°Ëϲµç×ÓÊé > ¾­¹ÜÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > lin mclean(ÁÖ¡¤ÂõÁÖ¶÷) >

µÚ37²¿·Ö

lin mclean(ÁÖ¡¤ÂõÁÖ¶÷)-µÚ37²¿·Ö

С˵£º lin mclean(ÁÖ¡¤ÂõÁÖ¶÷) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




strange£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡morning¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡hour¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡riding¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡silence£»¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡144¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡145¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LIN¡¡McLEAN¡¡



¡¨how¡¡a¡¡man¡¡will¡¡win¡¡two¡¡women¡¡while¡¡another¡¡man¡¡gets¡¡aged¡¡waitin'¡¡for¡¡

one¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Your¡¡hair¡¡seems¡¡black¡¡as¡¡ever£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡I¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡¡¡¡¡hopes¡¡¡¡¡¡ain't¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡glossy¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡more£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Lin¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡done¡¡

better¡¡this¡¡second¡¡trip¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Lusk¡¡don't¡¡count£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡I¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡reckon¡¡she¡¡counted¡¡mighty¡¡plentiful¡¡when¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡he'd¡¡got¡¡her¡¡

clamped¡¡to¡¡him¡¡by¡¡lawful¡¡marriage¡£¡¡But¡¡Lin's¡¡lucky¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡the¡¡Virginian¡¡

fell¡¡silent¡¡again¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Lucky¡¡¡¡Lin¡¡¡¡¡¡bestirred¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡work£»¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡plans£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡ranch¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡Box¡¡

Elder¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡home¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡lady¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡went£»¡¡

seeing¡¡his¡¡idea¡¡triumph¡¡and¡¡his¡¡girl¡¡respected¡£¡¡Not¡¡only¡¡was¡¡she¡¡a¡¡girl£»¡¡but¡¡

a¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡shot¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡£¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡small£»¡¡¡¡¡¡neat¡¡¡¡¡¡home¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sort¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

possession£»¡¡the¡¡cow¡­punchers¡¡would¡¡boast¡¡of¡¡her¡¡to¡¡strangers¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡

have¡¡dealt¡¡heavily¡¡now¡¡with¡¡the¡¡wretch¡¡who¡¡should¡¡trifle¡¡with¡¡the¡¡water¡­¡¡

tank¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡camp¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡within¡¡¡¡¡¡visiting¡¡¡¡¡¡distance£»¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡

another¡¡shaving¡¡and¡¡parting¡¡his¡¡hair¡£¡¡They¡¡wrote¡¡unnecessary¡¡letters£»¡¡and¡¡

brought¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡mail¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡excuses¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡afternoon¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Honey¡¡¡¡¡¡Wiggin£»¡¡

more¡¡original£»¡¡would¡¡look¡¡in¡¡the¡¡door¡¡with¡¡his¡¡grin£»¡¡and¡¡hold¡¡up¡¡an¡¡ace¡¡of¡¡

clubs¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡thought¡¡maybe¡¡yu'¡¡could¡¡spare¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡for¡¡a¡¡shootin'¡­match£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡

would¡¡¡¡¡¡insinuate£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Separ¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡objectionable¡¡¡¡¡¡shooting¡¡

than¡¡this¡£¡¡Texas¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡presents¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡gameantelope£»¡¡¡¡sage¡­chickens¡¡

but£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡shyness¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡intervening£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡outside¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡door£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡entering£»¡¡

dressed¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Sunday¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had£»¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡sit¡¡¡¡¡¡dumbly¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lady's¡¡

presence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡remember¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡emerging¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡placid¡¡¡¡¡¡interviews¡¡

straight¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tormentors¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡don't¡¡¡¡¡¡notice¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡clothes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Texas£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Virginian£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨just¡¡

mention¡¡them¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Now¡¡¡¡¡¡yer've¡¡¡¡¡¡done¡¡¡¡¡¡offended¡¡¡¡¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡shrilled¡¡¡¡¡¡Manassas¡¡¡¡¡¡Donohoe¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡

heard¡¡that¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She'll¡¡hear¡¡you¡¡singin'¡¡sooprano£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Honey¡¡Wiggin¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡good¡¡this¡¡

country¡¡has¡¡reformed£»¡¡or¡¡they'd¡¡have¡¡you¡¡warblin'¡¡in¡¡some¡¡dance¡­hall¡¡and¡¡

corrupt¡¡your¡¡morals¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡sca'cely¡¡can¡¡corrupt¡¡the¡¡morals¡¡of¡¡a¡¡soprano¡¡man£»¡¨¡¡observed¡¡the¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡145¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡146¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LIN¡¡McLEAN¡¡



Virginian¡£¡¡¡¨Go¡¡and¡¡play¡¡with¡¡Billy¡¡till¡¡you¡¡can¡¡talk¡¡bass¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡boldest¡¡adults¡¡that¡¡Billy¡¡chose¡¡for¡¡playmates¡£¡¡Texas¡¡he¡¡

found¡¡immature¡£¡¡Moreover£»¡¡when¡¡next¡¡he¡¡came£»¡¡he¡¡desired¡¡play¡¡with¡¡no¡¡

one¡£¡¡Summer¡¡was¡¡done¡£¡¡September's¡¡full¡¡moon¡¡was¡¡several¡¡nights¡¡ago£»¡¡he¡¡

had¡¡gone¡¡on¡¡his¡¡hunt¡¡with¡¡Lin£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡spelling¡­books¡¡were¡¡at¡¡hand¡£¡¡But¡¡

more¡¡than¡¡this¡¡clouded¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡say¡¡good¡­bye¡¡to¡¡

Jessamine¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Buckner£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡scarcely¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡seen¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡give¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

wolverene¡­skin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡hunting¡¡¡¡¡¡trophy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡told¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡

her¡£¡¨¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡stole¡¡a¡¡look¡¡at¡¡his¡¡guardian¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡they¡¡get¡¡married¡¡and¡¡send¡¡me¡¡

back¡¡to¡¡mother£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡run¡¡away¡¡sure¡£¡¨¡¡So¡¡school¡¡and¡¡this¡¡old¡¡dread¡¡

haunted¡¡the¡¡child£»¡¡while¡¡for¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡Lin¡¡the¡¡lucky£»¡¡who¡¡suspected¡¡nothing¡¡

of¡¡it£»¡¡time¡¡was¡¡ever¡¡bringing¡¡love¡¡nearer¡¡to¡¡his¡¡hearth¡£¡¡His¡¡Jessamine¡¡had¡¡

visited¡¡Box¡¡¡¡¡¡Elder£»¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡¡¡chickens¡¡there£»¡¡¡¡¡¡since¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡

Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡McLean¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡occasionally¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡seen¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡cabin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡worrying¡¡

over¡¡¡¡¡¡barn¡­yard¡¡¡¡¡¡fowls£»¡¡¡¡¡¡feeding¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡cursing¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡equal¡¡¡¡¡¡care¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Spring¡¡

would¡¡see¡¡him¡¡married£»¡¡he¡¡told¡¡me¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡time¡¡right£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡exclaimed¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡I¡¡want¡¡her¡¡to¡¡know¡¡Billy¡¡some¡¡

more¡¡before¡¡he¡¡goes¡¡to¡¡Bear¡¡Creek¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡Bear¡¡Creek£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Billy£»¡¡acidly¡£¡¡¡¨Why¡¡can't¡¡I¡¡stay¡¡home£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Home¡¡sounds¡¡kind¡¡o'¡¡slick£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Lin¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡it£»¡¡now£¿¡¡'Home'¡¡is¡¡

closer¡¡than¡¡'neighbor£»'¡¡you¡¡bet£¡¡¡Billy£»¡¡put¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corral£»¡¡and¡¡ask¡¡

Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡Buckner¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡supper¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡¡¡¡¡you're¡¡¡¡¡¡good£»¡¡

maybe¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she'll¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡yu'¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡ride¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡­morrow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡kid£»¡¡¡¡¡¡ask¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡

Laramie¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Again¡¡suspicion¡¡quivered¡¡over¡¡Billy's¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡dragged¡¡his¡¡horses¡¡

angrily¡¡to¡¡the¡¡corral¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Lin¡¡nudged¡¡me£»¡¡laughing¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡rile¡¡him¡¡every¡¡time¡¡about¡¡Laramie£»¡¨¡¡

said¡¡he£»¡¡affectionately¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡wouldn't¡¡have¡¡believed¡¡the¡¡kid¡¡set¡¡so¡¡much¡¡store¡¡

by¡¡me¡£¡¡Nor¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡need¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡Jessamine¡¡to¡¡love¡¡him¡¡for¡¡my¡¡sake¡£¡¡What¡¡

do¡¡yu'¡¡suppose£¿¡¡Before¡¡I'd¡¡got¡¡far¡¡as¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡Billy¡¡at¡¡all¡¡right¡¡after¡¡

Edgeford£»¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡head¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡whirl¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡joyJessamine¡¡¡¡¡¡says¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡

one¡¡¡¡¡¡day£»¡¡¡¡¡¡'Read¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡£'¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡Governor¡¡¡¡¡¡Barker¡¡¡¡¡¡writin'¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡

brother¡¡and¡¡her¡¡sorrow¡£¡¨¡¡Lin¡¡paused¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡about¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡never¡¡tell¡¡you¡­¡¡

¡­but¡¡he¡¡said¡¡a¡¡heap¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡deserve¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡told¡¡her¡¡about¡¡me¡¡picking¡¡up¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡146¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡147¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LIN¡¡McLEAN¡¡



Billy¡¡in¡¡Denver¡¡streets¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡doing¡¡for¡¡him¡¡because¡¡his¡¡own¡¡home¡¡

was¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Governor¡¡¡¡¡¡Barker¡¡¡¡¡¡wrote¡¡Jessamine¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡that£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡

said£»¡¡¡¡'Why¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡tell¡¡¡¡¡¡me£¿'¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡wasn't¡¡¡¡¡¡anything¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡tell¡£¡¡

And¡¡she¡¡just¡¡said¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡'It¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡your¡¡son¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡his¡¡

mother¡£'¡¡And¡¡that's¡¡the¡¡first¡¡regular¡¡kiss¡¡she¡¡ever¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡have¡¡to¡¡

take¡¡myself¡£¡¡God¡¡bless¡¡her£¡¡¡God¡¡bless¡¡her£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡ate¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡supper£»¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡Billy¡¡¡¡¡¡burst¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡brooding¡¡¡¡¡¡silence£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡

didn't¡¡ask¡¡her¡¡about¡¡Laramie¡£¡¡So¡¡there£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡well£»¡¡kid£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡cow¡­puncher£»¡¡patting¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡¡¨yu'¡¡needn't¡¡

to£»¡¡I¡¡guess¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡Billy's¡¡eye¡¡remained¡¡sullen¡¡and¡¡jealous¡£¡¡He¡¡paid¡¡slight¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡picture¡­book¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡soldiers¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡war¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡Jessamine¡¡¡¡¡¡gave¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡

went¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡station¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡her¡¡own¡¡books£»¡¡some¡¡flowers¡¡in¡¡pots£»¡¡a¡¡

rocking¡­chair£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡cosey¡¡¡¡¡¡lamp¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡shone¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡bright¡¡¡¡¡¡face¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡dark¡¡

dress¡£¡¡We¡¡drew¡¡stools¡¡from¡¡the¡¡office¡¡desks£»¡¡and¡¡Billy¡¡perched¡¡silently¡¡on¡¡

one¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Scanty¡¡room¡¡for¡¡company£¡¡¨¡¡Jessamine¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡we¡¡must¡¡make¡¡out¡¡

this¡¡waytill¡¡we¡¡have¡¡another¡¡way¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡smiled¡¡on¡¡Lin£»¡¡and¡¡Billy's¡¡face¡¡

darkened¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡pursued¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡¡¨with¡¡all¡¡those¡¡chickens¡¡Mr¡£¡¡

McLean¡¡tells¡¡me¡¡about£»¡¡never¡¡a¡¡one¡¡has¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡here¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Livin'¡¡or¡¡dead¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡'em£¿¡¨¡¡inquired¡¡Lin¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡I'll¡¡not¡¡bother¡¡you¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Donohoe¡¡says¡¡he¡¡will¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Texas£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡Chickens£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡Him£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡he'll¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡steal¡¡¡¡¡¡'em£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡

laughed¡¡together¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡won't¡¡¡¡¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Laramie£»¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡spoke¡¡¡¡¡¡Billy£»¡¡

suddenly£»¡¡from¡¡his¡¡stool¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'd¡¡like¡¡to¡¡see¡¡anybody¡¡try¡¡to¡¡make¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡Jessamine¡£¡¡¡¨Who¡¡

says¡¡any¡¡such¡¡thing£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Lin¡¡did£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Billy¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Jessamine¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡lover¡¡¡¡¡¡reproachfully¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡tease¡¡

him£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡you¡¡so¡¡kind¡£¡¡Why£»¡¡you've¡¡hurt¡¡his¡¡feelings£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡never¡¡thought£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Lin¡¡the¡¡boisterous¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡wouldn't¡¡have¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Come¡¡sit¡¡here£»¡¡Billy£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jessamine¡£¡¡¡¨Whenever¡¡he¡¡teases£»¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡

me£»¡¡and¡¡we'll¡¡make¡¡him¡¡behave¡£¡¨¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡147¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡148¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡LIN¡¡McLEAN¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Honest£¿¡¨¡¡persisted¡¡Billy¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Shake¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jessamine¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Cause¡¡I'll¡¡go¡¡to¡¡school¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡won't¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Laramie¡¡for¡¡no¡¡one¡£¡¡

And¡¡you're¡¡a¡­going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡Lin's¡¡wife£»¡¡honest£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Honest£¡¡¡Honest£¡¡¨¡¡And¡¡Jessamine£»¡¡laughing£»¡¡grew¡¡red¡¡beside¡¡her¡¡lamp¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡guess¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡¡¡¡¡¡can't¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Lin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡either£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡stated¡¡

Billy£»¡¡relieved¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Jessamine¡¡let¡¡fall¡¡the¡¡child's¡¡hand¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Cause¡¡she¡¡liked¡¡him¡¡onced£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡liked¡¡her¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Jessamine¡¡gazed¡¡at¡¡Lin¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡simple£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡cow¡­puncher¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡right¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡Jessamine¡¡sat¡¡by¡¡her¡¡lamp£»¡¡very¡¡pale¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡repeated¡¡Lin¡¡in¡¡the¡¡silence£»¡¡shifting¡¡his¡¡foot¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡

down¡£¡¡¡¨Once¡¡I¡¡made¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡of¡¡myself¡£¡¡Worse¡¡than¡¡usual¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Billy£¿¡¨¡¡whispered¡¡Jessamine¡£¡¡¡¨Then¡¡youBut¡¡his¡¡name¡¡is¡¡Lusk£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Course¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Billy¡£¡¡¡¨Father¡¡and¡¡mother¡¡are¡¡living¡¡in¡¡Laramie¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡straight£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cow¡­puncher¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡till¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡

years¡¡ago¡£¡¡I¡¡haven't¡¡anything¡¡to¡¡hide£»¡¡onlyonlyonly¡¡it¡¡don't¡¡come¡¡easy¡¡

to¡¡tell¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡rose¡£¡¡¡¨Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡Buckner£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡I£»¡¡¡¨he¡¡¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡¡¡will¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡tell¡¡

you¡¡he¡¡paid¡¡dearly¡¡for¡¡what¡¡was¡¡no¡¡fault¡¡of¡¡his¡£¡¡It¡¡has¡¡been¡¡no¡¡secret¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡

only¡¡something¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡and¡¡his¡¡enemies¡¡have¡¡forgotten¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡all¡¡the¡¡while¡¡I¡¡was¡¡speaking¡¡this£»¡¡Jessamine's¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡

Lin£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡face¡¡remained¡¡white¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡left¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡and¡¡the¡¡man¡¡and¡¡the¡¡little¡¡boy¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡crossed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡

hotel¡£¡¡But¡¡its¡¡air¡¡was¡¡foul£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡got¡¡my¡¡roll¡¡of¡¡camp¡¡blankets¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡in¡¡

the¡¡clean¡¡night£»¡¡if¡¡sleeping¡­time¡¡should¡¡come£»¡¡meanwhile¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡about¡¡

in¡¡the¡¡silence¡¡To¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡wife¡¡once¡¡in¡¡good¡¡faith£»¡¡ignorant¡¡she¡¡was¡¡

another's£»¡¡left¡¡no¡¡stain£»¡¡raised¡¡no¡¡barrier¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡have¡¡told¡¡Jessamine¡¡the¡¡

same¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡story¡¡¡¡myselfor¡¡¡¡¡¡almost£»¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡it¡¡to¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡all£¿¡¡

Why¡¡need¡¡she¡¡know£¿¡¡Reasoning¡¡thus£»¡¡yet¡¡with¡¡something¡¡left¡¡uncleared¡¡

by¡¡reason¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡state£»¡¡I¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡edge¡¡into¡¡sight£»¡¡heavy¡¡

and¡¡rich¡­hued£»¡¡a¡¡melon¡­slice¡¡of¡¡glow£»¡¡seemingly¡¡near£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡great¡¡lantern¡¡

tilted¡¡over¡¡the¡¡plain¡£¡¡The¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sage¡­brush¡¡flavored¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡the¡¡hush¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ