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detailed these incidents more gravely； adding that Laramie believed Mrs。
Lusk addicted to opium。
〃I don't guess I'll leave my card on 'em；〃 said McLean； grimly； 〃if I
strike Laramie。〃
〃You don't mind my saying I think you're well out of that scrape？〃
Barker ventured。
〃Shucks； no！ That's all right； Doc。 Onlyyu' see now。 A man gets tired
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pretendingonced in a while。〃
Time had gone while they were in talk； and it was now half after one
and Mr。 McLean late for that long…plotted first square meal。 So the friends
shook hands； wishing each other Merry Christmas； and the cow…puncher
hastened toward his chosen companions through the stirring cheerfulness
of the season。 His play…hour had made a dull beginning among the toys。
He had come upon people engaged in a pleasant game； and waited； shy
and well disposed； for some bidding to join； but they had gone on playing
with each other and left him out。 And now he went along in a sort of hurry
to escape from that loneliness where his human promptings had been
lodged with him useless。 Here was Cheyenne； full of holiday for sale； and
he with his pockets full of money to buy； and when he thought of Shorty；
and Chalkeye； and Dollar Bill； those dandies to hit a town with； he stepped
out with a brisk； false hope。 It was with a mental hurrah and a foretaste of
a good time coming that he put on his town clothes； after shaving and
admiring himself； and sat down to the square meal。 He ate away and drank
with a robust imitation of enjoyment that took in even himself at first。 But
the sorrowful process of his spirit went on； for all he could do。 As he
groped for the contentment which he saw around him he began to receive
the jokes with counterfeit mirth。 Memories took the place of anticipation；
and through their moody shiftings he began to feel a distaste for the
company of his friends and a shrinking from their lively voices。 He
blamed them for this at once。 He was surprised to think he had never
recognized before how light a weight was Shorty； and here was Chalkeye；
who knew better； talking religion after two glasses。 Presently this attack of
noticing his friends' shortcomings mastered him； and his mind； according
to its wont； changed at a stroke。 〃I'm celebrating no Christmas with this
crowd；〃 said the inner man； and when they had next remembered Lin
McLean in their hilarity he was gone。
Governor Barker； finishing his purchases at half…past three； went to
meet a friend come from Evanston。 Mr。 McLean was at the railway station；
buying a ticket for Denver。
〃Denver！〃 exclaimed the amazed Governor。
〃That's what I said；〃 stated Mr。 McLean； doggedly。
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〃Gee whiz！〃 went his Excellency。 〃What are you going to do there？〃
〃Get good and drunk。〃
〃Can't you find enough whiskey in Cheyenne？〃
〃I'm drinking champagne this trip。〃
The cow…puncher went out on the platform and got aboard； and the
train moved off。 Barker had walked out too in his surprise； and as he
stared after the last car； Mr。 McLean waved his wide hat defiantly and
went inside the door。
〃And he says he's got maturity；〃 Barker muttered。 〃I've known him
since seventy…nine； and he's kept about eight years old right along。〃 The
Governor was cross； and sorry； and presently crosser。 His jokes about Lin's
marriage came back to him and put him in a rage with the departed fool。
〃Yes； about eight。 Or six；〃 said his Excellency； justifying himself by the
past。 For he had first known Lin； the boy of nineteen； supreme in length of
limb and recklessness； breaking horses and feeling for an early mustache。
Next； when the mustache was nearly accomplished； he had mended the
boy's badly broken thigh at Drybone。 His skill （and Lin's utter health） had
wrought so swift a healing that the surgeon overflowed with the pride of
science； and over the bandages would explain the human body technically
to his wild…eyed and flattered patient。 Thus young Lin heard all about tibia；
and comminuted； and other glorious new words； and when sleepless would
rehearse them。 Then； with the bone so nearly knit that the patient might
leave the ward on crutches to sit each morning in Barker's room as a
privilege； the disobedient child of twenty…one had slipped out of the
hospital and hobbled hastily to the hog ranch； where whiskey and variety
waited for a languishing convalescent。 Here he grew gay； and was soon
carried back with the leg refractured。 Yet Barker's surgical rage was
disarmed； the patient was so forlorn over his doctor's professional chagrin。
〃I suppose it ain't no better this morning； Doc？〃 he had said； humbly；
after a new week of bed and weights。
〃Your right leg's going to be shorter。 That's all。〃
〃Oh； gosh！ I've been and spoiled your comminuted fee…mur！ Ain't I a
son…of…a…gun？〃
You could not chide such a boy as this； and in time's due course he had
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walked jauntily out into the world with legs of equal length after all and in
his stride the slightest halt possible。 And Doctor Barker had missed the
child's conversation。 To…day his mustache was a perfected thing； and he in
the late end of his twenties。
〃He'll wake up about noon to…morrow in a dive； without a cent；〃 said
Barker。 〃Then he'll come back on a freight and begin over again。〃
At the Denver station Lin McLean passed through the shoutings and
omnibuses； and came to the beginning of Seventeenth Street； where is the
first saloon。 A customer was ordering Hot Scotch； and because he liked the
smell and had not thought of the mixture for a number of years； Lin took
Hot Scotch。 Coming out upon the pavement； he looked across and saw a
saloon opposite with brighter globes and windows more prosperous。 That
should have been his choice； lemon peel would undoubtedly be fresher
over there； and over he went at once； to begin the whole thing properly。 In
such frozen weather no drink could be more timely； and he sat； to enjoy
without haste its mellow fitness。 Once again on the pavement； he looked
along