ve marked, and see if you don't find some more facts.
Goodbye--and always come and see me."

The next morning he watched Lin riding slowly out of the post towards
Wind River, leading a single pack-horse. By-and-by the little moving
dot went over the ridge. And as the bishop walked back into the
parade-ground, thinking over the possibilities in that untrained manly
soul, he shook his head sorrowfully.

THE WINNING OF THE BISCUIT-SHOOTER

It was quite clear to me that Mr. McLean could not know the news.
Meeting him to-day had been unforeseen--unforeseen and so pleasant that
the thing had never come into my head until just now, after both of us
had talked and dined our fill, and were torpid with satisfaction.

I had found Lin here at Riverside in the morning. At my horse's
approach to the cabin, it was he and not the postmaster who had come
precipitately out of the door.

"I'm turruble pleased to see yu'," he had said, immediately.

"What's happened?" said I, in some concern at his appearance.

And he piteously explained: "Why, I've been here all alone since
yesterday!"

This was indeed all; and my hasty impressions of shooting and a corpse
gave way to mirth over the child and his innocent grievance that he had
blurted out before I could get off my horse.

Since when, I inquired of him, had his own company become such a shock
to him?

"As to that," replied Mr. McLean, a thought ruffled, "when a man expects
lonesomeness he stands it like he stands anything else, of course.
But when he has figured on finding company--say--" he broke off (and
vindictiveness sparkled in his eye)--"when you're lucky enough to
catch yourself alone, why, I suppose yu' just take a chair and chat to
yourself for hours.--You've not seen anything of Tommy?" he pursued with
interest.

I had not; and forthwith Lin poured out to me the pent-up complaints and
sociability with which he was bursting. The foreman had sent him over
here with a sackful of letters for the post, and to bring back the
week's mail for the ranch. A day was gone now, and nothing for a man
to do but sit and sit. Tommy was overdue fifteen hours. Well, you could
have endured that, but the neighbors had all locked their cabins and
gone to Buffalo. It was circus week in Buffalo. Had I ever considered
the money there must be in the circus business? Tommy had taken the
outgoing letters early yesterday. Nobody had kept him waiting. By all
rules he should have been back