and became fixed； 〃SHE says she tired o' drunken rowdies；there's a
sameness about 'em； and it don't sell her pipes and cigars； and
that's WHY she's coming here。 Thompson over at Dry Creek sez that
THAT'S where our reputation is playin' us！ 'We've got her as a
reward o' virtoo； and be dd to us。' But；〃 cautiously； 〃Thompson
ain't drawed a sober breath since Christmas。〃
The three men looked in each other's faces in silence。 The same
thought occurred to each； the profane Thompson was right； and the
woman's advent was the logical sequence of their own ethics。 Two
years previously； the Buckeye Company had found gold on the South
Fork； and had taken up claims。 Composed mainly of careful；
provident； and thoughtful men；some of cultivation and
refinement；they had adopted a certain orderly discipline for
their own guidance solely； which； however； commended itself to
later settlers； already weary of the lawlessness and reckless
freedom which usually attended the inception of mining settlements。
Consequently the birth of Buckeye was accompanied with no dangerous
travail； its infancy was free from the diseases of adolescent
communities。 The settlers； without any express prohibition； had
tacitly dispensed with gambling and drinking saloons； following the
unwritten law of example； had laid aside their revolvers； and
mingled together peacefully when their labors were ended； without
a single peremptory regulation against drinking and playing； or
carrying lethal weapons。 Nor had there been any test of fitness or
qualification for citizenship through previous virtue。 There were
one or two gamblers； a skillful duelist； and men who still drank
whiskey who had voluntarily sought the camp。 Of some such
antecedents was the last speaker。 Probably with two wives
elsewhere； and a possible homicidal record； he had modestly held
aloof from obtrusive argument。
〃Well； we must have a meeting and put the question squarely to the
boys to…morrow；〃 said Parks； gazing thoughtfully from the window。
The remark was followed by another long silence。 Beyond； in the
darkness； Buckeye； unconscious of the momentous question awaiting
its decision； slept on peacefully。
〃I brought the keg of whiskey and brandy from Red Gulch to…day that
Doctor Duchesne spoke of；〃 he resumed presently。 〃You know he said
we ought to have some in common stock that he could always rely
upon in emergencies； and for use after the tule fever。 I didn't
agree with him； and told him how I had brought Sam Denver through
an attack with quinine and arrowroot； but he laughed and wanted to
know if we'd 'resolved' that everybody should hereafter have the
Denver constitution。 That's the trouble with those old army
surgeons；they never can get over the 'heroics' of their past。
Why he told Parson Jennings that he'd rather treat a man for jim…
jams than one that was dying for want of stimulants。 However； the
liquor is here； and one of the things we must settle tomorrow is
the question if it ought not to be issued only on Duchesne's
prescription。 When I made that point to him squarely； he grinned
again； and wanted to know if I calculated to put the same
restriction on the sale of patent medicines and drugs generally。〃
〃'N powder 'n shot；〃 contributed the indifferent man。
〃Perhaps you'd better take a look at the liquor； Saunders；〃 said
Parks； dismissing the ethical question。 〃YOU know more about it
than we do。 It ought to be the best。〃
Saunders went behind the counter； drew out two demijohns； and；
possibly from the force of habit； selected THREE mugs from the
crockery and poured some whiskey into each； before he could check
himself。
〃Perhaps we had better compare tastes；〃 said Brace blandly。 They
all sipped their liquor slowly and in silence。 The decision was
favorable。 〃Better try some with water to see how it mixes；〃 said
Saunders； lazily filling the glasses with a practiced hand。 This
required more deliberation； and they drew their chairs to the table
and sat down。 A slight relaxation stole over the thoughtful faces
of Brace and Parks； a gentle perspiration came over the latter's
brow； but the features and expression of Saunders never changed。
The conversation took a broader range； politics and philosophy
entered into it； literature and poetry were discussed by Parks and
Brace； Saunders still retaining the air of a dispassionate
observer； ready to be convinced； but abstaining from argumentand
occasionally replenishing the glasses。 There was felt to be no
inconsistency between their present attitude and their previous
conversation； rather it proved to them that gentlemen could
occasionally indulge in a social glass together without frequenting
a liquor saloon。 This was stated with some degree of effusion by
Parks and assented to with singular enthusiasm by Brace； Saunders
nodding。 It was also observed with great penetration by Brace that
in having really GOOD； specially selected liquor like that； the
great danger of the intoshikat'n 'fxhe corrected himself with
great deliberation； 〃the intoxicating effects〃of adulterated
liquors sold in drinking saloons was obviated。 Mr。 Brace thought
also that the vitiated quality of the close air of a crowded saloon
had a great deal to do with itthe excess of carbonhiche
begged their pardoncarbonic acid gas undoubtedly rendered people
〃slupid and steepy。〃 〃But here； from the open window；〃 he walked
dreamily to it and leaned out admiringly towards the dark landscape
that softly slumbered without； 〃one could drink in only health and
poetry。〃
〃Wot's that？〃 said Saunders； looking up。
〃I said health and poetry；〃 returned Brace with some dignity。 〃I
repeat〃
〃No。 I mean wot's that noise？ Listen。〃
They listened so breathlessly that the soft murmur of the river
seemed to flow in upon them。 But above it quite distinctly came
the regular muffled beat of horse…hoofs in the thick dust and the
occasional rattle of wheels over rocky irregularities。 But still
very far and faint； and fading like the noises in a dream。 Brace
drew a long breath； Parks smiled and softly closed his eyes。 But
Saunders remained listening。
〃That was over OUR road； near the turnpike！〃 he said musingly。
〃That's queer； thar ain't any of the boys away to…night； and that's
a wagon。 It's some one comin' here。 Hark to that！ There it is
again。〃
It was the same sound but more distinct and nearer； and then was
lost again。
〃They're dragging through the river sand that's just abreast o'
Mallory's。 Stopped there； I reckon。 No！ pushin' on again。 Hear
'em grinding along the gravel over Hamilton's trailin's？ Stopped
aginthat's before Somerville's shanty。 What's gone o' them now？
Maybe they've lost the trail and got onto Gray's slide through the
woods。 It's no use lookin'； ye couldn't see anything in this
nigger dark。 Hol' on！ If they're comin' through the woods； ye'll
hear 'em again jest off here。 Yes！ by thunder！ here they are。〃
This time the clatter and horse…hoofs were before them； at the very
door。 A man's voice cried； 〃Whoa！〃 and there was a sudden bound on
the veranda。 The door opened； for an instant the entrance appeared
to be filled with a mass of dazzling white flounces； and a figure
which from waist to crown was impenetrably wrapped and swathed in
black lace。 Somewhere beneath its folds a soft Spanish； yet
somewhat childish voice cried； 〃Tente。 Hol' on；〃 turned and
vanished。 This was succeeded by the apparition of a silent；
swarthy Mexican； who dropped a small trunk at their feet and
vanished also。 Then the white…flounced and black…laced figure
reappeared as the departing wagon rattled away； glided to the
centre of the room； placed on the trunk a small foot； whose low…
quartered black satin slipper seemed to be held only by the toe；
threw back with both hands the black lace mantilla； which was
pinned by a rose over her little right ear； and with her hands
slightly extended and waving softly said； 〃Mira caballeros！ 'Ere
we are again； boys！ Viva！ Aow ees your mother？ Aow ees that for
high？ Behold me！ just from Pike！〃
Parks and Brace； who had partly risen； fell back hopelessly in
their chairs again and gazed at the figure with a feeble smile of
vacuous pain and politeness。 At which it advanced； lowered its
black eyes mischievously over the table and the men who sat there；
poured out a glass of the liquor； and said： 〃I look towards you；
boys！ Don't errise。 You are just a leetle weary； eh？ A leetle。
Oh yes！ a leetle tired of crookin' your elboweh？ Don't care if
the school keep！eh？ Don't want any pie！ Want to go 'ome； eh？〃
But here Mr。 Parks rose with slight difficulty； but unflinching
dignity； and leaned impressively over the table； 〃May I ashkmay I
be permitted to arsk； madam； to what we may owe the pleasure of
thishof thisvisit？〃
Her face and attitude instantly changed。 Her arms dropped and
caught up the mantilla with a quick but not ungraceful sweep； and
in apparently a single movement she was draped； wrapped； and
muffled from waist to crown as before。 With a slight inclination
of her head； she said in quite another voice： 〃Si； senor。 I have
arrive here because in your whole great town of Booki there is not
so much as one〃she held up a small brown finger〃as much as ONE
leetle light or fire like thees； be…cause in this grand pueblo
there is not one peoples who have not already sleep in his bed but
thees！ Bueno！ I have arrive all the same like a leetle bird； like
the small fly arrive to the light！ not to YOUonly to THE LIGHT！
I go not to my casa for she is dark； and tonight she have nothing
to make the fire or bed。 I go not to the 'otelthere is not ONE〃
the brown finger again uplifted〃'otel in Booki！ I make the
'otelthe Fondain my hoose mananato…morrow！ Tonight I and
Sanchicha make the bed for us 'ere。 Sanchicha； she stands herself
now over in the street。 We have mooch sorrow we have to make the
caballeros mooch tr…rouble to make disposition of his house。 But
what will you？〃
There was another awkward silence； and then Saunders； who had been
examining the intruder with languid criticism； removed his pipe
from his mouth and said quietly：
〃That's the woman you're look