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had been conscious； for the last few minutes； that Mrs。 Brown's
attention was diverted。
〃Dust；〃 said Mrs。 Brown； with a sigh。 〃Only Sister Anne's 'flock
of sheep。'〃
The Colonel； whose literary recollections did not extend farther
back than last week's paper； took a more practical view。 〃It ain't
sheep；〃 he continued； 〃it's a horseman。 Judge； ain't that Jack
Hamlin's gray？〃
But the Judge didn't know； and as Mrs。 Brown suggested the air was
growing too cold for further investigations； they retired to the
parlor。
Mr。 Brown was in the stable； where he generally retired after
dinner。 Perhaps it was to show his contempt for his wife's
companions； perhaps； like other weak natures； he found pleasure in
the exercise of absolute power over inferior animals。 He had a
certain gratification in the training of a chestnut mare； whom he
could beat or caress as pleased him； which he couldn't do with Mrs。
Brown。 It was here that he recognized a certain gray horse which
had just come in； and； looking a little farther on； found his
rider。 Brown's greeting was cordial and hearty； Mr。 Hamlin's
somewhat restrained。 But at Brown's urgent request； he followed
him up the back stairs to a narrow corridor； and thence to a small
room looking out upon the stable yard。 It was plainly furnished
with a bed； a table； a few chairs； and a rack for guns and whips。
〃This yer's my home； Jack；〃 said Brown； with a sigh； as he threw
himself upon the bed； and motioned his companion to a chair。 〃Her
room's t'other end of the hall。 It's more'n six months since we've
lived together； or met； except at meals。 It's mighty rough papers
on the head of the house； ain't it？〃 he said； with a forced laugh。
〃But I'm glad to see you； Jack； damn glad；〃 and he reached from the
bed； and again shook the unresponsive hand of Jack Hamlin。
〃I brought ye up here； for I didn't want to talk in the stable；
though； for the matter of that； it's all round town。 Don't strike
a light。 We can talk here in the moonshine。 Put up your feet on
that winder； and sit here beside me。 Thar's whisky in that jug。〃
Mr。 Hamlin did not avail himself of the information。 Brown of
Calaveras turned his face to the wall and continued：
〃If I didn't love the woman； Jack； I wouldn't mind。 But it's
loving her； and seeing her； day arter day； goin' on at this rate；
and no one to put down the brake； that's what gits me！ But I'm
glad to see ye； Jack； damn glad。〃
In the darkness he groped about until he had found and wrung his
companion's hand again。 He would have detained it； but Jack
slipped it into the buttoned breast of his coat； and asked；
listlessly； 〃How long has this been going on？〃
〃Ever since she came here； ever since the day she walked into the
Magnolia。 I was a fool then； Jack； I'm a fool now； but I didn't
know how much I loved her till then。 And she hasn't been the same
woman since。
〃But that ain't all； Jack； and it's what I wanted to see you about；
and I'm glad you've come。 It ain't that she doesn't love me any
more； it ain't that she fools with every chap that comes along；
for； perhaps； I staked her love and lost it； as I did everything
else at the Magnolia； and； perhaps； foolin' is nateral to some
women； and thar ain't no great harm done； 'cept to the fools。 But；
Jack； I thinkI think she loves somebody else。 Don't move； Jack；
don't move； if your pistol hurts ye； take it off。
〃It's been more'n six months now that she's seemed unhappy and
lonesome； and kinder nervous and scared…like。 And sometimes I've
ketched her lookin' at me sort of timid and pitying。 And she
writes to somebody。 And for the last week she's been gathering her
own thingstrinkets； and furbelows； and jew'lryand； Jack； I
think she's goin' off。 I could stand all but that。 To have her
steal away like a thief〃 He put his face downward to the pillow；
and for a few moments there was no sound but the ticking of a clock
on the mantel。 Mr。 Hamlin lit a cigar； and moved to the open
window。 The moon no longer shone into the room； and the bed and
its occupant were in shadow。 〃What shall I do； Jack？〃 said the
voice from the darkness。
The answer came promptly and clearly from the window…side： 〃Spot
the man； and kill him on sight。〃
〃But； Jack？〃
〃He's took the risk！〃
〃But will that bring HER back？〃
Jack did not reply； but moved from the window toward the door。
〃Don't go yet； Jack； light the candle； and sit by the table。 It's
a comfort to see ye； if nothin' else。〃
Jack hesitated； and then complied。 He drew a pack of cards from
his pocket and shuffled them； glancing at the bed。 But Brown's
face was turned to the wall。 When Mr。 Hamlin had shuffled the
cards； he cut them； and dealt one card on the opposite side of the
table and toward the bed； and another on his side of the table for
himself。 The first was a deuce； his own card； a king。 He then
shuffled and cut again。 This time 〃dummy〃 had a queen； and himself
a four…spot。 Jack brightened up for the third deal。 It brought
his adversary a deuce； and himself a king again。 〃Two out of
three；〃 said Jack； audibly。
〃What's that； Jack？〃 said Brown。
〃Nothing。〃
Then Jack tried his hand with dice； but he always threw sixes； and
his imaginary opponent aces。 The force of habit is sometimes
confusing。
Meanwhile； some magnetic influence in Mr。 Hamlin's presence； or the
anodyne of liquor； or both； brought surcease of sorrow； and Brown
slept。 Mr。 Hamlin moved his chair to the window； and looked out on
the town of Wingdam； now sleeping peacefullyits harsh outlines
softened and subdued； its glaring colors mellowed and sobered in
the moonlight that flowed over all。 In the hush he could hear the
gurgling of water in the ditches； and the sighing of the pines
beyond the hill。 Then he looked up at the firmament； and as he did
so a star shot across the twinkling field。 Presently another； and
then another。 The phenomenon suggested to Mr。 Hamlin a fresh
augury。 If in another fifteen minutes another star should fall
He sat there； watch in hand； for twice that time； but the
phenomenon was not repeated。
The clock struck two； and Brown still slept。 Mr。 Hamlin approached
the table and took from his pocket a letter； which he read by the
flickering candlelight。 It contained only a single line； written
in pencil； in a woman's hand：
〃Be at the corral； with the buggy； at three。〃
The sleeper moved uneasily； and then awoke。 〃Are you there Jack？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Don't go yet。 I dreamed just now； Jackdreamed of old times。 I
thought that Sue and me was being married agin； and that the
parson； Jack； waswho do you think？you！〃
The gambler laughed； and seated himself on the bedthe paper still
in his hand。
〃It's a good sign； ain't it？〃 queried Brown。
〃I reckon。 Say； old man； hadn't you better get up？〃
The 〃old man；〃 thus affectionately appe