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the Bar； and sometimes as far as Boomville； to get them to do
things； and they'd think the letters were real； and they'd do 'em。
And there'd be the biggest kind of a row； and nobody ever knew who
did it。〃
Steptoe stared at this flesh of his own flesh half in relief； half
in frightened admiration。 Sitting astride the log； his elbows on
his knees and his gloved hands supporting his round cheeks； the
boy's handsome face became illuminated with an impish devilry which
the father had never seen before。 With dancing eyes he went on。
〃It was one of those very games we played so long ago that he
wanted to see me about and wanted me to keep mum about； for some of
the folks that he played it on were around here now。 It was a game
we got off on one of the big strike partners long before the
strike。 I'll tell YOU； dad； for you know what happened afterwards；
and you'll be glad。 Well； that partnerDemorestwas a kind of
silly； you remembera sort of Miss Nancyish fellowalways gloomy
and lovesick after his girl in the States。 Well； we'd written lots
of letters to girls from their chaps before； and got lots of fun
out of it； but we had even a better show for a game here； for it
happened that Van Loo knew all about the girlthings that even the
man's own partners didn't； for Van Loo's mother was a sort of a
friend of the girl's family； and traveled about with her； and knew
that the girl was spoony over this Demorest； and that they
corresponded。 So； knowing that Van Loo was employed at Heavy Tree；
she wrote to him to find out all about Demorest and how to stop
their foolish nonsense； for the girl's parents didn't want her to
marry a broken…down miner like him。 So we thought we'd do it our
own way； and write a letter to her as if it was from him； don't you
see？ I wanted to make him call her awful names； and say that he
hated her； that he was a murderer and a horse…thief； and that he
had killed a policeman； and that he was thinking of becoming a
Digger Injin； and having a Digger squaw for a wife； which he liked
better than her。 Lord！ dad； you ought to have seen what stuff I
made up。〃 The boy burst into a shrill； half…feminine laugh； and
Steptoe； catching the infection； laughed loudly in his own coarse；
brutal fashion。
For some moments they sat there looking in each other's faces；
shaking with sympathetic emotion； the father forgetting the purpose
of his coming there； his rage over Van Loo's visit； and even the
rendezvous to which his horse in the road below was waiting to
bring him； the son forgetting their retreat from Heavy Tree Hill
and his shameful vagabond wanderings with that father in the years
that followed。 The sinking sun stared blankly in their faces； the
protecting pines above them moved by a stronger gust shook a few
cones upon them； an enormous crow mockingly repeated the father's
coarse laugh； and a squirrel scampered away from the strangely
assorted pair as Steptoe； wiping his eyes and forehead with his
pocket…handkerchief； said：
〃And did you send it？〃
〃Oh！ Van Loo thought it too strong。 Said that those sort of love…
sick fools made more fuss over little things than they did over big
things； and he sort of toned it down； and fixed it up himself。 But
it told。 For there were never any more letters in the post…office
in her handwriting； and there wasn't any posted to her in his。〃
They both laughed again； and then Steptoe rose。 〃I must be getting
along；〃 he said； looking curiously at the boy。 〃I've got to catch
a train at Three Boulders Station。〃
〃Three Boulders！〃 repeated the boy。 〃I'm going there； too； on
Friday； to meet Father Cipriano。〃
〃I reckon my work will be all done by Friday；〃 said Steptoe
musingly。 Standing thus； holding his boy's hand； he was thinking
that the real fight at Marshall's would not take place at once； for
it might take a day or two for Marshall to gather forces。 But he
only pressed his son's hand gently。
〃I wish you would sometimes take me with you as you used to；〃 said
the boy curiously。 〃I'm bigger now； and wouldn't be in your way。
Steptoe looked at the boy with a choking sense of satisfaction and
pride。 But he said； 〃No；〃 and then suddenly with simulated humor；
〃Don't you be taken in by any letters from ME； such as you and Van
Loo used to write。 You hear？〃
The boy laughed。
〃And；〃 continued Steptoe； 〃if anybody says I sent for you； don't
you believe them。〃
〃No；〃 said the boy； smiling。
〃And don't you even believe I'm dead till you see me so。 You
understand。 By the way； Father Pedro has some money of mine kept
for you。 Now hurry back to school and say you met me； but that I
was in a great hurry。 I reckon I may have been rather rough to the
priests。〃
They had reached the lower road again； and Steptoe silently
unhitched his horse。 〃Good…by；〃 he said； as he laid his hand on
the boy's arm。
〃Good…by； dad。〃
He mounted his horse slowly。 〃Well；〃 he said smilingly； looking
down the road； 〃you ain't got anything more to say to me； have
you？〃
〃No； dad。〃
〃Nothin' you want？〃
〃Nothin'； dad。〃
〃All right。 Good…by。〃
He put spurs to his horse and cantered down the road without
looking back。 The boy watched him with idle curiosity until he
disappeared from sight； and then went on his way； whistling and
striking off the heads of the wayside weeds with his walking…stick。
CHAPTER VII。
The sun arose so brightly over Hymettus on the morning after the
meeting of the three partners that it was small wonder that
Barker's impressionable nature quickly responded to it； and；
without awakening the still sleeping child； he dressed hurriedly；
and was the first to greet it in the keen air of the slope behind
the hotel。 To his pantheistic spirit it had always seemed as
natural for him to early welcome his returning brothers of the
woods and hills as to say good…morning to his fellow mortals。 And；
in the joy of seeing Black Spur rising again to his level in the
distance before him； he doffed his hat to it with a return of his
old boyish habit； laid his arm caressingly around the great girth
of the nearest pine； clapped his hands to the scampering squirrels
in his path； and whistled to the dipping jays。 In this way he
quite forgot the more serious affairs of the preceding night； or；
rather； saw them only in the gilding of the morning； until； looking
up； he perceived the tall figure of Demorest approaching him； and
then it struck him with his first glance at his old partner's face
that his usual suave； gentle melancholy had been succeeded by a
critical cynicism of look and a restrained bitterness of accent。
Barker's loyal heart smote him for his own selfishness； Demorest
had been hard hit by the discovery of the forgery and Stacy's
concern in it； and had doubtless passed a restless night； while he
（Barker） had forgotten all about it。 〃I thought of knocking at
your door； as