Andthentheysatdowntoconfidencesandwhiskey；forsolongastheworldgoesroundamanmusttalktoamansometimes，andbothmustdrinkoverit。Thecow-puncherunburdenedhimselftotheGovernor；andtheGovernorfilleduphisfriend’sglasswiththeEasternwhiskey，andnoddedhisspectacles，andlistened，andadvised，andsaidheshouldhavedonethesame，andlikethegoodGovernorthathewas，neverrememberedhewasGovernoratallwithpoliticalfriendsherewhohadbeggedawordortwo。HebecamejustDr。Barkeragain，theyounghospitalsurgeonthehospitalthatnowstoodaruin，andLinwasagainhispatient——Lin，thesun-burntfree-lanceofnineteen，reckless，engaging，disobedient，hislegbrokenandhisheartlight，withnoJessamineorconsciencetorobhissaltofitssavor。Whilehenowtoldhistroubles，thequadrillesfiddledawaycarelessasever，andthecrackofthebilliardballssoundedasofold。
“Nobodyhastoldyouaboutthis，Iexpect，“saidthelover。Hebroughtforththelittlepistol，“Neighbor。“HedidnothanditacrosstoBarker，butwalkedovertoBarker’schair，andstoodholdingitforthedoctortosee。WhenBarkerreachedforittoseebetter，sinceitwashalfhiddeninthecow-puncher’sbighand，Linyieldedittohim，butstillstoodandsoondrewitback。“Itakeitaround，“hesaid，“andwhenoneofthosestoriescomesalong，likethere’splentyof，thatshewantstogetridofme，Ijustkindo’takealookat’Neighbor’whenI’moffwhereit’shandy，anditbuststhestoryrightoutofmymind。IhavetotellyouwhatafoolIam。“
“Thewhiskey’syourside，“saidBarker。“Goon。“
“But，Doc，mycouragehasquitme。TheyseewhatI’mthinkingaboutjustlikeIwasatenderfoottryinghisfirstbluff。Ican’tstickitoutnomore，andI’mgoingtoseeher，comewhatwill。
I’vegotto。I’mgoingtoriderightuptoherwindowandshootoff’Neighbor，’andifshedon’tcomeoutI’llknow——“