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〃About as well as we all are；〃 said Stacy quickly； yet with a
certain dry significance。 〃Never mind now； wait until you see
him。〃
The door closed。 When Demorest had finished washing； and wiped
away the last red stain of the mountain road； he found Stacy seated
by the window of the larger sitting…room。 In the centre a table
was spread for supper。 A bright fire of hickory logs burnt on a
marble hearth between two large windows that gave upon the distant
outline of Black Spur。 As Stacy turned towards him； by the light
of the shaded lamp and flickering fire； Demorest had a good look at
the face of his old friend and partner。 It was as keen and
energetic as ever； with perhaps an even more hawk…like activity
visible in the eye and nostril； but it was more thoughtful and
reticent in the lines of the mouth under the closely clipped beard
and mustache； and when he looked up； at first there were two deep
lines or furrows across his low broad forehead。 Demorest fancied；
too； that there was a little of the old fighting look in his eye；
but it softened quickly as his friend approached； and he burst out
with his curt but honest single…syllabled laugh。 〃Ha！ You look a
little less like a roving Apache than you did when you came。 I
really thought the waiters were going to chuck you。 And you ARE
tanned！ Darned if you don't look like the profile stamped on a
Continental penny！ But here's luck and a welcome back； old man！〃
Demorest passed his arm around the neck of his seated partner； and
grasping his upraised hand said； looking down with a smile； 〃And
now about Barker。〃
〃Oh； Parker； dn him！ He's the same unshakable； unchangeable；
ungrow…upable Barker！ With the devil's own luck； too！ Waltzing
into risks and waltzing out of 'em。 With fads enough to put him in
the insane asylum if people did not prefer to keep him out of it to
help 'em。 Always believing in everybody； until they actually
believe in themselves； and shake him！ And he's got a wife that's
making a fool of herself； and I shouldn't wonder in timeof him！〃
Demorest pressed his hand over his partner's mouth。 〃Come； Jim！
You know you never really liked that marriage； simply because you
thought that old man Carter made a good thing of it。 And you never
seem to have taken into consideration the happiness Barker got out
of it； for he DID love the girl。 And he still is happy； is he
not？〃 he added quickly； as Stacy uttered a grunt。
〃As happy as a man can be who has his child here with a nurse while
his wife is gallivanting in San Francisco； and throwing her money
and Lord knows what elseaway at the bidding of a smooth…tongued；
shady operator。〃
〃Does HE complain of it？〃 asked Demorest。
〃Not he； the fool trusts her！〃 said Stacy curtly。
Demorest laughed。 〃That is happiness！ Come； Jim！ don't let us
begrudge him that。 But I've heard that his affairs have again
prospered。〃
〃He built this railroad and this hotel。 The bank owns both now。
He didn't care to keep money in them after they were a success；
said he wasn't an engineer nor a hotel…keeper； and drew it out to
find something new。 But here he comes；〃 he added； as a horseman
dashed into the drive before the hotel。 〃Question him yourself。
You know you and he always get along best without me。〃
In another moment Barker had burst into the room； and in his first
tempestuous greeting of Demorest the latter saw little change in
his younger partner as he held him at arm's length to look at him。
〃Why； Barker boy； you haven't got a bit older since the day when
you rememberyou went over to Boomville to cash your bonds； and
then came back and burst upon us like this to tell us you were a
beggar。〃
〃Yes；〃 laughed Barker； 〃and all the while you fellows were holding
four aces up your sleeve in the shape of the big strike。〃
〃And you； Georgy； old boy；〃 returned Demorest； swinging Barker's
two hands backwards and forwards； 〃were holding a royal flush up
yours in the shape of your engagement to Kitty。〃
The fresh color died out of Barker's cheek even while the frank
laugh was still on his mouth。 He turned his face for a moment
towards the window； and a swift and almost involuntary glance
passed between the others。 But he almost as quickly turned his
glistening eyes back to Demorest again； and said eagerly； 〃Yes；
dear Kitty！ You shall see her and the baby to…morrow。〃
Then they fell upon the supper with the appetites of the Past； and
for some moments they all talked eagerly and even noisily together；
all at the same time； with even the spirits of the Past。 They
recalled every detail of their old life； eagerly and impetuously
recounted the old struggles； hopes； and disappointments； gave the
strange importance of schoolboys to unimportant events； and a
mystic meaning to a shibboleth of their own； roared over old jokes
with a delight they had never since given to new； reawakened
idiotic nicknames and bywords with intense enjoyment； grew grave；
anxious； and agonized over forgotten names； trifling dates； useless
distances； ineffective records； and feeble chronicles of their
domestic economy。 It was the thoughtful and melancholy Demorest
who remembered the exact color and price paid for a certain shirt
bought from a Greaser peddler amidst the envy of his companions； it
was the financial magnate； Stacy； who could inform them what were
the exact days they had saleratus bread and when flapjacks； it was
the thoughtless and mercurial Barker who recalled with unheard…of
accuracy； amidst the applause of the others； the full name of the
Indian squaw who assisted at their washing。 Even then they were
almost feverishly loath to leave the subject； as if the Past； at
least； was secure to them still； and they were even doubtful of
their own free and full accord in the Present。 Then they slipped
rather reluctantly into their later experiences； but with scarcely
the same freedom or spontaneity； and it was noticeable that these
records were elicited from Barker by Stacy or from Stacy by Barker
for the information of Demorest； often with chaffing and only under
good…humored protest。 〃Tell Demorest how you broke the 'Copper
Ring；'〃 from the admiring Barker； or； 〃Tell Demorest how your dd
foolishness in buying up the right and plant of the Ditch Company
got you control of the railroad；〃 from the mischievous Stacy； were
challenges in point。 Presently they left the table； and； to the
astonishment of the waiters who removed the cloth； common brier…
wood pipes； thoughtfully provided by Barker in commemoration of the
Past； were lit； and they ranged themselves in armchairs before the
fire quite unconsciously in their old attitudes。 The two windows
on either side of the hearth gave them the same view that the open
door of the old cabin had made familiar to them； the league…long
valley below the shadowy bulk of the Black Spur rising in the
distance； and； still more remote； the pallid snow…line that soared
even beyond its crest。
As in the old time； they were for many moments silent； and then； as
in the old time； it was the irrepressible Barker who broke the
silence。 〃But Stacy does not tell you anything about his friend；
the beautiful Mrs。 Horncastle。 You know he's the guardian of one
of the finest women in Californiaa woman as noble and generous as
she is handsome。 And think of it！ He's protecting her from her
brute of a husband； and looking after her property。 Isn't it good
and chivalrous of him？〃
The irrepressible laughter of the two men brought only wonder and
reproachful indignation into the widely opened eyes of Barker。 HE
was perfectly sincere。 He had been thinking of Stacy's admiration
for Mrs。 Horncastle in his ride from Boomville； and； strange to
say； yet characteristic of his nature； it was equally the natural
outcome of his interview with her and the singular effect she had
upon him。 That he （Barker） thoroughly sympathized with her only
convinced him that Stacy must feel the same for her； and that； no
doubt； she must respond to him equally。 And how noble it was in
his old partner； with his advantages of position in the world and
his protecting relations to her； not to avail himself of this
influence upon her generous nature。 If he himselfa married man
and the husband of Kittywas so conscious of her charm； how much
greater it must be to the free and INEXPERIENCED Stacy。
The italics were in Barker's thought； for in those matters he felt
that Stacy and even Demorest； occupied in other things； had not his
knowledge。 There was no idea or consciousness of heroically
sacrificing himself or Mrs。 Horncastle in this。 I am afraid there
was not even an idea of a superior morality in himself in giving up
the possibility of loving her。 Ever since Stacy had first seen her
he had fancied that Stacy liked her；indeed； Kitty fancied it；
too；and it seemed almost providential now that he sho