him?

JIM. No, but I reckon you will.

EM'LY. [_Smiling._] Git out.

JIM. [_Writing._] "P.S. This goes into effect from last night, and is
a copy--Joe Vernon has the original document."

EM'LY. [_On the stile. Looking off._] Hello!

SAM. [_Off._] Hello!

_Enter SAM._

EM'LY. Awful glad.

SAM. Hello, Jim.

JIM. Hello, Sam.

SAM. Know where your pony is?

JIM. Gone East.

SAM. He's in Louisiana.

JIM. Who's got him?

SAM. Why, ain't you heard?

JIM. Ain't heard nothing this morning.

EM'LY. What?

SAM. [_To_ JIM.] Travers stole him. [_To_ EMILY.] Stole Jim's pony
after shootin' the Pinkerton.

EM'LY. Why, Jim--

JIM. Never mind, Em'ly. [_To_ SAM.] Who told you?

SAM. The fellers. You know Travers was--er--

EM'LY. The train-robber--yes, you told us last night that--

SAM. Yes, but I mean you know he was--killed?

JIM. [_Rising. With some interest._] Killed? When?

SAM. Last night--didn't you know?

JIM. No.

SAM. [_Puzzled._] Why, I thought you did--why, the fellers said--why,
dog gone it, they were blamed funny about it--they said, "Oh, I reckon
Jim knows"--then stuck their tongues this way in their jaw--I thought
maybe--[_Pantomimes pulling trigger._

JIM. No, hadn't even heard of it.

SAM. Going to run an extra this morning--over a dozen goin' down just
to see. Thought maybe Em'ly 'd like to go 'long and take a look at the
remains.

EM'LY. [_Eagerly._] Jim!

JIM. You're going, are you, Sam?

SAM. Why, calculated to.

JIM. Well, I wish you'd stay home this mornin' and kind a look after
Em'ly.

SAM. Certainly.

JIM. I'm goin' to be pretty busy, I think, eh?

SAM. [_Willing to stay._] Sure.

_Exit_ JIM _into house._

EM'LY. Something's worrying Jim. [_Crosses to porch._

SAM. I guess this fellow's getting away last night.

EM'LY. No, something else. The operator waked me up after twelve
o'clock with a telegram--an' Jim answered it, and then got up and
dressed himself, and took both his guns and sat out on the porch
here--oh, for an hour.

SAM. Telegrams, eh?

EM'LY. Yes.

SAM. Well, I guess some other robbery or something. A sheriff has so
much of that.

EM'LY. I know. But Jim's worried.

SAM. Well, I couldn't sleep myself last night.

EM'LY. Me neither. After you left here, and a-telling me about it, it
seemed I could see Travers shooting the man's neck every time I closed
my eyes.

SAM. He's a good deal better this morning.

EM'LY. Who?

SAM. The P