rved. Such a
wave of nausea surged into my mouth--but he was continuing.

"Jest why he struck his woman I don't know. Do you?"

"Yes. She had cautioned me and he must have heard her. And she showed
which was the right card. I don't understand that."

"To save her face, and egg you on. Shore! Your twenty dollars was nothin'.
She didn't know you were busted. Next time she'd have steered you to the
tune of a hundred or two and cleaned you proper. You hadn't been worked
along, yet, to the right pitch o' smartness. Montoyo must ha' mistook her.
She encouraged you, didn't she?"

"Yes, she did." I arose unsteadily, clutching the table. "If you'll excuse
me, sir, I think I'd better go. I--I--I thank you. I only wish I'd met you
before. You are at liberty to regard me as a saphead. Good-night, sir."

"No! Hold on. Sit down, sit down, man. Have another drink."

"I have had enough. In fact, since arriving in Benton I've had more than
enough of everything." But I sat down.

"Where were you goin'?"

"To the hotel. I am privileged to stay there until to-morrow. Thank Heaven
I was obliged to pay in advance."

"Alluz safer," said he. "And then what?"

"To-morrow?"

"Yes. To-morrow."

"I don't know. I must find employment, and earn enough to get home with."
To write for funds was now impossible through very shame. "Home's the
only place for a person of my greenness."

"Why did you come out clear to end o' track?" he inquired.

"I was ordered by my physician to find a locality in the Far West, high
and dry." I gulped at his smile. "I've found it and shall go home to
report."

"With your tail between your legs?" He clapped me upon the shoulder.
"Stiffen your back. We all have to pay for eddication. You're not wolf
meat yet, by a long shot. You've still got your hair, and that's more than
some men I know of. You look purty healthy, too. Don't turn for home;
stick it out."

"I shall have to stick it out until I raise the transportation," I
reminded. "My revolver should tide me over, for a beginning."

"Sell it?" said he. "Sell your breeches fust. Either way you'd be only
half dressed. No!"

"It would take me a little way. I'll not stay in Benton--not to be pointed
at as a dupe."

"Oh, pshaw!" he laughed. "Nobody'll remember you, specially if you're
known to be broke. Busted, you're of no use to the camp. Let me make you a
proposition. I believe you're straight goods. Can't believe anything else,
after seein' your pl