ectin' the vitals o' that
side-show-freak's gun. Sez he, in a nasty tone, which kind o'
interrupted the deac'n's best langwidge, an' made folks fergit to
fetch the 'A-men' right, 'You dog-gone son of a hog----' But I didn't
wait fer no more. I sees then what's amiss. My chaw had located itself
on the lady's ankle--which I 'lows wus shapely--which she'd left
showin' in gatherin' her fixin's aroun' her. I see that, an' I see his
stovepipe hat under the seat. I jest grabbed that hat sudden, an'
'fore he'd had time to drop his hammer I'd mushed it down on his head
so he couldn't see. Then I ups, wi' the drop on him, an' I sez: 'Come
right along an' we'll settle like honest cit'zens.' An' wi' that I
backed out o' the meetin'. Wal, I guess he wus clear grit. We settled.
I 'lows he wus a dandy at the bizness end o' a gun, an' I walked lame
fer a month after. But ther' was a onattached widdy in that town when
we'd done."

"You killed him?" Tresler asked.

"Wal, I didn't wait to ast no details. Guess I got busy fergittin'
religion right off. Mebbe ther's a proper time fer ev'rything, an' I
don't figger it's reas'nable argyfyin' even wi' a deac'n when his
swaller-tail pocket's bustin' wi' shootin' materials. No, sir, guess
religion ain't no use fer me."

Arizona heaved a deep sigh of regret. Tresler gathered up his saddle
and bridle. Once or twice he had been ready to explode with laughter
during his companion's story, but the man's evident sincerity and
earnestness had held him quiet; had made him realize that the story
was in the nature of a confidence, and was told in no spirit of
levity. And, somehow, now, at the end of it, he felt sorry for this
wandering outcast, with no future and only a disreputable past. He
knew there was far more real good in him than bad, and yet there
seemed no possible chance for him. He would go on as he was; he would
"punch" cattle so long as he could find employment. And when chance,
or some other matter, should plunge him on his beam ends, he would
take to what most cowboys in those days took to when they fell upon
evil days--cattle-stealing. And, probably, end his days dancing at the
end of a lariat, suspended from the bough of some stout old tree.

As he moved to go, Arizona rose abruptly from his seat, and stayed him
with a gesture.

"Guess I got side-tracked yarnin'. I wanted to tell you a few things
that's bin doin' sence you've bin away."

Tresler stood.

"Say," the other went on