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Wingate； buttoning up his coat in slow dejection； 〃I reckon I
oughter be travelin' to help the old woman do the chores before
supper。〃 He had just recognized the light in his own dining…room；
and knew by that sign that his long…waiting helpmeet had finally
done the chores herself。
〃Some folks have it mighty easy；〃 said Billings； with long…drawn
discontent； as he struggled to his feet。 〃You've only a step to
go； and yer's me and Peters there〃indicating the biscuit…nibbler；
who was beginning to show alarming signs of returning to the barrel
again〃hev got to trapse five times that distance。〃
〃More'n half a mile； if it comes to that；〃 said Peters； gloomily。
He paused in putting on his overcoat as if thinking better of it；
while even the more fortunate and contiguous Wingate languidly
lapsed against the counter again。
The moment was a critical one。 Billings was evidently also
regretfully eying the chair he had just quitted。 Harkutt resolved
on a heroic effort。
〃Come； boys；〃 he said； with brisk conviviality； 〃take a parting
drink with me before you go。〃 Producing a black bottle from some
obscurity beneath the counter that smelt strongly of india…rubber
boots； he placed it with four glasses before his guests。 Each made
a feint of holding his glass against the opaque window while
filling it； although nothing could be seen。 A sudden tumult of
wind and rain again shook the building； but even after it had
passed the glass door still rattled violently。
〃Just see what's loose； Peters；〃 said Billings； 〃you're nearest
it。〃
Peters； still holding the undrained glass in his hand； walked
slowly towards it。
〃It's suthin'or somebody outside；〃 he said； hesitatingly。
The three others came eagerly to his side。 Through the glass；
clouded from within by their breath； and filmed from without by the
rain； some vague object was moving； and what seemed to be a mop of
tangled hair was apparently brushing against the pane。 The door
shook again； but less strongly。 Billings pressed his face against
the glass。 〃Hol' on；〃 he said in a quick whisper；〃it's 'Lige！〃
But it was too late。 Harkutt had already drawn the lower bolt； and
a man stumbled from the outer obscurity into the darker room。
The inmates drew away as he leaned back for a moment against the
door that closed behind him。 Then dimly； but instinctively；
discerning the glass of liquor which Wingate still mechanically
held in his hand； he reached forward eagerly； took it from
Wingate's surprised and unresisting fingers； and drained it at a
gulp。 The four men laughed vaguely； but not as cheerfully as they
might。
〃I was just shutting up；〃 began Harkutt； dubiously。
〃I won't keep you a minit；〃 said the intruder； nervously fumbling
in the breast pocket of his hickory shirt。 〃It's a matter of
businessHarkuttI〃 But he was obliged to stop here to wipe
his face and forehead with the ends of a loose handkerchief tied
round his throat。 From the action； and what could be seen of his
pale； exhausted face； it was evident that the moisture upon it was
beads of perspiration； and not the rain which some abnormal heat of
his body was converting into vapor from his sodden garments as he
stood there。
〃I've got a document here；〃 he began again； producing a roll of
paper tremblingly from his pocket； 〃that I'd like you to glance
over； and perhaps you'd〃 His voice； which had been feverishly
exalted； here broke and rattled with a cough。
Billings； Wingate； and Peters fell apart and looked out of the
window。 〃It's too dark to read anything now； 'Lige；〃 said Harkutt；
with evasive good humor； 〃and I ain't lightin' up to…night。〃
〃But I can tell you the substance of it；〃 said the man； with a
faintness that however had all the distinctness of a whisper； 〃if
you'll just step inside a minute。 It's a matter of importance and
a bargain〃
〃I reckon we must be goin'；〃 said Billings to the others； with
marked emphasis。 〃We're keepin' Harkutt from shuttin' up。〃 〃Good…
night！〃 〃Good…night！〃 added Peters and Wingate； ostentatiously
following Billings hurriedly through the door。 〃So long！〃
The door closed behind them； leaving Harkutt alone with his
importunate intruder。 Possibly his resentment at his customers'
selfish abandonment of him at this moment developed a vague spirit
of opposition to them and mitigated his feeling towards 'Lige。 He
groped his way to the counter； struck a match； and lit a candle。
Its feeble rays faintly illuminated the pale； drawn face of the
applicant； set in a tangle of wet； unkempt； party…colored hair。 It
was not the face of an ordinary drunkard； although tremulous and
sensitive from some artificial excitement； there was no ENGORGEMENT
or congestion in the features or complexion； albeit they were
morbid and unhealthy。 The expression was of a suffering that was
as much mental as physical； and yet in some vague way appeared
unmeaningand unheroic。
〃I want to see you about selling my place on the creek。 I want you
to take it off my hands for a bargain。 I want to get quit of it；
at once； for just enough to take me out o' this。 I don't want any
profit； only money enough to get away。〃 His utterance； which had a
certain kind of cultivation； here grew thick and harsh again； and
he looked eagerly at the bottle which stood on the counter。
〃Look here； 'Lige；〃 said Harkutt； not unkindly。 〃It's too late to
do anythin' tonight。 You come in to…morrow。〃 He would have added
〃when you're sober；〃 but for a trader's sense of politeness to a
possible customer； and probably some doubt of the man's actual
condition。
〃God knows where or what I may be tomorrow！ It would kill me to go
back and spend another night as the last； if I don't kill myself on
the way to do it。〃
Harkutt's face darkened grimly。 It was indeed as Billings had
said。 The pitiable weakness of the man's manner not only made his
desperation inadequate and ineffective； but even lent it all the
cheapness of acting。 And； as if to accent his simulation of a
part； his fingers； feebly groping in his shirt bosom； slipped
aimlessly and helplessly from the shining handle of a pistol in his
pocket to wander hesitatingly towards the bottle on the counter。
Harkutt took the bottle； poured out a glass of the liquor； and
pushed it before his companion； who drank it eagerly。 Whether it
gave him more confidence； or his attention was no longer diverted；
he went on more collectedly and cheerfully； and with no trace of
his previous desperation in his manner。 〃Come； Harkutt； buy my
place。 It's a bargain； I tell you。 I'll sell it cheap。 I only
want enough to get away with。 Give me twenty…five dollars and it's
yours。 See； there's the papersthe quitclaimall drawn up and
signed。〃 He drew the roll of paper from his pocket again；
apparently forgetful of the adjacent weapon。
〃Look here； 'Lige；〃 said Harkutt； with a business…like straightening
of his lips； 〃I ain't buyin' any land in Tasajara；least of all
yours on the creek。 I've got more invested here already than I'll
ever get back again。 But I tell you what I'll do。 You say you
can't go back to your shanty。 Well； seein' how rough it is outside；
and that the waters of the creek are probably all over the trail by
this time； I reckon you're about right。 Now； there's five dollars！〃
He laid down a coin sharply on the counter。 〃Take that and go over
to Rawlett's and get a bed and some supper。 In the mornin' you may
be able to strike up a trade with somebody elseor change your
mind。 How did you get here？ On your hoss？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃He ain't starved yet？〃
〃No； he can eat grass。 I can't。〃
Either the liquor or Harkutt's practical unsentimental treatment of
the situation seemed to give him confidence。 He met Harkutt's eye
more steadily as the latter went on。 〃You kin turn your hoss for
the night into my stock corral next to Rawlett's。 It'll save you
payin' for fodder and stablin'。〃
The man took up the coin with a certain slow gravity which was
almost like dignity。 〃Thank you；〃 he said； laying the paper on the
counter。 〃I'll leave that as security。〃
〃Don't want it； 'Lige；〃 said Harkutt； pushing it back。
〃I'd rather leave it。〃
〃But suppose you have a chance to sell it to somebody at Rawlett's？〃
continued Harkutt； with a precaution that seemed ironical。
〃I don't think there's much chance of that。〃
He remained quiet； looking at Harkutt with an odd expression as he
rubbed the edge of the coin that he held between his fingers
abstractedly on the counter。 Something in his gazerather perhaps
the apparent absence of anything in it approximate to the present
occasionwas beginning to affect Harkutt with a vague uneasiness。
Providentially a resumed onslaught of wind and rain against the
panes effected a diversion。 〃Come；〃 he said； with brisk
practicality； 〃you'd better