No, why should I? You hadn't come yet. Of course, I knew you'd be
along some day. I kept it to drink to your very good health, Mr.
Ellsworth--the health of the man who told me not to come around his
house--told me I was an unsettled ne'er-do-well, and not suitable
company for his--why, I don't think I have any corkscrew at all." His
voice was slow, but harder now in quality.

Ellsworth sat on the chair, the bottle in his hand hanging between his
knees. He looked at Dan Anderson steadily. "You've got me guessing
in a good many ways," he said; "I don't know why you came here--"

"No?"

"Nor how you live, nor what encouragement or prospects you find here.
For instance, about how much did you make last year in your business?"

"My law practice? Oh, you mean down at the county-seat? There is no
law court here. How much did the boys pay me?"

"Yes."

"Two hundred and sixty-eight dollars and seventy-five cents."

"What?"

"Oh, I know it's a heap of money; but I made it."

"Enough for tobacco money!"

"Sir," said Dan Anderson, "more. I ate frequent. Why, sir, did you
ever stop to think that our total circulating medium here is only
three hundred dollars? I had almost all of it one time or another.
Now, not doubting your intentions in the least, did you ever come that
near to corralling the whole visible supply of cash in your own town?
Moreover, I am attorney for the men who own the coal-mines. I'm the
lawyer for both the gold mills. We've got one or two mines here, and
I'm in. Besides, I've just got the law business from Pitzer Chisum,
down on the Seven Rivers, He's got maybe a hundred thousand head of
cattle. Now, I'm going to rob Pitzer, because he needs it. He's got
money scandalous."

Mr. Ellsworth put the bottle down on the floor, and sat up on the
chair with his hands in his pockets, wondering. "But why?" he
demanded sternly, "why? What are you doing out here? Why have you
thrown away your life? Come--you're a bright young man, and you--"

"Friend," said Dan Anderson, with a sudden cold quality in his voice,
"I think that'll about do. I am no brighter than I was a few years
ago."

"But this is no place to live."

"Why isn't it? It takes a man to live here. Do you reckon you could
qualify?" The older man raised his head with a snort, but Dan
Anderson stood looking at him calmly. "Now let me tell you one
thing," said he. "If you heard of our coal-mines here through me, at
lea