in no reasonable mood.

"Then where's the cursed justice----" he began heatedly. But broke off
as the other shrugged his great shoulders.

He waited for Peter to speak. He waited, stirred to a mad contentiousness,
to tear his friend's arguments to ribbons, and fling their broken
remains back in his face. But no arguments were forthcoming. Peter
understood his temper, and saw the uselessness of argument. Besides,
he could smell the reek of whiskey.

He thought swiftly with all the wisdom of a great understanding and
experience. And finally his manner changed utterly. He suddenly became
cordially sympathetic with the other's angry mood. He even agreed with
him.

"Maybe you're right, though, Jim," he said. "Things have been mighty
hard for you. You've had a heap of trouble. I can't say I wonder at
you taking it bad, and thinking things. But--but what are you going to
do now? Buck the game afresh?"

Jim did not pause to think. He jumped speedily at the bait held out to
him so subtly.

"Yes," he cried, with a bitter laugh. "But it'll be a different game.
A game most folks out here sure know how to play. We're most of us
life's derelicts. I'll buck it, Peter, and set the devil dancing."

The other nodded.

"I know. I know. He's always ready to dance if we pay for the tune."

But Jim was lost in his own wild thoughts.

"Yes, and he's good company, too, Peter," he cried. "Devilish good."
He laughed at his own humor. "The harder you play the harder and more
merrily he'll dance. We've got one life. The trail's marked out for
us. And, by gum, we'll live while we can. Why should we sweat and
toil, and have it squeezed out of us whenever--they think fit? I'll
spend every dollar I make. I'll have all that life can give me. I'll
pick the fruit within my reach. I'll do as the devil, or my stomach,
guides me. I'll have my time----"

"And then?"

Jim sat down. He was smiling, but the smile was unreal.

"Then? Why, I'll go right down and out, and they can kick my carcase
out to the town 'dumps.'"

Peter nodded again.

"Let's begin now," he said, with staggering abruptness. And he pointed
at the bottle in Jim's pocket.

"Eh?" the other was startled.

"Let's begin now," Peter said, with his calm smile. "You're good
company, Jim. Where you go, I'll travel, too--if it's to hell."

The smile had vanished from Jim's eyes. For a moment he wondered
stupidly, and during that moment, as Peter's hand was outstretched for
the