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figure。 As soon as this cursed thing is blown over； I'll be back
here and see you through； you bet。 I don't desert my friends；
however rough things go with me。〃
〃I see you don't；〃 returned Patterson； with an unconscious and
serious simplicity that had the effect of the most exquisite irony。
〃I was only just saying to the sheriff that if there was anything I
could have done for you； you wouldn't have cut away without letting
me know。〃 Tucker glanced uneasily at Patterson； who continued； 〃Ye
ain't wanting anything else？〃 Then observing that his former
friend and patron was roughly but newly clothed； and betrayed no
trace of his last escapade； he added； 〃I see you've got a fresh
harness。〃
〃That dd Chinaman bought me these at the landing； they're not
much in style or fit；〃 he continued； trying to get a moonlight view
of himself in the mirror behind the bar； 〃but that don't matter
here。〃 He filled another glass of spirits； jauntily settled
himself back in his chair； and added； 〃I don't suppose there are
any girls around； anyway。〃
〃'Cept your wife； she was down here this afternoon；〃 said Patterson
meditatively。
Mr。 Tucker paused with the pie in his hand。 〃Ah； yes！〃 He essayed
a reckless laugh； but that evident simulation failed before
Patterson's melancholy。 With an assumption of falling in with his
friend's manner； rather than from any personal anxiety； he
continued； 〃Well？〃
〃That man Poindexter was down here with her。 Put her in the
hacienda to hold possession afore the news came out。〃
〃Impossible！〃 said Tucker； rising hastily。 〃It don't belongthat
is〃 he hesitated。
〃Yer thinking the creditors 'll get it； mebbe；〃 returned Patterson；
gazing at the floor。 〃Not as long as she's in it； no sir！ Whether
it's really hers； or she's only keeping house for Poindexter； she's
a fixture； you bet。 They're a team when they pull together； they
are！〃
The smile slowly faded from Tucker's face； that now looked quite
rigid in the moonlight。 He put down his glass and walked to the
window as Patterson gloomily continued； 〃But that's nothing to you。
You've got ahead of 'em both； and had your revenge by going off
with the gal。 That's what I said all along。 When folks
especially women folkswondered how you could leave a woman like
your wife； and go off with a scallawag like that gal； I allers said
they'd find out there was a reason。 And when your wife came
flaunting down here with Poindexter before she'd quite got quit of
you； I reckon they began to see the whole little game。 No sir！ I
knew it wasn't on account of the gal！ Why； when you came here to…
night and told me quite nat'ral…like and easy how she went off in
the ship； and then calmly ate your pie and drank your whiskey after
it； I knew you didn't care for her。 There's my hand； Spence；
you're a trump； even if you are a little looney； eh？ Why； what's
up？〃
Shallow and selfish as Tucker was； Patterson's words seemed like a
revelation that shocked him as profoundly as it might have shocked
a nobler nature。 The simple vanity and selfishness that made him
unable to conceive any higher reason for his wife's loyalty than
his own personal popularity and success； now that he no longer
possessed that eclat； made him equally capable of the lowest
suspicions。 He was a dishonored fugitive； broken in fortune and
reputationwhy should she not desert him！ He had been unfaithful
to her from wildness； from caprice； from the effect of those
fascinating qualities； it seemed to him natural that she should be
disloyal from more deliberate motives； and he hugged himself with
that belief。 Yet there was enough doubt； enough of haunting
suspicion that he had lost or alienated a powerful affection； to
make him thoroughly miserable。 He returned his friend's grasp
convulsively and buried his face upon his shoulder。 But he was not
above feeling a certain exultation in the effect of his misery upon
the dog…like； unreasoning affection of Patterson； nor could he
entirely refrain from slightly posing his affliction before that
sympathetic but melancholy man。 Suddenly he raised his head； drew
back； and thrust his hand into his bosom with a theatrical gesture。
〃What's to keep me from killing Poindexter in his tracks？〃 he said
wildly。
〃Nothin' but HIS shooting first；〃 returned Patterson； with dismal
practicality。 〃He's mighty quick； like all them army men。 It's
about even； I reckon； that he don't get ME first；〃 he added in an
ominous voice。
〃No！〃 returned Tucker； grasping his hand again。 〃This is not your
affair； Patterson； leave him to me when I come back。〃
〃If he ever gets the drop on me； I reckon he won't wait；〃 continued
Patterson lugubriously。 〃He seems to object to my passin'
criticism on your wife； as if she was a queen or an angel。〃
The blood came to Spencer's cheek； and he turned uneasily to the
window。 〃It's dark enough now for a start；〃 he said hurriedly；
〃and if I could get across the mountain without lying over at the
summit； it would be a day gained。〃
Patterson arose without a word； filled a flask of spirit； handed it
to his friend； and silently led the way through the slowly falling
rain and the now settled darkness。 The mustang was quickly secured
and saddled； a heavy poncho afforded Tucker a disguise as well as a
protection from the rain。 With a few hurried； disconnected words；
and an abstracted air； he once more shook his friend's hand and
issued cautiously from the corral。 When out of earshot from the
house he put spurs to the mustang； and dashed into a gallop。
To intersect the mountain road he was obliged to traverse part of
the highway his wife had walked that afternoon； and to pass within
a mile of the casa where she was。 Long before he reached that
point his eyes were straining the darkness in that direction for
some indication of the house which was to him familiar。 Becoming
now accustomed to the even obscurity； less trying to the vision
than the alternate light and shadow of cloud or the full glare of
the moonlight； he fancied he could distinguish its low walls over
the monotonous level。 One of those impulses which had so often
taken the place of resolution in his character suddenly possessed
him to diverge from his course and approach the house。 Why； he
could not have explained。 It was not from any feeling of jealous
suspicion or contemplated revengethat had passed with the
presence of Patterson； it was not from any vague lingering
sentiment for the woman he had wrongedhe would have shrunk from
meeting her at that moment。 But it was full of these and more
possibilities by which he might or might not be guided； and was at
least a movement towards some vague end； and a distraction from
certain thoughts he dared not entertain and could not entirely
dismiss。 Inconceivable and inexplicable to human reason； it might
have been acceptable to the Divine omniscience for its predestined