big cities, an' theaters, fine clothes an' fine manners. Like livin'
in another world."

"Where they wear suits like Sam's spiketail," said Mormon. "I mind me
when I was to Chicago with a train of steers one time, the tall
buildin's was higher than canyon cliffs. On'y full breath I drawed was
down on the lake front where they was a free picter show in a museum.
Reg'lar storm there was out on the lake; big waves. Wind like to curl my
tongue back down my throat an' choke me."

"Who's hornin' in now?" asked Sam. "Go on, Sandy."

"But," said Molly, wide-eyed, "that's the life _I_ like. I mean out
here. I don't want to be different."

"Shucks," said Sandy. "You won't be. Jest polished up. Skin slicked up,
hair fixed to the style, nails trimmed an' shined. Culchured. Inside
you'll be yore real self. You can't take the gold out of a bit of ore
any more than you can change iron pyrites inter the reel stuff. But, if
the gold's goin' to be put into proper circulation, it's got to be
refined. Sabe?"

"I ain't refined, I reckon," said Molly with a sigh. "I don't know as I
want to be. I can allus come back, can't I?"

"You sure can."

"An' there's Dad. He's where he wanted to be. I w'udn't want to go away
from him."

"He'd want you to make this trip, sure," said Sandy. "An' that settles
it. You go off to bed an' dream on it. We got to figger out where you go
an' that'll take some time an' thinkin'. I'm some tired myse'f. I've
been out of trainin' lately fo' excitement. Sam, I'm goin' to soak that
place on yore arm with iodine. Good night, Molly."

She got up immediately, went to Mormon and to Sam and gravely shook
hands, thanking them.

"You-all are damned good to me," she said. Opposite Sandy she hesitated,
then threw her arms round his neck and kissed him before she ran from
the room, with Grit leaping after her. Sandy's bronzed face glowed like
reflecting copper.

"Some folks git all the luck," said Mormon.

"There you go," bantered Sam, stripping his arm for the iodine. "You
been married three times, reg'lar magnet fo' the wimmin, an' you grudge
Sandy pay fo' what he done. Me, I helped, but I ain't grudgin' him.
Though I sure envy him."

"Yes, you helped an' left me to home to count fingers."

"Shucks! You matched for it, didn't you? An' didn't you have yore li'l'
session with Plimsoll all to yorese'f. What's eatin' you? You want to be
a five-ringed circus all to yorese'f an' have all the fun. Ef that stuff
h