“CourseIexpecttothinkdifferentwhenmyageisdifferent。I’mhavin’thethoughtspropertotwenty-four，andyou’rehavin’thethoughtspropertosixty。“
“Fifty！“shriekedUncleHughey，jumpingintheair。
TheSouthernertookatoneofself-reproach。“Now，howcouldI
forgetyouwasfifty，“hemurmured，“whenyouhavebeentellingittotheboyssocarefulforthelasttenyears！“
Haveyoueverseenacockatoo——thewhitekindwiththetop-knot——enragedbyinsult？Thebirderectseveryavailablefeatheruponitsperson。SodidUncleHugheyseemtoswell，clothes，mustache，andwoollywhitebeard；andwithoutfurtherspeechhetookhimselfonboardtheEastboundtrain，whichnowarrivedfromitssidingintimetodeliverhim。
Yetthiswasnotwhyhehadnotgoneawaybefore。Atanytimehecouldhaveescapedintothebaggage-roomorwithdrawntoadignifieddistanceuntilhistrainshouldcomeup。Buttheoldmanhadevidentlygotasortofjoyfromthisteasing。Hehadreachedthatinevitableagewhenwearetickledtobelinkedwithaffairsofgallantry，nomatterhow。
WithhimnowtheEast-bounddepartedslowlyintothatdistancewhenceIhadcome。Istaredafteritasitwentitswaytothefarshoresofcivilization。Itgrewsmallintheunendinggulfofspace，untilallsignofitspresencewasgonesaveafaintskeinofsmokeagainsttheeveningskyAndnowmylosttrunkcamebackintomythoughts，andMedicineBowseemedalonelyspot。Asortofshiphadleftmemaroonedinaforeignocean；thePullmanwascomfortablysteaminghometoport，whileI——howwasItofindJudgeHenry’sranch？WhereinthisunfeaturedwildernesswasSunkCreek？NocreekoranywateratallflowedherethatIcouldperceive。Myhosthadwrittenheshouldmeetmeatthestationanddrivemetohisranch。ThiswasallthatIknew。Hewasnothere。Thebaggage-manhadnotseenhimlately。Theranchwasalmostcertaintobetoofartowalkto，to-night。Mytrunk——I
discoveredmyselfstillstaringdolefullyafterthevanishedEast-bound；andatthesameinstantIbecameawarethatthetallmanwaslookinggravelyatme，——asgravelyashehadlookedatUncleHugheythroughouttheirremarkableconversation。
Toseehiseyethusfixingmeandhisthumbstillhookedinhiscartridge-belt，certaintalesoftravellersfromthesepartsforcedthemselvesdisquietinglyintomyrecollection。NowthatUncleHugheywasgone，wasItotakehisplaceandbe，forinstance，invitedtodanceontheplatformtothemusicofshotsnicelyaimed？
“IreckonIamlookingforyou，seh，“thetallmannowobserved。
Wecannotseeourselvesasotherseeus，orIshouldknowwhatappearanceIcutathearingthisfromthetallman。Isaidnothing，feelinguncertain。
“IreckonIamlookingforyou，seh，“herepeatedpolitely。
“IamlookingforJudgeHenry，“Inowreplied。
Hewalkedtowardme，andIsawthatinincheshewasnotagiant。
Hewasnotmorethansixfeet。ItwasUncleHugheythathadmadehimseemtotower。Butinhiseye，inhisface，inhisstep，inthewholeman，theredominatedasomethingpotenttobefelt，I
shouldthink，bymanorwoman。
“TheJudgesentmeaftehyou，seh，“henowexplained，inhiscivilSouthernvoice；andhehandedmealetterfrommyhost。HadInotwitnessedhisfacetiousperformanceswithUncleHughey，I
shouldhavejudgedhimwhollyungiftedwithsuchpowers。Therewasnothingexternalabouthimbutwhatseemedthesignsofanatureasgraveasyoucouldmeet。ButIhadwitnessed；andthereforesupposingthatIknewhiminspiteofhisappearance，thatIwas，sotospeak，inhissecretandcouldgivehimasortofwink，Iadoptedatonceamethodofeasiness。Itwassopleasanttobeeasywithalargestranger，whoinsteadofshootingatyourheelshadverycivillyhandedyoualetter。
“You’refromoldVirginia，Itakeit？“Ibegan。
Heansweredslowly，“Thenyouhavetakenitcorrect，seh。“
Aslightchillpassedovermyeasiness，butIwentcheerilyonwithafurtherinquiry。“FindmanyodditiesoutherelikeUncleHughey？“
“Yes，seh，thereisarightsmartofodditiesaround。Theycomeinoneverytrain。“
AtthispointIdroppedmymethodofeasiness。
“Iwishthattrunkscameonthetrain，“saidI。AndItoldhimmypredicament。
Itwasnottobeexpectedthathewouldbegreatlymovedatmyloss；buthetookitwithnocommentwhatever。“We’llwaitintownforit，“saidhe，alwaysperfectlycivil。
Now，whatIhadseenof“town“was，tomynewlyarrivedeyes，altogetherhorrible。IfIcouldpossiblysleepattheJudge’sranch，Ipreferredtodoso。
“Isittoofartodrivethereto-night？“Iinquired。
Helookedatmeinapuzzledmanner。
“Forthisvalise，“Iexplained，“containsallthatIimmediatelyneed；infact，Icoulddowithoutmytrunkforadayortwo，ifitisnotconvenienttosend。Soifwecouldarrivetherenottoolatebystartingatonce——“Ipaused。
“It’stwohundredandsixty-threemiles，“saidtheVirginian。
Tomyloudejaculationhemadenoanswer，butsurveyedmeamomentlonger，andthensaid，“Supperwillbeaboutreadynow。“
Hetookmyvalise，andIfollowedhisstepstowardtheeating-houseinsilence。Iwasdazed。
Aswewent，Ireadmyhost’sletter——abriefhospitablemessage。
Hewasverysorrynottomeetmehimself。Hehadbeengettingreadytodriveover，whenthesurveyorappearedanddetainedhim。
Thereforeinhissteadhewassendingatrustworthymantotown，whowouldlookaftermeanddrivemeover。Theywerelookingforwardtomyvisitwithmuchpleasure。Thiswasall。
Yes，Iwasdazed。Howdidtheycountdistanceinthiscountry？
Youspokeinaneighborlyfashionaboutdrivingovertotown，anditmeant——Ididnotknowyethowmanydays。Andwhatwouldbemeantbytheterm“droppingin，“Iwondered。Andhowmanymileswouldbeconsideredreallyfar？Iabstainedfromfurtherquestioningthe“trustworthyman。“Myquestionshadnotfaredexcessivelywell。Hedidnotproposemakingmedance，tobesure:
thatwouldscarcelybetrustworthy。Butneitherdidheproposetohavemefamiliarwithhim。Whywasthis？WhathadIdonetoelicitthatveiledandskilfulsarcasmaboutodditiescominginoneverytrain？Havingbeensenttolookafterme，hewoulddoso，wouldevencarrymyvalise；butIcouldnotbejocularwithhim。Thishandsome，ungrammaticalsonofthesoilhadsetbetweenusthebarofhiscoldandperfectcivility。Nopolishedpersoncouldhavedoneitbetter。Whatwasthematter？Ilookedathim，andsuddenlyitcametome。Ifhehadtriedfamiliaritywithmethefirsttwominutesofouracquaintance，Ishouldhaveresentedit；bywhatright，then，hadItrieditwithhim？Itsmackedofpatronizing:onthisoccasionhehadcomeoffthebettergentlemanofthetwo。HereinfleshandbloodwasatruthwhichI
hadlongbelievedinwords，butnevermetbefore。ThecreaturewecallaGENTLEMANliesdeepintheheartsofthousandsthatarebornwithoutchancetomastertheoutwardgracesofthetype。
Betweenthestationandtheeating-houseIdidadealofstraightthinking。Butmythoughtsweredestinedpresentlytobedrownedinamazementattherarepersonageintowhosesocietyfatehadthrownme。
Town，astheycalledit，pleasedmetheless，thelongerIsawit。Butuntilourlanguagestretchesitselfandtakesinanewwordofcloserfit，townwillhavetodoforthenameofsuchaplaceaswasMedicineBow。Ihaveseenandsleptinmanylikeitsince。Scatteredwide，theylitteredthefrontierfromtheColumbiatotheRioGrande，fromtheMissouritotheSierras。
Theylaystark，dottedoveraplanetoftreelessdust，likesoiledpacksofcards。Eachwassimilartothenext，asoneoldfive-spotofclubsresemblesanother。Houses，emptybottles，andgarbage，theywereforeverofthesameshapelesspattern。Moreforlorntheywerethanstalebones。Theyseemedtohavebeenstrewntherebythewindandtobewaitingtillthewindshouldcomeagainandblowthemaway。Yetsereneabovetheirfoulnessswamapureandquietlight，suchastheEastneversees；theymightbebathingintheairofcreation’sfirstmorning。Beneathsunandstarstheirdaysandnightswereimmaculateandwonderful。
MedicineBowwasmyfirst，andItookitsdimensions，twenty-ninebuildingsinall，——onecoalshute，onewatertank，thestation，onestore，twoeating-houses，onebilliardhall，twotool-houses，onefeedstable，andtwelveothersthatforonereasonandanotherIshallnotnameYetthiswretchedhuskofsqualorspentthoughtuponappearances；manyhousesinitworeafalsefronttoseemasiftheyweretwostorieshigh。Theretheystood，rearingtheirpitifulmasqueradeamidafringeofoldtincans，whileattheirverydoorsbeganaworldofcrystallight，alandwithoutend，aspaceacrosswhichNoahandAdammightcomestraightfromGenesis。Intothatspacewentwanderingaroad，overahillanddownoutofsight，andupagainsmallerinthedistance，anddownoncemore，anduponcemore，strainingtheeyes，andsoaway。
ThenIheardafellowgreetmyVirginian。Hecamerollickingoutofadoor，andmadeapasswithhishandattheVirginian’shat。
TheSouthernerdodgedit，andIsawoncemorethetigerundulationofbody，andknewmyescortwasheoftheropeandthecorral。
“Howareyu’Steve？“hesaidtotherollickingman。AndinhistoneIheardinstantlyoldfriendshipspeaking。WithStevehewouldtakeandgivefamiliarity。
Stevelookedatme，andlookedaway——andthatwasall。Butitwasenough。InnocompanyhadIeverfeltsomuchanoutsider。YetI
likedthecompany，andwishedthatitwouldlikeme。
“Justcometotown？“inquiredSteveoftheVirginian。
“Beenheresincenoon。Beenwaitingforthetrain。“
“Goingoutto-night？“
“IreckonI’llpulloutto-morro’。“
“Bedsarealltook，“saidSteve。Thiswasformybenefit。
“Dearme，“saidI。
“ButIguessoneofthemdrummerswillletyu’doubleupwithhim。“Stevewasenjoyinghimself，Ithink。Hehadhissaddleandblankets，andbedswerenothingtohim。
“Drummers，arethey？“askedtheVirginian。
“TwoJewshandlingcigars，oneAmericanwithconsumptionkiller，andaDutchmanwithjew’lry。“
TheVirginiansetdownmyvalise，andseemedtomeditate。“Ididwantabedto-night，“hemurmuredgently。
“Well，“Stevesuggested，“theAmericanlookslikehewashedtheoftenest。“
“That’sofnoconsequencetome，“observedtheSoutherner。
“Guessit’llbewhenyu’see’em。“
“Oh，I’mmeaningsomethingdifferent。Iwantedabedtomyself。“
“Thenyou’llhavetobuildone。“
“Betyu’IhavetheDutchman’s。“
“Takeamanthatwon’tscare。Betyu’drinksyu’can’thavetheAmerican’s。“
“Goyu’saidtheVirginian。“I’llhavehisbedwithoutanyfuss。
Drinksforthecrowd。“
“Isupposeyouhavemebeat，“saidSteve，grinningathimaffectionately。“You’resuchason-of-a——whenyougetdowntowork。Well，solong！Igottofixmyhorse’shoofs。“
Ihadexpectedthatthemanwouldbestruckdown。HehadusedtotheVirginianatermofheaviestinsult，Ithought。IhadmarvelledtohearitcomesounheraldedfromSteve’sfriendlylips。AndnowImarvelledstillmore。Evidentlyhehadmeantnoharmbyit，andevidentlynooffencehadbeentaken。Usedthus，thislanguagewasplainlycomplimentary。Ihadsteppedintoaworldnewtomeindeed，andnoveltieswereoccurringwithscarceanytimetogetbreathbetweenthem。AstowhereIshouldsleep，Ihadforgottenthatproblemaltogetherinmycuriosity。WhatwastheVirginiangoingtodonow？Ibegantoknowthatthequietofthismanwasvolcanic。
“Willyouwashfirst，sir？“
Wewereatthedooroftheeating-house，andhesetmyvaliseinside。InmytenderfootinnocenceIwaslookingindoorsforthewashingarrangements。
“It’southyeh，seh，“heinformedmegravely，butwithstrongSouthernaccent。Internalmirthseemedoftentoheightenthelocalflavorofhisspeech。Therewereothertimeswhenithadscarceanyspecialaccentorfaultingrammar。
Atroughwastomyright，slipperywithsoapywater；andhangingfromarolleraboveoneendofitwasaragofdiscouragingappearance。TheVirginiancaughtit，anditperformedonewhirlingrevolutiononitsroller。Notadryorcleaninchcouldbefoundonit。Hetookoffhishat，andputhisheadinthedoor。
“Yourtowel，ma’am，“saidhe，“hasbeentoopopular。“
Shecameout，aprettywoman。Hereyesresteduponhimforamoment，thenuponmewithdisfavor；thentheyreturnedtohisblackhair。
“Theallowanceisoneaday，“saidshe，veryquietly。“Butwhenfolksareparticular——“Shecompletedhersentencebyremovingtheoldtowelandgivingacleanonetous。
“Thankyou，ma’am，“saidthecow-puncher。
Shelookedoncemoreathisblackhair，andwithoutanywordreturnedtoherguestsatsupper。
Apailstoodinthetrough，almostempty；andthishefilledformefromawell。Therewassomesoapslidingatlargeinthetrough，butIgotmyown。AndtheninatinbasinIremovedasmanyofthestainsoftravelasIwasable。ItwasnotmuchofatoiletthatImadeinthisfirstwash-troughofmyexperience，butithadtosuffice，andItookmyseatatsupper。
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