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and for a few moments there was no sound but the ticking of a clock
on the mantel。 Mr。 Hamlin lit a cigar； and moved to the open
window。 The moon no longer shone into the room； and the bed and
its occupant were in shadow。 〃What shall I do； Jack？〃 said the
voice from the darkness。
The answer came promptly and clearly from the window…side： 〃Spot
the man； and kill him on sight。〃
〃But； Jack？〃
〃He's took the risk！〃
〃But will that bring HER back？〃
Jack did not reply； but moved from the window toward the door。
〃Don't go yet； Jack； light the candle； and sit by the table。 It's
a comfort to see ye； if nothin' else。〃
Jack hesitated； and then complied。 He drew a pack of cards from
his pocket and shuffled them； glancing at the bed。 But Brown's
face was turned to the wall。 When Mr。 Hamlin had shuffled the
cards； he cut them； and dealt one card on the opposite side of the
table and toward the bed； and another on his side of the table for
himself。 The first was a deuce； his own card； a king。 He then
shuffled and cut again。 This time 〃dummy〃 had a queen； and himself
a four…spot。 Jack brightened up for the third deal。 It brought
his adversary a deuce； and himself a king again。 〃Two out of
three；〃 said Jack； audibly。
〃What's that； Jack？〃 said Brown。
〃Nothing。〃
Then Jack tried his hand with dice； but he always threw sixes； and
his imaginary opponent aces。 The force of habit is sometimes
confusing。
Meanwhile； some magnetic influence in Mr。 Hamlin's presence； or the
anodyne of liquor； or both； brought surcease of sorrow； and Brown
slept。 Mr。 Hamlin moved his chair to the window； and looked out on
the town of Wingdam； now sleeping peacefullyits harsh outlines
softened and subdued； its glaring colors mellowed and sobered in
the moonlight that flowed over all。 In the hush he could hear the
gurgling of water in the ditches； and the sighing of the pines
beyond the hill。 Then he looked up at the firmament； and as he did
so a star shot across the twinkling field。 Presently another； and
then another。 The phenomenon suggested to Mr。 Hamlin a fresh
augury。 If in another fifteen minutes another star should fall
He sat there； watch in hand； for twice that time； but the
phenomenon was not repeated。
The clock struck two； and Brown still slept。 Mr。 Hamlin approached
the table and took from his pocket a letter； which he read by the
flickering candlelight。 It contained only a single line； written
in pencil； in a woman's hand：
〃Be at the corral； with the buggy； at three。〃
The sleeper moved uneasily； and then awoke。 〃Are you there Jack？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Don't go yet。 I dreamed just now； Jackdreamed of old times。 I
thought that Sue and me was being married agin； and that the
parson； Jack； waswho do you think？you！〃
The gambler laughed； and seated himself on the bedthe paper still
in his hand。
〃It's a good sign； ain't it？〃 queried Brown。
〃I reckon。 Say； old man； hadn't you better get up？〃
The 〃old man；〃 thus affectionately appealed to； rose； with the
assistance of Hamlin's outstretched hand。
〃Smoke？〃
Brown mechanically took the proffered cigar。
〃Light？〃
Jack had twisted the letter into a spiral； lit it； and held it for
his companion。 He continued to hold it until it was consumed； and
dropped the fragmenta fiery starfrom the open window。 He
watched it as it fell； and then returned to his friend。
〃Old man；〃 he said； placing his hands upon Brown's shoulders； 〃in
ten minutes I'll be on the road； and gone like that spark。 We
won't see each other agin； but； before I go； take a fool's advice：
sell out all you've got； take your wife with you； and quit the
country。 It ain't no place for you； nor her。 Tell her she must
go； make her go； if she won't。 Don't whine because you can't be a
saint； and she ain't an angel。 Be a manand treat her like a
woman。 Don't be a damn fool。 Good…by。〃
He tore himself from Brown's grasp； and leaped down the stairs like
a deer。 At the stable door he collared the half…sleeping hostler
and backed him against the wall。 〃Saddle my horse in two minutes；
or I'll〃 The ellipsis was frightfully suggestive。
〃The missis said you was to have the buggy；〃 stammered the man。
〃Damn the buggy！〃
The horse was saddled as fast as the nervous hands of the astounded
hostler could manipulate buckle and strap。
〃Is anything up； Mr。 Hamlin？〃 said the man； who； like all his
class； admired the elan of his fiery patron； and was really
concerned in his welfare。
〃Stand aside！〃
The man fell back。 With an oath； a bound； and clatter； Jack was
into the road。 In another moment； to the man's half…awakened eyes；
he was but a moving cloud of dust in the distance； toward which a
star just loosed from its brethren was trailing a stream of fire。
But early that morning the dwellers by the Wingdam turnpike； miles
away； heard a voice； pure as a skylark抯； singing afield。 They who
were asleep turned over on their rude couches to dream of youth and
love and olden days。 Hard…faced men and anxious gold…seekers；
already at work； ceased their labors and leaned upon their picks；
to listen to a romantic vagabond ambling away against the rosy
sunrise。