e telegraph-mender? Yes, sir. It came Tuesday. You're to find the
pole-wagon at Drybone."

This news was good, and all that he wished to know. He could drive out
and escape a night at the Hotel Brunswick. But he lingered, because
Jessamine spoke so pleasantly to him. He had heard of her also.

"Governor Barker has not been around here?" he said.

"Not yet, sir. We understand he is expected through on a hunting-trip."

"I suppose there is room for two and a trunk on that wagon?"

"I reckon so, sir." Jessamine glanced at the man, and he took himself
out. Most men took themselves out if Jessamine so willed; and it was
mostly achieved thus, in amity.

On the platform the man found his wife again.

"Then I needn't to walk to Tommy's," she said. "And we'll eat as we
travel. But you'll wait till I'm through with her." She made a gesture
toward the station.

"Why--why--what do you want with her. Don't you know who she is?"

"It was me told you who she was, James Lusk. You'll wait till I've been
and asked her after Lin McLean's health, and till I've saw how the likes
of her talks to the likes of me."

He made a feeble protest that this would do no one any good.

"Sew yourself up, James Lusk. If it has been your idea I come with yus
clear from Laramie to watch yus plant telegraph-poles in the sage-brush,
why you're off. I ain't heard much 'o Lin since the day he learned it
was you and not him that was my husband. And I've come back in this
country to have a look at my old friends--and" (she laughed loudly and
nodded at the station) "my old friends' new friends!"

Thus ordered, the husband wandered away to find his wagon and the horse.

Jessamine, in the office, had finished her station duties and returned
to her needle. She sat contemplating the scorched sock of Billy's, and
heard a heavy step at the threshold. She turned, and there was the
large woman with the feather quietly surveying her. The words which the
stranger spoke then were usual enough for a beginning. But there was
something of threat in the strong animal countenance, something of
laughter ready to break out. Much beauty of its kind had evidently been
in the face, and now, as substitute for what was gone, was the brag
look of assertion that it was still all there. Many stranded travellers
knocked at Jessamine's door, and now, as always, she offered the
hospitalities of her neat abode, the only room in Separ fit for a woman.
As she spoke, and the guest