OutintheBowLegcountryLinMcLeanhadmetawomanwiththick，redcheeks，callingherselfbyamaidenname；andthiswashiswholeknowledgeofherwhenheputheronemorningastrideaMexicansaddleandtookherfiftymilestoamagistrateandmadeherhislawfulwifetothebestofhisabilityandbelief。Hissage-brushintimateswereconfidenthewouldneverhavedoneitbutforarival。RacingtherivalandbeatinghimhadsweptMr。McLeanpasthisownintentions，andthemarriagewasaninadvertence。“Hejestbumpedintoitbeforehecouldpullup，“theyexplained；andthiscasualty，resultingfromMr。McLean’ssportingblood，hadentertainedseveralhundredsquaremilesofalkali。Forthenew-madehusbandthejokesoondied。Intheimmediateweeksthatcameuponhimhetastedabitternessworsethaninallhislifebefore，andlearnedalsohowdeepthewoman，whenonceshebegins，cansinkbeneaththemaninbaseness。Thatwasaknowledgeofwhichhehadlivedinnocentuntilthistime。Buthecarriedhisoutwardselfserenely，sothatcitizensinCheyennewhosawthecow-puncherwithhisbridearguedshrewdlythatmenofthatsortlikedwomenofthatsort；andbeforethestrainhadbrokenhisenduranceanunexpectedfirsthusband，namedLusk，hadappearedoneSundayinthestreet，prosperous，forgiving，andexceedinglydrunk。TothearmsofLuskshewentbackinthepublicstreet，desertingMcLeaninthepresenceofCheyenne；andwhenCheyennesawthis，andlearnedhowshehadbeenMrs。Luskforeightlong，ifintermittent，years，Cheyennelaughedloudly。LinMcLeanlaughed，too，andwentabouthisbusiness，readytoswaggeratthenecessarymoment，andwiththenecessarykindofjokealwaysreadytoshieldhishurtspirit。Andsoon，ofcourse，themattergrewstale，seldomrakedupintheBowLegcountrywhereLinhadbeenatwork；solatelyhehadbeguntorememberotherthingsbesidethesmoulderinghumiliation。
“Isshewithhim？“heaskedBarker，andmusinglylistenedwhileBarkertoldhim。TheGovernorhadthoughttomakeitaracystory，withthemoralthatthejokewasnowonLusk；butthatinnermanhadspokenandrevealedthecow-punchertohiminanewandcomplicatedlight；hencehequietedtheproposedlivelycadenceandvocabularyofhisanecdoteaboutthehouseofLusk，butinsteadofnarratinghowMrs。beatMr。onMondays，Wednesdays，andFridays，andMr。tookhisturntheodddays，thusgettingoneaheadofhislady，whilethekidLuskhadoutlinedhisopinionofthefamilybyrecentlyskippingtopartsunknown，Barkerdetailedtheseincidentsmoregravely，addingthatLaramiebelievedMrs。Luskaddictedtoopium。
“Idon’tguessI’llleavemycardon’em，“saidMcLean，grimly，“ifI
strikeLaramie。“
“Youdon’tmindmysayingIthinkyou’rewelloutofthatscrape？“Barkerventured。