tinued Mrs. Grady, "that
think anything of a baby that's only got three teeth--" "Ha! Ha!"
laughed Cuba's mother, shrilly. "Teeth! Well, we're not proud of bald
babies in Sharon." Bosco was certainly bald. All the men were looking
wretched, and all the women were growing more and more like eagles.
Moreover, they were separating into two bands and taking their husbands
with them--Sharon and Rincon drawing to opposite parts of the tent--and
what was coming I cannot say; for we all had to think of something else.
A third woman, bringing a man, mounted the platform. It was she I
had seen hurry out. "My name's Shot-gun Smith," said the man, very
carefully, "and I'm told you've reached my case." He was extremely
good-looking, with a blue eye and a blond mustache, not above thirty,
and was trying hard to be sober, holding himself with dignity. "Are you
the judge?" said he to me. "Hell--" I began. "N-not guilty, your honor,"
said he. At this his wife looked anxious. "S-self-defence," he slowly
continued; "told you once already." "Why, Rolfe!" exclaimed his wife,
touching his elbow. "Don't you cry, little woman," said he; "this'll
come out all right. Where 're the witnesses?" "Why, Rolfe! Rolfe!" She
shook him as you shake a sleepy child. "Now see here," said he, and
wagged a finger at her affectionately, "you promised me you'd not cry
if I let you come." "Rolfe, dear, it's not that to-day; it's the twins."
"It's your twins, Shot-gun, this time," said many men's voices. "We
acquitted you all right last month." "Justifiable homicide," said
Gadsden. "Don't you remember?" "Twins?" said Shotgun, drowsily. "Oh yes,
mine. Why--" He opened on us his blue eyes that looked about as innocent
as Aqua Marine's, and he grew more awake. Then he blushed deeply, face
and forehead. "I was not coming to this kind of thing," he explained.
"But she wanted the twins to get something." He put his hand on her
shoulder and straightened himself. "I done a heap of prospecting before
I struck this claim," said he, patting her shoulder. "We got married
last March a year. It's our first--first--first"--he turned to me with a
confiding smile--"it's our first dividend, judge." "Rolfe! I never! You
come right down." "And now let's go get a prize," he declared, with his
confiding pleasantness. "I remember now! I remember! They claimed twins
was barred. And I kicked down the bars. Take me to those twins. They're
not named yet, judge. After they get the prize we'll