweetenthepot’untilIcallagain。Ionlyaskyou，gentlemen，todrinksuccesstomyfriendsinthebuggyasearlyandasoftenasyoucan。"Heflungtwogoldpiecesonthecounterandpaused，smiling。

Hewasrightinhisconjecture。Eventhemenwhowouldhavewillingly"heldhimup"amomentafter，atthebiddingofSteptoe，sawnoreasonfordecliningafreedrink"withoutprejudice。"AnditwasapartoftheironyofthesituationthatSteptoeandVanLoowerealsoobligedtoparticipatetokeepinwiththeirpartisans。Itwas，however，anopportunediversiontoVanLoo，whomanagedtogetnearerthedoorleadingtothebackentranceofthehotel，andtoMr。JackHamlin，whowaswatchinghim，asthemencloseduptothebar。

Thetoastwasdrunkwithacclamation，followedbyanotherandyetanother。SteptoeandVanLoo，whohadkepttheirheadscool，werebothwonderingifHamlin’sintentionweretointoxicateandincapacitatethecrowdatthecrucialmoment，andSteptoesmiledgrimlyoverhissuperiorknowledgeoftheiralcoholiccapacity。

Butsuddenlytherewasthegreaterdiversionofashoutfromtheroad，theon-comingofacloudofreddust，andthehaltofanothervehiclebeforethedoor。Thistimeitwasnojadedsinglehorseanddust-stainedbuggy，butadoubleteamoffourspiritedtrotters，whosecoatswerescarcelyturnedwithfoam，beforealightstationwagoncontainingasingleman。Butthatmanwasinstantlyrecognizedbyeveryoneoftheoutsideloungersandstable-boysaswellasthestaringcrowdwithinthesaloon。ItwasJamesStacy，themillionaireandbanker。Noonebuthimselfknewthathehadcoveredhalfthedistanceofanight-longridefromBoomvilleintwohours。ButbeforetheycouldvoicetheirastonishmentStacyhadthrownalettertotheobsequiouslandlord，andthengatheringupthereinshadspedawaytotherailroadstationhalfamiledistant。

"LooksasiftheBossofCreationwasinahurry，"saidoneoftheeagergazersinthedoorway。"Somebodygoin’togetsmashed，sure。"

"Morelikeasifhewasjusthumpin’himselftokeepfromgettingsmashed，"saidSteptoe。"Thebankhasn’tgotovertheeffectoftheirsmartdealintheWheatTrust。EverythingtheyhadintheirhandstumbledyesterdayinSacramento。Menlikemeandyouain’tgoin’totrusttheirmoneytobe’jockeyed’withinthatstyle。

NobodybutamanwithaswelledheadlikeStacywouldhaveevendaredtotryiton。Andnow，byG-d！he’sgottopayforit。"

Theharsh，exultanttoneofthespeakershowedthathehadquiteforgottenVanLooandHamlininhissuperiorhatredofthemillionaire，andbothmennoticedit。VanLooedgedstillnearertothedoor，asSteptoecontinued，"EversincehemadethatbigstrikeonHeavyTreefiveyearsago，thecountryhasn’tbeenbigenoughtoholdhim。Butmarkmywords，gentlemen，thetimeain’tfaroffwhenhe’llfindatwo-footditchagainandapickandgrubwagesroomenoughandtospareforhimandhiskindofcattle。"

"You’renotdrinking，"saidJackHamlincheerfully。

Steptoeturnedtowardsthebar，andthenstarted。"Where’sVanLoo？"hedemandedofJacksharply。

Jackjerkedhisthumboverhisshoulder。"Gonetohurryuphisgirl，Ireckon。Icalculateheain’tgotmuchtimetofoolawayhere。"

SteptoeglancedsuspiciouslyatJack。Butatthesamemomenttheywereallstartled——evenJackhimself——attheapparitionofMrs。

Barkerpassinghurriedlyalongtheverandabeforethewindowsinthedirectionofthestillwaitingbuggy。"D——nit！"saidSteptoeinafiercewhispertothemannexthim。"TellhernotTHERE——atthebackdoor！"Butbeforethemessengerreachedthedoortherewasasuddenrattleofwheels，andwithoneaccordallexceptHamlinrushedtotheveranda，onlytoseeMrs。Barkerdrivingrapidlyawayalone。Steptoeturnedbackintotheroom，butJackalsohaddisappeared。

ForintheconfusioncreatedatthesightofMrs。Barker，hehadslippedtothebackdoorandfound，ashesuspected，onlyonehorse，andthatwithaside-saddleon。Hisintuitionswereright。

VanLoo，whenhedisappearedfromthesaloon，hadinstantlyfled，takingtheotherhorseandabandoningthewomantoherfate。Jackasinstantlyleapedupontheremainingsaddleanddashedafterhim。

Presentlyhecaughtaglimpseofthefugitiveinthedistance，heardthehalf-angry，half-ironicalshoutsofthecrowdatthebackdoor，andashereachedthehilltopsaw，withaminglingofsatisfactionandperplexity，Mrs。Barkerontheotherroad，stilldrivingfranticallyinthedirectionoftherailroadstation。AtwhichMr。Hamlinhalted，threwawayhisencumberingsaddle，and，goodriderthathewas，remountedthehorse，barebackedbutforhisblanket-pad，andthrustinghiskneesintheloosegirths，againdashedforwards，——withsuchgoodresultsthat，asVanLoogallopeduptothestagecoachoffice，atthenextstation，andwasabouttoenterthewaitingcoachforMarysville，thesofthandofMr。Hamlinwaslaidonhisshoulder。

"Itoldyou，"saidJackblandly，"thatIhadplentyoftime。I

wouldhavebeenhereBEFOREandevenovertakenyou，onlyyouhadthebetterhorseandtheonlysaddle。"

VanLoorecoiled。Buthewasnowdesperateandreckless。

BeckoningJackoutofearshotoftheotherpassengers，hesaidwithtightenedlips，"Whydoyoufollowme？Whatisyourpurposeincominghere？"

"Ithought，"saidHamlindryly，"thatIwastohavethepleasureofgettingsatisfactionfromyoufortheinsultyougaveme。"

"Well，andifIapologizeforit，whatthen？"hesaidquickly。

Hamlinlookedathimquietly。"Well，IthinkIalsosaidsomethingabouttheladybeingthewifeofafriendofmine。"

"AndIhaveleftherBEHIND。Herhusbandcantakeherbackwithoutdisgrace，fornooneknowsofherflightbutyouandme。Doyouthinkyourshootingmewillsaveher？Itwillspreadthescandalfarandwide。ForIwarnyou，thatasIhaveapologizedforwhatyouchoosetocallmypersonalinsult，unlessyoumurdermeincoldbloodwithoutwitness，IshallletthemknowtheREASONofyourquarrel。AndIcantellyoumore：ifyouonlysucceedinSTOPPING

mehere，andmakemelosemychanceofgettingaway，thescandaltoyourfriendwillbegreaterstill。"

Mr。HamlinlookedatVanLoocuriously。Therewasacertainamountofconvictioninwhathesaid。Hehadnevermetthiskindofcreaturebefore。HehadsurpassedevenHamlin’sfirstintuitionofhischaracter。Heamusedandinterestedhim。ButMr。Hamlinwasalsoamanoftheworld，andknewthatVanLoo’sreasoningmightbegood。Heputhishandsinhispockets，andsaidgravely，"WhatIS

yourlittlegame？"

VanLoohadbeenseizedwithanotherinspirationofdesperation。

Steptoehadbeenpartlyresponsibleforthissituation。VanLooknewthatJackandSteptoewerenotfriends。HehadcertainsecretsofSteptoe’sthatmightbeofimportancetoJack。Whyshouldhenottrytomakefriendswiththispowerfulfree-lanceandhalf-outlaw？

"It’sagame，"hesaidsignificantly，"thatmightbeofinteresttoyourfriendstohear。"

Hamlintookhishandsoutofhispockets，turnedonhisheel，andsaid，"Comewithme。"

"ButImustgobythatcoachnow，"saidVanLoodesperately，"or——

I’vetoldyouwhatwouldhappen。"

"Comewithme，"saidJackcoolly。"IfI’msatisfiedwithwhatyoutellme，I’llputyoudownatthenextstationanhourbeforethatcoachgetsthere。"

"Youswearit？"saidVanLoohesitatingly。

"I’veSAIDit，"returnedJack。"Come！"andVanLoofollowedMr。

Hamlinintothestationhotel。