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and backed down on him across the road and into the grass； where I
got in another shot and fetched him。〃
〃And you stole his mare？〃 suggested the Judge。
〃I got away；〃 said the gambler； simply。
Further questioning only elicited the fact that Joe did not know
the name or condition of his victim。 He was a stranger in Lagrange。
It was a breezy afternoon； with some turbulency in the camp； and
much windy discussion over this unwonted delay of justice。 The
suggestion that Joe should be first hanged for horse stealing and
then tried for murder was angrily discussed； but milder counsels
were offeredthat the fact of the killing should be admitted only
as proof of the theft。 A large party from Red Chief had come over
to assist in judgment； among them the coroner。
Cass Beard had avoided these proceedings； which only recalled an
unpleasant experience； and was wandering with pick； pan； and wallet
far from the camp。 These accoutrements； as I have before intimated；
justified any form of aimless idleness under the equally aimless
title of 〃prospecting。〃 He had at the end of three hours'
relaxation reached the highway to Red Chief； half hidden by blinding
clouds of dust torn from the crumbling red road at every gust which
swept down the mountain side。 The spot had a familiar aspect to
Cass； although some freshly…dug holes near the wayside； with
scattered earth beside them； showed the presence of a recent
prospector。 He was struggling with his memory； when the dust was
suddenly dispersed and he found himself again at the scene of the
murder。 He started： he had not put foot on the road since the
inquest。 There lacked only the helpless dead man and the
contrasting figure of the alert young woman to restore the picture。
The body was gone； it was true； but as he turned he beheld Miss
Porter； at a few paces distant； sitting on her horse as energetic
and observant as on the first morning they had met。 A superstitious
thrill passed over him and awoke his old antagonism。
She nodded to him slightly。 〃I came here to refresh my memory；〃
she said； 〃as Mr。 Hornsby thought I might be asked to give my
evidence again at Blazing Star。〃
Cass carelessly struck an aimless blow with his pick against the
sod and did not reply。
〃And you？〃 she queried。
〃I stumbled upon the place just now while prospecting； or I
shouldn't be here。〃
〃Then it was YOU made these holes？〃
〃No；〃 said Cass； with ill…concealed disgust。 〃Nobody but a
stranger would go foolin' round such a spot。〃
He stopped； as the rude significance of his speech struck him； and
added surlily； 〃I meanno one would dig here。〃
The girl laughed and showed a set of very white teeth in her square
jaw。 Cass averted his face。
〃Do you mean to say that every miner doesn't know that it's lucky
to dig wherever human blood has been spilt？〃
Cass felt a return of his superstition； but he did not look up。 〃I
never heard it before；〃 he said； severely。
〃And you call yourself a California miner？〃
〃I do。〃
It was impossible for Miss Porter to misunderstand his curt speech
and unsocial manner。 She stared at him and colored slightly。
Lifting her reins lightly； she said： 〃You certainly do not seem
like most of the miners I have met。〃
〃Nor you like any girl from the East I ever met；〃 he responded。
〃What do you mean？〃 she asked； checking her horse。
〃What I say；〃 he answered； doggedly。 Reasonable as this reply was；
it immediately struck him that it was scarcely dignified or manly。
But before he could explain himself Miss Porter was gone。
He met her again that very evening。 The trial had been summarily
suspended by the appearance of the Sheriff of Calaveras and his
posse； who took Joe from that self…constituted tribunal of Blazing
Star and set his face southward and toward authoritative although
more cautious justice。 But not before the evidence of the previous
inquest had been read； and the incident of the ring again delivered
to the public。
It is said the prisoner burst into an incredulous laugh and asked
to see this mysterious waif。 It was handed to him。 Standing in
the very shadow of the gallows treewhich might have been one of
the pines that sheltered the billiard room in which the Vigilance
Committee held their conclavethe prisoner gave way to a burst of
merriment； so genuine and honest that the judge and jury joined in
automatic sympathy。 When silence was restored an explanation was
asked by the Judge。 But there was no response from the prisoner
except a subdued chuckle。
〃Did this ring belong to you？〃 asked the Judge； severely； the jury
and spectators craning their ears forward with an expectant smile
already on their faces。 But the prisoner's eyes only sparkled
maliciously as he looked around the court。
〃Tell us； Joe；〃 said a sympathetic and laughter…loving juror； under
his breath。 〃Let it out and we'll make it easy for you。〃
〃Prisoner；〃 said the Judge； with a return of official dignity；
〃remember that your life is in peril。 Do you refuse？〃
Joe lazily laid his arm on the back of his chair with （to quote the
words of an animated observer） 〃the air of having a Christian hope
and a sequence flush in his hand；〃 and said： 〃Well； as I reckon I'm
not up yer for stealin' a ring that another man lets on to have
found； and as fur as I kin see； hez nothin' to do with the case； I
do！〃 And as it was here that the Sheriff of Calaveras made a
precipitate entry into the room； the mystery remained unsolved。
The effect of this freshly…important ridicule on the sensitive mind
of Cass might have been foretold by Blazing Star had it ever taken
that sensitiveness into consideration。 He had lost the good humor
and easy pliability which had tempted him to frankness； and he had
gradually become bitter and hard。 He had at first affected
amusement over his own vanished day dreamhiding his virgin
disappointment in his own breast； but when he began to turn upon
his feelings he turned upon his comrades also。 Cass was for a
while unpopular。 There is no ingratitude so revolting to the human
mind as that of the butt who refuses to be one any longer。 The man
who rejects that immunity which laughter generally casts upon him
and demands to be seriously considered deserves no mercy。
It was under these hard conditions that Cass Beard； convicted of
overt sentimentalism； aggravated by inconsistency； stepped into the
Red Chief coach that evening。 It was his habit usually to ride
with the driver； but the presence of Hornsby and Miss Porter on the
box seat changed his intention。 Yet he had the satisfaction of
seeing that neither had noticed him； and as there was no other
passenger inside； he stretched himself on the cushion of the back
seat and gave way to moody reflections。 He quite determined to
leave Blazing Star； to settle himself seriously to the task of
money getting； and to return to his comrades； some day； a
sarcastic； cynical； successful man； and so overwhelm them with
confusion。 For poor Cass had not yet reached that superiority of
knowing that success would depend upon his ability to forego his
past。 Indeed； part of his boyhood had been cast among these men；
and he was not old enough to have learned that success was not to
be gauged by their standard。 The moon lit up the dark interior of
the coach with a faint poetic light。 The lazy swinging of the
vehicle that was bearing him awayalbeit only for a night and a
daythe solitude； the glimpses from the window of great distances
full of vague possibilities； made the abused ring potent as that of
Gyges。 He dreamed with his eyes open。 From an Alnaschar vision he
suddenly awoke。 The coach had stopped。 The voices of men； one in
entreaty； one in expostulation； came from the box。 Cass mechanically
put his hand to his pistol pocket。
〃Thank you； but I INSIST upon getting down。〃
It was Miss Porter's voice。 This was followed by a rapid； half…
restrained interchange of words between Hornsby and the driver。
Then the latter said； gruffly；
〃If the lady wants to ride inside； let her。〃
Miss Porter fluttered to the ground。 She was followed by Hornsby。
〃Just a minit； Miss；〃 he expostulated； half shamedly； half
brusquely； 〃ye don't onderstand me。 I only〃
But Miss Porter had jumped into the coach。
Hornsby placed his hand on the handle of the door。 Miss Porter
grasped it firmly from the inside。 There was a slight struggle。
All of which was part of a dream to the boyish Cass。 But he awoke
from ita man！ 〃Do you；〃 he asked； in a voice he scarcely
recognized himself；〃Do you want this man inside？〃
〃No！〃
Cass caught at Hornsby's wrist like a young tiger。 But alas！ what
availed instinctive chivalry against main strength？ He only
succeeded in forcing the door open in spite of Miss Porter's
superior strategy； andI fear I must