ot quite the same thing, I hope.
Beware of hasty deductions--as the bank examiner told the cashier.
Let's play rotation."

Jody Weir stuck his head through the doorway. "Hey, you! I'm buying.
Come have a drink!"

Most of the loungers rose and went forward to the bar. The men at the
reading table did not move; possibly they did not hear. One was an
Australian, a simple-faced giant, fathoms deep in a Sydney paper; his
lips moved as he read, his eye glistened.

"Let's go up to the hotel," said Akins. "This table is no good. They
got a jim dandy up there. New one."

"Oh, this is all right," said Charlie. "I'll break. Say, Shaky, you've
seen my new ranch. What'll you give me for it, lock, stock and barrel,
lease, cattle and cat, just as she lays, everything except the saddle
stock? I'm thinking some about drifting."

"That's a good idea--a fine idea," said Shaky. He caught Charlie's
eye, and pointed his brows significantly toward the barroom. "Where
to?"

"Away. Old Mex, I guess. Gimme a bid."

Shaky considered while he chalked his cue. Then he shook his head.

"No. Nice place--but I wouldn't ever be satisfied there.... Mescaleros
held up a wagon train there in 1879--where your pasture is now,
halfway between your well and Mason's Ranch. Killed thirteen men and
one woman. I was a kid then, living at Fort Selden. A damn fool took
me out with the burial party, and I saw all those mutilated bodies. I
never got over it. That's why I'm Shaky Akins."

"Why, I thought--" began See uncomfortably.

"No. 'Twasn't chills. I'm giving it to you straight. I hesitated about
telling you. I've never told anyone--but there's a reason for telling
you--now--to-night. I lost my nerve. I'm not a man. See, I've dreamed
of those people ten thousand times. It's hell!"

Weir's head appeared at the door again; his face was red and hot.

"You, See! Ain't you comin' out to drink?"

"Why, no. We're playing pool."

"Well, I must say, you're not a bit--"

"I know I'm not a bit," said See placidly. "That's no news. I've been
told before that I'm not a bit. You run on, now. We're playing pool."

The face withdrew. There was a hush in the boisterous mirth without.
Then it rose in redoubled volume.

"Come up to the hotel with me," urged Shaky, moistening his lips. "I
got a date with a man there at ten. We can play pool there while I'm
waiting."

"Oh, I'll stay here, I guess. I want to read the papers."

"You headstrong little fool," wh