ishing. Don't you read the papers? If we poor governors
can't lock up the State House and take a whirl now and then--"

"Doc," interrupted Lin, "it's plumb fine to see yu'!" Again he shook
hands.

"Why, yes! we've met here before, you and I." His Excellency the Hon.
Amory W. Barker, M.D., stood laughing, familiar and genial, his sound
white teeth shining. But behind his round spectacles he scrutinized
McLean. For in this second hand-shaking was a fervor that seemed a
grasp, a reaching out, for comfort. Barker had passed through Separ.
Though an older acquaintance than Billy, he had asked Jessamine fewer
and different questions. But he knew what he knew. "Well, Drybone's the
same old Drybone," said he. "Sweet-scented hole of iniquity! Let's see
how you walk nowadays."

Lin took a few steps.

"Pooh! I said you'd never get over it." And his Excellency beamed with
professional pride. In his doctor days Barker had set the boy McLean's
leg; and before it was properly knit the boy had escaped from the
hospital to revel loose in Drybone on such another night as this. Soon
he had been carried back, with the fracture split open again.

"It shows, does it?" said Lin. "Well, it don't usually. Not except when
I'm--when I'm--"

"Down?" suggested his Excellency.

"Yes, Doc. Down," the cow-puncher confessed.

Barker looked into his friend's clear hazel eyes.

Beneath their dauntless sparkle was something that touched the
Governor's good heart. "I've got some whiskey along on the trip--Eastern
whiskey," said he. "Come over to my room awhile."

"I used to sleep all night onced," said McLean, as they went. "Then I
come to know different. But I'd never have believed just mere thoughts
could make yu'--make yu' feel like the steam was only half on. I eat,
yu' know!" he stated, suddenly. "And I expect one or two in camp lately
have not found my muscle lacking. Feel me, Doc."

Barker dutifully obeyed, and praised the excellent sinews.

Across from the dance-hall the whining of the fiddle came, high and gay;
feet blurred the talk of voices, and voices rose above the trampling of
feet. Here and there some lurking form stumbled through the dark among
the rubbish; and clearest sound of all, the light crack of billiard
balls reached dry and far into the night Barker contemplated the stars
and calm splendid dimness of the plain. "'Though every prospect pleases,
and only man is vile,'" he quoted. "But don't tell the Republican party
I