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Lin and I stood outside to receive the travellers。 As their cavalcade
drew near； Mr。 McLean grew silent and watchful； his whole attention
focused upon the Taylors' vehicle。 Its approach was joyous。 Its gear made
a cheerful clanking； Taylor cracked his whip and encouragingly chirruped
to his buckskins； and Tommy's apparatus jingled musically。 For Tommy
wore upon himself and his saddle all the things you can wear in the Wild
West。 Except that his hair was not long； our postmaster might have
conducted a show and minted gold by exhibiting his romantic person
before the eyes of princes。 He began with a black…and…yellow rattlesnake
skin for a hat…band； he continued with a fringed and beaded shirt of
buckskin； and concluded with large； tinkling spurs。 Of course； there were
things between his shirt and his heels； but all leather and deadly weapons。
He had also a riata； a cuerta； and tapaderos； and frequently employed these
Spanish names for the objects。 I wish that I had not lost Tommy's
photograph in Rocky Mountain costume。 You must understand that he was
really pretty； with blue eyes； ruddy cheeks； and a graceful figure； and；
besides； he had twenty…four hours' start of poor dusty Lin； whose best
clothes were elsewhere。
You might have supposed that it would be Mrs。 Taylor who should
present us to her friend from Sidney； Nebraska； but Tommy on his horse
undertook the office before the wagon had well come to a standstill。
〃Good friends of mine； and gentlemen； both；〃 said he to Miss Peck； and to
us； 〃A lady whose acquaintance will prove a treat to our section。〃
We all bowed at each other beneath the florid expanse of these
recommendations； and I was proceeding to murmur something about its
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being a long journey and a fine day when Miss Peck cut me short； gaily：
〃Well；〃 she exclaimed to Tommy； 〃I guess I'm pretty near ready for
them eggs you've spoke so much about。〃
I have not often seen Mr。 McLean lose his presence of mind。 He
needed merely to exclaim； 〃Why； Tommy； you told me your hens had not
been laying since Christmas！〃 and we could have sat quiet and let Tommy
try to find all the eggs that he could。 But the new girl was a sore
embarrassment to the cow…puncher's wits。 Poor Lin stood by the wheels of
the wagon。 He looked up at Miss Peck； he looked over at Tommy； his
features assumed a rueful expression； and he wretchedly blurted；
〃Why； Tommy； I've been and eat 'em。〃
〃Well； if that ain't！〃 cried Miss Peck。 She stared with interest at Lin as
he now assisted her to descend。
〃All？〃 faltered Tommy。 〃Not the four nests？〃
〃I've had three meals； yu' know；〃 Lin reminded him； deprecatingly。
〃I helped him；〃 said I。 〃Ten innocent； fresh eggs。 But we have left
some ham。 Forgive us； please。〃
〃I declare！〃 said Miss Peck； abruptly； and rolled her sluggish； inviting
eyes upon me。 〃You're a case； too； I expect。〃
But she took only brief note of me； although it was from head to foot。
In her stare the dull shine of familiarity grew vacant； and she turned back
to Lin McLean。 〃You carry that；〃 said she； and gave the pleased cow…
puncher a hand valise。
〃I'll look after your things； Miss Peck；〃 called Tommy； now springing
down from his horse。 The egg tragedy had momentarily stunned him。
〃You'll attend to the mail first； Mr。 Postmaster！〃 said the lady； but
favoring him with a look from her large eyes。 〃There's plenty of gentlemen
here。〃 With that her glance favored Lin。 She went into the cabin； he
following her close； with the Taylors and myself in the rear。 〃Well； I guess
I'm about collapsed！〃 said she； vigorously； and sank upon one of Tommy's
chairs。
The fragile article fell into sticks beneath her； and Lin leaped to her
assistance。 He placed her upon a firmer foundation。 Mrs。 Taylor brought a
basin and towel to bathe the dust from her face； Mr。 Taylor produced
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whiskey； and I found sugar and hot water。 Tommy would doubtless have
done something in the way of assistance or restoratives； but he was gone
to the stable with the horses。
〃Shall I get your medicine from the valise； deary？〃 inquired Mrs。
Taylor。
〃Not now；〃 her visitor answered； and I wondered why she should take
such a quick look at me。
〃We'll soon have yu' independent of medicine；〃 said Lin； gallantly。
〃Our climate and scenery here has frequently raised the dead。〃
〃You're a case； anyway！〃 exclaimed the sick lady with rich conviction。
The cow…puncher now sat himself on the edge of Tommy's bed； and；
throwing one leg across the other； began to raise her spirits with cheerful
talk。 She steadily watched himhis face sometimes； sometimes his
lounging； masculine figure。 While he thus devoted his attentions to her；
Taylor departed to help Tommy at the stable； and good Mrs。 Taylor； busy
with supper for all of us in the kitchen； expressed her joy at having her old
friend of childhood for a visit after so many years。
〃Sickness has changed poor Katie some；〃 said she。 〃But I'm hoping
she'll get back her looks on Bear Creek。〃
〃She seems less feeble than I had understood；〃 I remarked。
〃Yes； indeed！ I do believe she's feeling stronger。 She was that tired and
down yesterday with the long stage…ride； and it is so lonesome！ But Taylor
and I heartened her up； and Tommy came with the mail； and to…day she's
real spruced…up like； feeling she's among friends。〃
〃How long will she stay？〃 I inquired。
〃Just as long as ever she wants！ Me and Katie hasn't met since we was
young girls in Dubuque； for I left home when I married Taylor； and he
brought me to this country right soon； and it ain't been like Dubuque much；
though if I had it to do over again I'd do just the same； as Taylor knows。
Katie and me hasn't wrote even； not till this February； for you always
mean to and you don't。 Well； it'll be like old times。 Katie'll be most thirty…
four； I expect。 Yes。 I was seventeen and she was sixteen the ver