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next comer's。 By this thrifty habit the original boards belonging to the
soldiers could go round； keeping pace with the new civilian population；
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and though at first sight you might be puzzled by the layers of names still
visible beneath the white paint； you could be sure that the clearest and
blackest was the one to which the present tenant had answered。
So there on the hill lay the graveyard； steadily writing Drybone's
history； and making that history lay the town at the bottomone thin line
of houses framing three sides of the old parade ground。 In these slowly
rotting shells people rioted； believing the golden age was here； the age
when everybody should have money and nobody should be arrested。 For
Drybone soil； you see； was still government soil； not yet handed over to
Wyoming； and only government could arrest there； and only for
government crimes。 But government had gone； and seldom worried
Drybone！ The spot was a postage…stamp of sanctuary pasted in the middle
of Wyoming's big map； a paradise for the Four…ace Johnstons。 Only； you
must not steal a horse。 That was really wicked； and brought you instantly
to the notice of Drybone's one officialthe coroner！ For they did keep a
coronerJudge Slaghammer。 He was perfectly illegal； and lived next door
in Albany County。 But that county paid fees and mileage to keep tally of
Drybone's casualties。 His wife owned the dance…hall； and between their
industries they made out a living。 And all the citizens made out a living。
The happy cow…punchers on ranches far and near still earned and instantly
spent the high wages still paid them。 With their bodies full of youth and
their pockets full of gold； they rode into town by twenties； by fifties； and
out again next morning； penniless always and happy。 And then the Four…
ace Johnstons would sit card…playing with each other till the innocents
should come to town again。
To…night the innocents had certainly come to town； and Drybone was
furnishing to them all its joys。 Their many horses stood tied at every post
and cornerpatient； experienced cow…ponies； well knowing it was an all…
night affair。 The talk and laughter of the riders was in the saloons； they
leaned joking over the bars； they sat behind their cards at the tables； they
strolled to the post…trader's to buy presents for their easy sweethearts their
boots were keeping audible time with the fiddle at Mrs。 Slaghammer's。
From the multitude and vigor of the sounds there； the dance was being
done regularly。 〃Regularly〃 meant that upon the conclusion of each set the
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gentleman led his lady to the bar and invited her to choose and it was also
regular that the lady should choose。 Beer and whiskey were the
alternatives。
Lin McLean's horse took him across the square without guiding from
the cow…puncher； who sat absently with his hands folded upon the horn of
his saddle。 This horse； too； was patient and experienced； and could not
know what remote thoughts filled his master's mind。 He looked around to
see why his master did not get off lightly； as he had done during so many
gallant years； and hasten in to the conviviality。 But the lonely cow…puncher
sat mechanically identifying the horses of acquaintances。
〃Toothpick Kid is here；〃 said he； 〃and Limber Jim； and the Doughie。
You'd think he'd stay away after the trouble heI expect that pinto is Jerky
Bill's。〃
〃Go home！〃 said a hearty voice。
McLean eagerly turned。 For the moment his face lighted from its
sombreness。 〃I'd forgot you'd be here；〃 said he。 And he sprang to the
ground。 〃It's fine to see you。〃
〃Go home！〃 repeated the Governor of Wyoming； shaking his ancient
friend's hand。 〃You in Drybone to…night； and claim you're reformed？
〃Yu' seem to be on hand yourself；〃 said the cow…puncher； bracing to be
jocular； if he could。
〃Me！ I've gone fishing。 Don't you read the papers？ If we poor
governors can't lock up the State House and take a whirl now and then〃
〃Doc；〃 interrupted Lin； 〃it's plumb fine to see yu'！〃 Again he shook
hands。
〃Why； yes！ we've met here before； you and I。〃 His Excellency the Hon。
Amory W。 Barker； M。D。； stood laughing； familiar and genial； his sound
white teeth shining。 But behind his round spectacles he scrutinized
McLean。 For in this second hand…shaking was a fervor that seemed a grasp；
a reaching out； for comfort。 Barker had passed through Separ。 Though an
older acquaintance than Billy； he had asked Jessamine fewer and different
questions。 But he knew what he knew。 〃Well； Drybone's the same old
Drybone；〃 said he。 〃Sweet…scented hole of iniquity！ Let's see how you
walk nowadays。〃
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Lin took a few steps。
〃Pooh！ I said you'd never get over it。〃 And his Excellency beamed
with professional pride。 In his doctor days Barker had set the boy
McLean's leg； and before it was properly knit the boy had escaped from
the hospital to revel loose in Drybone on such another night as this。 Soon
he had been carried back； with the fracture split open again。
〃It shows； does it？〃 said Lin。 〃Well； it don't usually。 Not except when
I'mwhen I'm〃
〃Down？〃 suggested his Excellency。
〃Yes； Doc。 Down；〃 the cow…puncher confessed。
Barker looked into his friend's clear hazel eyes。
Beneath their dauntless sparkle was something that touched the
Governor's good heart。 〃I've got some whiskey along on the tripEastern
whiskey；〃 said he。 〃Come over to my room awhile。〃
〃I used to sleep all night onced；〃 said McLean； as they went。 〃Then I
come to know different。 But I'd never have believed just mere thoughts
could make yu'make yu' feel like the steam was only half on。 I eat； yu'
know！〃 he stated； suddenly。 〃And I expect one or two in camp lately have
not found my muscle lacking。 Feel me； Doc。〃
Barker dutifully obeyed； and praised the excellent sinews。
Across from the dance…hall the whining of the fiddle came； high and
g