among them the unmarried girls, their opportunities
might not be as plentiful as at present. One or two cow-punchers, in an
excess of civility at the presence of the fair, had insisted on giving up
their six-shooters, mumbling something about "there being ladies present
and a man being hasty at times." In the "bunk-room," which did duty as a
gentleman's cloak-room, things were really warming up. There was much
drinking of healths, as the brothers Benton had thoughtfully provided the
wherewithal, and that in excellent quality.

Costigan was there, and Texas Tyler, who had ridden sixty miles to "swing
a petticoat," or, if there were not enough to go round, to dance with a
handkerchief tied to some fellow's sleeve. By "swinging a petticoat" it
was perfectly understood among all his friends that he meant a chance to
dance with Judith Rodney. Year in and year out Texas never failed to
present himself at the post-office on mail-days, if his work took him
within a radius of fifty miles of the Daxes. No dance where the
possibility of seeing Judith was even remote was too long a ride for him
to undertake, even when it took him across the dreariest wastes of the
desert. Texas had been devoted to Judith since she had left the convent,
and sometimes, perhaps twice a year, she told him that she valued his
friendship. On all other occasions she rejected his suit as if his
continual pressing of it were something in the nature of an affront. Yet
Texas persevered.

"Well, here's lukin' at you, since in the way of a frind there's nothing
better to look at!" and Costigan drained a tin cup at Texas Tyler.

"Your very good health," said Texas, who was somewhat embarrassed by what
was regarded as Costigan's "floweriness."

"Begorra, is that Hinderson or the ghost av the b'y?" Costigan's roving
eye was arrested by the foreman of the "XXX," who stood drinking with two
or three men of his outfit. He was pale and ill-looking. He drank several
times in succession, as if he needed the stimulant, and without the
formality of drinking to any one. The two or three "XXX" men who were with
him seemed to be equally in need of restoratives.

They talked of the cattle stampede in which several of the outfits had
been heavy losers. Some nine hundred head of cattle had been recovered,
and members of the different outfits were still scouring the Red Desert
for strays.

Something in the nature of a sensation was created by the arrival of the
Wetmore par