AN UNDERSTANDING
BLAKE settled himself in the easy chair which his pushed over to him and his on the seat of another, and the of contentment. One of the black Perfectos which a friend in the East Shields with, was nursed by his lips, its slowly from his nose and mouth, its to a man who a good cigar when he it, and who how to it. At his a coffee pot, on one by a plate high with gingerbread; on the other by an pie. His half-closed and his arms were folded, and a great peace over him. He had the philosopher’s mind which so to the magic touch of a perfect cigar. In that space of time he was for a life of hardships, and but pleasures.
267They sat each in his own thoughts, in a only by the very low and of women’s voices and the loud of the clock, which soon ten. The sighed, to the from his cigar, and then slowly his hand toward the pie. Shields came to himself and very his cigar, the up over the lamp. He looked at his friend for a and then the silence.
“Tom,” he said, “what I’m going to tell you now is all meat. I couldn’t say anything about it while the were around, for they worry a and there wasn’t no good in them.
“The Cross Bar-8 got with the idea that they wanted a new sheriff, and four of them didn’t a whole how they the necessary vacancy. I got word that they were going to pay Bill Howland for the part he played, and on the of it there wasn’t nothing more than that. It was natural that they were on him, and that they would try to square matters. Well, of course, I couldn’t let him out and I took cards in the game. But, Lord, it wasn’t what I it was at all. He was in for his 268licking, all right, but he was the little fish–and I was the big one.
“They got Bill in the of the Backbone and were going to him–they him up shameful. He wouldn’t tell them that I was hand-in-glove with The Orphan, which they wanted to hear, so they to him to lie, but it was no go.
“Well, I Bill and, to make it short, that is just what they had on. They posted an to the on me when I up, and he got it. Tex Williard to be the officer in charge, and he asked me questions and that me inside. But I was as as I be apparently, for it ain’t no good to your in a place like that. I they wanted me to out on the so they up some about self-defense. It looked for me, with three of them having their on me, and Tex Williard had just me an and had two, when, d––d if The Orphan didn’t take a hand from up on the of the defile. That let me my out, and the was easy. We let Bill square on the for the he had got, 269by all of them to the queen’s taste. When they got so they up I told them a and ordered them out of the country, and they were to the to go, too.
“The Orphan didn’t have to mix up in that, not at all, and it makes the third time he’s put his in to help me or mine, and he took big every time. How in h–l can I help him? Can I be for him white and square when he’s done so much for me? He is so full of and that I’ll up this job than to go out after him for his past deeds, and I it, too, Tom.”
Blake for another piece of pie, his hand over it in and then, his mind, took for a change.
“Well, I you’re right, Jim,” he replied. “Anyhow, it don’t make a whole of you are or not. You’re the of this layout, and you’re to do what you think best, and that’s the idea of most of the people out here, too. If you want to experiment, that’s your business, for you’ll be the to if you’re wrong. And it ain’t necessary to tell you that your friends will you up in anything you try. Personally, I am 270rather of what you’re doing, for I like that man’s looks, as I said before, and he’ll be just the of a I want. He’s a man that’ll like h–l for the man he up to and who him square. If he ain’t, I’m in my judgment.”
“I sent him to you,” the continued, “because I wanted to him in with a good and under a man who would be with him. I that you would give him every in the world. And then Helen takes such an in him, being and and romantic, that I wanted to her if I could, and I can. She’ll be very much pleased now that I’ve him a start in the right direction and there ain’t nothing I can do for her that is not going to be done. She’s a girl, Tom, as a girl as lived.”
“She is–there ain’t no about that!” the foreman, and then he slightly. “But have you of what all this might into?” he asked, in his earnestness. “It’s how I should think of such a thing, for it ain’t in my line at all, but the idea just of into my head.”
“What do you mean?”
271“Well, Helen, being and and romantic, as you said, and her own life and the of her sister and friend, not to mention yours, to him, might just go and in love with him, and I that if she did, she would to him in of hell. He’s a good-looking, fellow, full of energy and grit, of a mystery, and are on mysteries, and he might nurse ideas about having some one to make and for him; and if he does, as as God little apples, it’ll be Helen that he’ll want. He’s as a girl, she’s been and with him, and I’m to my that he’s a of sleep about her already. Good Lord, what can you expect? She him, and what do the books say about pity?”
The for a minute and then looked up with a light in his eyes.
“For a you’re doing well,” he said, still hard.
“Being a don’t that I ain’t with women,” the foreman. “There are some people that are they are too to and 272because the moon to be bright. But I’ll to you that I ain’t a I didn’t want to roped. We won’t say any more about that, however.”
“Well,” said Shields, slowly. “If he to her I know that he is and clean and good for her, I’ll just have to stop him any way I can. First of all, I’m looking out for my sister, the h–l with else. But on the other hand, if he makes good and wants her to for two and she has her mind up that she’d have him than single and is over in love with him, I don’t see that there’s anything to worry about. I tell you that he is a good man, a man, and if he like I want him to, she would be a d––d off with him than with some in love with money. He has had such a God-forsaken life that he will be able to a like that–he would be square as a with her and and loyal–and with him she wouldn’t much of being left a widow. Why, I’ll he’ll the ground she walks on–she wind him all around her little and he’d peep. And she would have the best 273protection that walks around these parts. But, pshaw, all this is too ahead of the game. How about that of you spoke of?”
“I can you the whole cheap,” the foreman. “And they are as and healthy a as you wish.”
“Well,” the sheriff, “I’ve up my mind to go again. I can’t this loafing, for it don’t amount to much more than that now that The Orphan has out of the class. I can a and have of time to to the part of it, too. Ever since I the Three-S I have been like a fish out of water. When I got of it I put the money away in Kansas City, that I might want to go at it again. Then I got of that mine and the money with the money. The has been for a long time now and I have got something over thirty thousand idle. Now, I’m going to put it to work.
“I ran across Crawford last week, and he is to sell out and go East–he don’t like the West. I’ve to take the A-Y off his hands, for it’s a good ranch, has good on it, two over wells, 274good and shelters. Why, he has put up in Long Valley that can’t be under a thousand dollars. His terms are good–five thousand and the in of two thousand a year at three cent., and I can over three cent, while it is waiting to be paid to him. He is too of his white elephant to over terms. He was to try to it himself and to so much money in wells, and buildings–it would you to know how much money he in paint alone. What did he know about ranching, anyhow? He can’t tell a cow from a heifer. He said that he how to make money earn money in the East, but that he couldn’t make a cows.
“If The Orphan to his new I’ll put him in and the with him. I’ll provide him with a good outfit, he needs and, if he makes good and the pays, I’ll it so he can own a half-interest in it at less than it cost me, and that will give him a good job to for the of his life. It’ll be something for him to tie to in case of squalls, but there ain’t much of his unsteady, if 275he was at all to that of thing he would be now.
“This ain’t no fly-away notion, as you know. I’ve had an for a good for years, and for just about that length of time I’ve had my on the A-Y. I was going to it when Crawford it up at that price and I a little put out when he took up his option on it, but I’m he did, now. Why, Reeves out to Crawford for almost three times what I am going to pay for it, and it has been fifty cent. since he has had it. But, of course, there was more then than there is now. You me that at a good and I’ll be able to take of them very soon now, just as soon as I close the deal. But, mind you, no Texas goes–I don’t want any Spanish in mine.
“I’m some of Charley in temporarily, just as soon as Sneed some men, and when The Orphan takes it over will be in shape. I won’t move out there my wife don’t like ranching–she wants to be in town where she is near somebody, but I’ll most of my time out there until in order. Oh, yes–in 276of the five thousand at the time the papers are signed, Crawford has to the ranch-house as it is, and that will be for Helen and The Orphan if they should decide to join hands in blessedness. You used to have a of fun about the high-faluting in your ranch-house, but just wait ’til you see this one! An look around will open your some, all right. It is a wonder, a wonder! Running water from the windmills, a bath-room, in the kitchen, a wood-burning in the cellar, and all the possible. If Crawford to move all that East it would cost him more than he for it, and he it, too. It’s a at twice the price, and I’m going to it. I can’t think of anything else.”
“Well,” Blake, “I don’t see how you do anything better, that’s sure. It all on the price, and if you’re satisfied with that, there ain’t no use of it down. I know you can make money out there with any of attention, for I’m well with the A-Y. And I’ll see about the next week, but you The Orphan with me a while longer. My boys are the best that in a 277bunk-house, and if he minds his they’ll his until you won’t know him; and they’ll teach him a little about the cow-puncher game if he’s rusty.
“You the time we had that killing out there, don’t you?” Blake asked. “Well, you also that we to cut out all on the in the future, and that I sent East for some gloves, which were to be used in case wanted to settle any trouble. They have been out there for two years now, and haven’t been used in fun. Give the boys a and they’ll him of the trigger-finger, all right. They’re only a of big-hearted, kids, and they can along with the himself if he’ll let them. But they are hell-fire and when aroused,” then he laughed softly: “They about your trouble with Sneed and they was to call on the Cross Bar-8 and make a about long life and happiness, but I them wait ’til they should be sent for.
“They know all about The Orphan–that is, as much as I did I called to-night. Joe Haines is a great and when he our 278mail once a week he takes it all in, so of they know all about it. They had a of fun about the way he the Cross Bar-8 up and take notice, for they ain’t any love on Sneed’s crowd. And it took Bill Howland over an hour to tell Joe about his experiences. So when The Orphan met the they him to be the man who had saved the sheriff’s sisters, which a long way with them. Say, Jim,” he exclaimed, “can I tell them what you said about him to-night? Let me tell them everything, for it’ll go with them, with Silent, who had some trouble with the U-B about five years ago. He was taking a of about three thousand across their range and he yet at the he got. Yes? All right, it’ll make him solid with the outfit.”
“Tell them anything you want about him,” said the sheriff, “but don’t say anything about the A-Y. I want to keep it for a while.”
Shields himself a cup of coffee and then at the clock: “Too late for a game, Tom?” he asked, expectantly.
The laughed: “It’s too late for that,” he replied.
279“Good enough!” his host. “What shall it be this time–pinochle or crib?”
The slowly closed his as he replied: “Either me–this has me easy to please. Why, I’d play to-night!”
“Well, what do you say to crib?” asked the sheriff. “You me so at it the last time you were here that I to revenge.”
“Well, I don’t you for wanting to it, but I’ll tell you right now that you won’t, for I can the man that to-night,” laughed the foreman. “Bring out your cards.”
Shields the cards on the table and where they would be while his friend the pack.
The pushed the cards toward his host: “There you are–low as usual, I suppose.”
“Oh, you might as well go ahead and deal,” the good-naturedly. “I don’t low for you–by George! A five!”
Blake up the cards and started to deal, but the stopped him.
“Hey! You haven’t cut yet!” Shields cried, 280putting his hand on the cards. “What are you doing, anyhow?”
Blake laughed with delight: “Well, that can’t cut than a five hadn’t ought to play the game. What’s the use of time?”
“Well, you mind about the time–you go ahead and me,” the sheriff. “Of all the nerve!”
Blake up the cards again: “Do you want to cut again?” he asked.
“Not a of it! That five stands!”
“Well, how would a four do?” asked the foreman, his hand. “It’s a three!” he exulted. “All that time wasted,” he said.
“You go to blazes,” the as he his hand. “This ain’t so for you, not at all bad; you have done worse, but I it.” He discarded, cut, and Blake a six.
“Seven,” called Shields as he played.
“Seventeen,” Blake, playing a queen.
“No you don’t, either,” the sheriff. “You can play that four later if you want to, but not now on twenty-seven. Call it twenty-five,” he said, playing an eight.
281Blake his hand and played the four, a little as his friend laughed.
“Thirty-one–first blood,” the sheriff, the deuce.
While he his points Blake laughed.
“Say, Jim,” he said, “before I it I want to tell you a joke on Humble. He it would be easy money if he Lee Lung how to play poker. He Lee’s life out of him for days, and the Chinaman to learn the great American game.”
Blake played a six and the scored two by pairing, his it for six, and took a point for the last card.
“As I was saying, Humble wanted the cook to learn poker. Lee’s was as blank as a cow’s, and Humble had to times the cook to what he was at. Anybody would have he had been up in a and that he didn’t know a card from an army mule.”
Blake his seven points and up his cards without the story.
282“But Lee had luck, and in an hour he owned of Humble’s next month’s pay. Now, every time he a he Humble the cards and for a game. ‘Nicee game, ploker, game,’ he’ll say. What Humble says is pertinent, and permeating. Then the boys guy him to a finish. He’ll be wanting to teach Lee how to play fan-tan some day, so the boys say. Lee must have in Humble of the game.”
Shields laughed and ran over his cards.
“Fifteen two, four, six, a pair is eight, and a of three is fourteen. Real good,” he said as he pegged. “Passed the that time. What have you got?”
The put his cards down, three and then the up. “Pair of and His Highness,” he grumbled. “Only three in that crib!”
“That’s what you for a three,” laughed the sheriff.
The game until the of the clock the guest.
“Midnight!” he cried. “Thirty miles 283I to bed–no, no, I can’t with you to-night –much obliged, all the same.”
He his on his and started for the door: “Well, luck next time, Jim–three twenty-four hands did make a difference. Right where they were needed, too. So long.”
“Sorry you won’t stay, Tom,” called his friend from the door as the mounted. “You might just as well, you know.”
“I’m sorry, too, but I’ve got to be on hand to-morrow–anyway, it’s moonlight–so long!” he as he away.
“Hey, Tom!” the sheriff, from the and to the gate. “Tom!”
“Hullo, what is it?” asked the foreman, and returning.
“Smoke this on your way, it’ll shorter,” said the sheriff, out a cigar.
“By George, I will!” laughed Blake. “That’s fine, you’re all right!”
“Be good,” the sheriff, his friend the street.
“Shore good–I have to be,” to his ears.
