WhetherAbner’sattendanceonthebutcherwasmerelyanexcusetowithdrawwiththedecanter，Icannotsay。He，however，dispatchedhisbusinessquickly，andreturnedtothetree。ButtohissurpriseMr。Byerswasnolongerthere。Heexploredtheadjacentwoodlandwithnon-success，andnoreplytohisshouting。Annoyedbutnotalarmed，asitseemedprobablethatthemissingmanhadfalleninadrunkensleepinsomehiddenshadows，hereturnedtothehouse，whenitoccurredtohimthatByersmighthavesoughtthebar-roomforsomeliquor。ButhewasstillmoresurprisedwhenthebarkeepervolunteeredtheinformationthathehadseenMr。Byershurriedlypassdownthesideverandaintothehighroad。Anhourlaterthiswascorroboratedbyanarrivingteamster，whohadpassedamanansweringtothedescriptionofByers，\"mor’’nhalffull，\"
staggeringlybuthurriedlywalkingalongtheroad\"twomilesback。\"
Thereseemedtobenodoubtthatthemissingmanhadtakenhimselfoffinafitofindignationorofextremethirst。EitherhypothesiswasdisagreeabletoAbner，inhisqueersenseofresponsibilitytoMrs。Byers，butheaccepteditwithhisusualgood-humoredresignation。
YetitwasdifficulttoconceivewhatconnectionthisepisodehadinhismindwithhissuspendedattentiontoMaryEllen，orwhyitshoulddeterminehispurpose。Buthehadalogicofhisown，anditseemedtohavedemonstratedtohimthathemustproposetothegirlatonce。Thiswasnoeasymatter，however；hehadnevershownheranypreviousattention，andherparticularfunctionsinthehotel，——thechargeofthefewbedroomsfortransientguests——seldombroughthimincontactwithher。Hisinterviewwouldhavetoappeartobeabusinessone——which，however，hewishedtoavoidfromadelicateconsciousnessofitstruth。Whilemakinguphismind，forafewdayshecontentedhimselfwithgravelyregardingherinhisusualresigned，tolerantway，wheneverhepassedher。
UnfortunatelythefirsteffectofthiswasanaudiblegigglefromMaryEllen，latersomeconfusionandanxietyinhermanner，andfinallyademeanorofresentmentanddefiance。
Thiswassodifferentfromwhathehadexpectedthathewasobligedtoprecipitatematters。ThenextdaywasSunday，——adayonwhichhisemployees，inturns，wereallowedtherecreationofbeingdriventoBigFlumeCity，eightmilesdistant，tochurch，orfortheday’sholiday。InthemorningMaryEllenwasastonishedbyAbnerinformingherthathedesignedgivingheraseparateholidaywithhimself。Itmustbeadmittedthatthegirl，whowasalready\"prinkedup\"fortheenthrallmentoftheyouthofBigFlumeCity，didnotappearasdelightedwiththechangeofplanasamoreexactingloverwouldhaveliked。Howbeit，assoonasthewagonhadleftwithitsoccupants，Abner，intheunwonteddisguiseofafullsuitofblackclothes，turnedtothegirl，andofferingherhisarm，gravelyproceededalongthesideverandaacrossthemoundofdebrisalreadydescribed，totheadjacentwildernessandtheverytreesunderwhichheandByershadsat。
\"It’saboutezgoodaplaceforalittletalk，MissBudd，\"hesaid，pointingtoatreeroot，\"ezefwewentaspellfurther，andit’shandytothehouse。Andefyou’lljestsaywhatyou’dlikeouterthecupboardorthebar——nomatterwhich——I’llfetchittoyou。\"
ButMaryEllenBuddseatedherselfsidewaysontheroot，withherfurledwhiteparasolinherlap，herskirtsfastidiouslytuckedaboutherfeet，andglancingatthefatuousAbnerfromunderherstackoffluffyhairandlighteyelashes，simplyshookherheadandsaidthat\"shereckonedshewasn’thankeringmuchforanything\"
thatmorning。
I’vebeencalkilatin’tomyself，MissBudd，\"saidAbnerresignedly，\"thatwhentwofolks——likeezyouandme——meettogethertokinderdiscussthingsthatmightgosofareztokeepthemtogether，iftheyhezhadanythingofthatsortintheirlivesafore，theyoughttospeakofitconfidentiallyliketogether。\"
\"Efanyoneo’themsneakin’，soullesscrittersinthekitchenhezbinslingin’liestoyeaboutme——orcarryin’tales，\"brokeinMaryEllenBudd，settingeveryoneofherthirty-twostrong，whiteteethtogetherwithasnap，\"well——yemighthevtoldmesotooncetwithoutspilin’mySunday！Butezferyerkeepin’meaminitlonger，ye’veonlygottopaymemysalaryto-dayand\"——buthereshestopped，fortheastonishmentinAbner’sfacewastooplaintobemisunderstood。
\"Nobody’sbeenslinginganyliesaboutye，MissBudd，\"hesaidslowly，recoveringhimselfresignedlyfromthislastback-handedstrokeoffate；\"Iwarn’ttalkin’o’you，butmyself。Iwasonlyallowin’tosaythatIwasadi-vorcedman。\"
AsasuddenflushcameoverMaryEllen’sbrownish-whitefacewhileshestaredathim，Abnerhastenedtodelicatelyexplain。\"Itwasn’tnoonfaithfulness，MissBudd——nophilanderin’o’mine，butonly’incompatibilityo’temper。’\"
\"Temper——yourtemper！\"gaspedMaryEllen。
\"Yes，\"saidAbner。
AndhereasuddenchangecameoverMaryEllen’sface，andsheburstintoashriekoflaughter。Shelaughedwithherhandsslappingthesidesofherskirt，shelaughedwithherhandsclaspinghernarrow，hollowwaist，laughedwithherheaddownonherkneesandherfluffyhairtumblingoverit。Abnerwasrelieved，andyetitseemedstrangetohimthatthisrevelationofhistempershouldprovokesuchmanifestincredulityinbothByersandMaryEllen。
Butperhapsthesethingswouldbemadeplaintohimhereafter；atpresenttheymustbeaccepted\"intheday’swork\"andtolerated。
\"Yourtemper，\"gurgledMaryEllen。\"Saintsalive！Whatkindo’
temper？\"
\"Well，Ireckon，\"returnedAbnersubmissively，andselectingawordtogivehismeaningmorecomprehension，——\"Ireckonitwaskinder——
aggeravokin’。\"
MaryEllensniffedtheairforamomentinspeechlessincredulity，andthen，lockingherhandsaroundherkneesandbendingforward，said，\"Lookhere！Efthatoldwomano’yourseverknewwhattemperwasinaman；efshe’severbintiedtoabrutethattreatedherlikeaniggertillshedaren’tsayhersoulwasherown；whostruckherwithhiseyesandtonguewhenhehadn’tanythin’elsehandy；
whomadeherlifemiserablewhenhewassober，andaterrorwhenhewasdrunk；whoatlastdroveheraway，andthendivorcedherfordesertion——then——thenshemighttalk。But’incompatibilityo’
temper’withyou！Oh，goaway——itmakesmesick！\"
HowfarAbnerwasimpressedwiththetruthofthis，howfaritpromptedhisnextquestion，nobodybutAbnerknew。Forhesaiddeliberately，\"Iwasonlygoin’toaskye，if，knowin’Iwasadi-vorcedman，yewouldmindmarryin’me！\"
MaryEllen’sfacechanged；theevasiveinstinctsofhersexroseup。\"Didn’tIhearyesayin’suthin’aboutrefreshments，\"shesaidarchly。\"Mebbeyouwouldn’tmindgettin’meabottleo’lemmingsodyouterthebar！\"
Abnergotupatonce，perhapsnotdismayedbythisdiversion，anddepartedfortherefreshment。AshepassedalongthesideverandatherecollectionofMr。Byersandhismysteriousflightoccurredtohim。Forawildmomenthethoughtofimitatinghim。Butitwastoolatenow——hehadspoken。Besides，hehadnowifetoflyto，andthethirstyorindignantByershad——hiswife！Fatewasindeedhard。Hereturnedwiththebottleoflemonsodaonatrayandaresignedspiritequaltoherdecrees。MaryEllen，remarkingthathehadbroughtnothingforhimself，archlyinsisteduponhissharingwithherthebottleofsoda，andevencoquettishlytouchedhislipswithherglass。Abnersmiledpatiently。
Buthere，asifplayfullyexhilaratedbythenaughtyfoamingsoda，sheregardedhimwithherhead——andagooddealofherblondehair——
verymuchononeside，asshesaid，\"Doyouknowthatallalongo’
youbein’sofreewithmeintellin’youraffairsIkinderfeellikejusttellingyoumine？\"
\"Don’t，\"saidAbnerpromptly。
\"Don’t？\"echoedMissBudd。
\"Don’t，\"repeatedAbner。\"It’snothingtome。WhatIsaidaboutmyselfisdifferent，foritmightmakesomedifferencetoyou。Butnothingyoucouldsayofyourselfwouldmakeanychangeinme。I
sticktowhatIsaidjustnow。\"
\"But，\"saidMissBudd，——inhalfreal，halfsimulatedthreatening，——
\"whatifithadsuthin’todowithmyanswertowhatyousaidjustnow？\"
\"Itcouldn’t。So，ifit’sallthesametoyou，MissBudd，I’dratheryewouldn’t。\"
\"That，\"saidtheladystillmorearchly，liftingaplayfulfinger，\"isyourtemper。\"
\"Mebbeitis，\"saidAbnersuddenly，withawonderingsenseofrelief。
Itwas，however，settledthatMissBuddshouldgotoSacramentotovisitherfriends，thatAbnerwouldjoinherlater，whentheirengagementwouldbeannounced，andthatsheshouldnotreturntothehoteluntiltheyweremarried。ThecompactwassealedbytheinterchangeofafriendlykissfromMissBuddwithapatient，toleratingonefromAbner，andthenitsuddenlyoccurredtothemboththattheymightaswellreturntotheirdutiesinthehotel，whichtheydid。MissBudd’sentireoutingthatSundaylastedonlyhalfanhour。
Aweekelapsed。MissBuddwasinSacramento，andthelandlordoftheBigFlumeHotelwasstandingathisusualpostinthedoorwayduringdinner，whenawaiterhandedhimanote。Itcontainedasinglelinescrawledinpencil：——
\"Comeoutandseemebehindthehouseasbefore。Idussentcomeinonaccountofher。C。BYERS。\"
\"Onaccountof’her’！\"Abnercastahurriedglancearoundthetables。CertainlyMrs。Byerswasnotthere！Hewalkedinthehallandtheveranda——shewasnotthere。Hehastenedtotherendezvousevidentlymeantbythewriter，thewildernessbehindthehouse。
Sureenough，Byers，drunkandmaudlin，supportinghimselfbythetreeroot，staggeredforward，claspedhiminhisarms，andmurmuredhoarsely，——
\"She’sgone！\"
\"Gone？\"echoedAbner，withawhiteningface。\"Mrs。Byers？Where？\"
\"Runaway！Nevercomebacknomore！Gone！\"
AvagueideathathadbeeninAbner’smindsinceByers’slastvisitnowtookawfulshape。BeforetheunfortunateByerscouldcollecthissenseshefelthimselfseizedinagiant’sgraspandforcedagainstthetree。
\"Youcoward！\"saidallthatwasleftofthetolerantAbner——hisevenvoice——\"youhound！Didyoudaretoabuseher？tolayyourvilehandsonher——tostrikeher？Answerme。\"
Theshock——thegrasp——perhapsAbner’swords，momentarilysilencedByers。\"DidIstrikeher？\"hesaiddazedly；\"didIabuseher？Oh，yes！\"withdeepirony。\"Certainly！Incourse！Lookyer，pardner！\"——hesuddenlydraggeduphissleevefromhisred，hairyarm，exposingabluecicatrixinitscentre——\"that’sajabfromherscissorsaboutthreemonthsago；lookyer！\"——hebenthisheadandshowedascaralongthescalp——\"that’sherplayfulnesswithafireshovel！Lookyer！\"——hequicklyopenedhiscollar，wherehisneckandcheekwerestripedandcrossedwithadhesiveplaster——\"that’sallthatwaslefto’aglassjaro’preserves——thepreservesgotaway，butsomeoftheglassgotstuck！That’swhensheheardIwasadi-vorcedmanandhadn’ttoldher。\"
\"Wereyouadi-vorcedman？\"gaspedAbner。
\"Youknowthat；incourseIwas，\"saidByersscornfully；\"d’yemeantersayshedidn’ttellye？\"
\"She？\"echoedAbnervaguely。\"Yourwife——yousaidjustnowshedidn’tknowitbefore。\"
\"Mywifeezoncetwas，Imean！MaryEllen——yourwifeezistobe，\"
saidByers，withdeepirony。\"Oh，comenow。Pretendyedon’tknow！Hithere！Handsoff！Don’tstrikeamanwhenhe’sdown，likeIam。\"
ButAbner’sclutchofByers’sshoulderrelaxed，andhesankdowntoasittingpostureontheroot。InthemeantimeByers，overcomebyasenseofthisnewmiseryaddedtohismanifoldgrievances，gavewaytomaudlinsilenttears。
\"MaryEllen——yourfirstwife？\"repeatedAbnervacantly。
\"Yesh！\"saidByersthickly，\"myfirstwife——shelectedandpickedoutferyourshecondwife——byyourfirst——liked————dconundrum。
HowwashIt’know？\"hesaid，withasuddenshriekofpublicexpostulation——\"thashwhatIwanterknow。HereIcometotalkwithfr’en’，likemantoman，unshuspecting，innoshentaschile，aboutmyshecondwife！Fr’en’dropsout，carryin’offthewhiskey。ThenIhearallo’suddentvoiceo’MaryEllentalkin’inkitchen；thenIcomeroundsoftlyandseeMaryEllen——mywifeasuseterbe——
standin’atfr’en’skitchenwinder。ThenIlightsoutquicker’nlightnin’andscoots！AndwhenIgetsbackhome，Iupsandtellsmywife。Andwhoshfaultish’t！Whoshaidamanoughtertellhishwife？You！Whokeepshothermensh’firstwiveshatkishenwindertofrighten’emtotell？You！\"
ButachangehadalreadycomeoverthefaceofAbnerLangworthy。
Theanger，anxiety，astonishment，andvacuitythatwastherehadvanished，andhelookedupwithhisusualresignedacceptanceoftheinevitableashesaid，\"Ireckonthat’sso！Andseein’it’sso，\"withgood-naturedtolerance，headded，\"IreckonI’llbreakrulesforoncetandstandyeanotherdrink。\"
Hestoodanotherdrinkandyetanother，andeventuallyputthedoublywidowedByerstobedinhisownroom。Thesewerebutdetailsofalargertribulation，——andyetheknewinstinctivelythathiscupwasnotyetfull。ThefurtherdropofbitternesscameafewdayslaterinalinefromMaryEllen：\"Ineedn’ttellyouthatallbetwixtyouandmeisoff，andyoukintellyouroldwomanthatherselectionforasecondwifeforyouwuzaboutasbadasyourownfirstselection。YekintellMr。Byers——yergreatfriendwhomyeneverletonyeknew——thatwhenIwantanotherhusbandI
shan’ttakethetroubletoaskhimtofishoneoutforme。Itwouldbekind——butconfusin’。\"
Heneverheardfromheragain。Mr。ByerswasdulynotifiedthatMrs。Byershadcommencedactionfordivorceinanotherstateinwhichconcealmentofapreviousdivorceinvalidatedthemarriage，buthedidnotrespond。Thetwomenbecamegreatfriends——andassuredcelibates。Yettheyalwaysspokereverentlyoftheir\"wife，\"withthetouchingprefixof\"our。\"
\"Shewasagoodwoman，pardner，\"saidByers。
\"Andsheunderstoodus，\"saidAbnerresignedly。
Perhapsshehad。
ABUCKEYEHOLLOWINHERITANCE
Thefourmenonthe\"ZipCoon\"Ledgehadnotgotfairlysettledtotheirmorning’swork。Therewastheusuallingeringhesitationwhichisapttoattendthetaking-upofanyregularormonotonousperformance，showninthisinstanceintheprolongedscrutinyofapick’spoint，thesolemnselectionofashovel，orthe\"hefting\"orweighingofatapping-ironordrill。Onemember，becominginterestedinafunnyparagraphhefoundinthescrapofnewspaperwrappedaroundhisnoondaycheese，shamelesslysatdowntofinishit，regardlessoftheprospectingpanthrownathimbyanother。
Theyhadtakenuptheirdailyroutineofmininglifelikeschoolboysattheirtasks。
\"Hello！\"saidNedWyngate，joyouslyrecognizingapossiblefurtherinterruption。\"BlamediftheExpressriderain’tcomin’here！\"
Hewasshadinghiseyeswithhishandashegazedoverthebroadsun-bakedexpanseofbroken\"flat\"betweenthemandthehighroad。
Theyalllookedup，andsawthefigureofamountedman，withacourier’sbagthrownoverhisshoulder，gallopingtowardsthem。Itwasreallyanevent，astheirletterswereusuallyleftatthegroceryatthecrossroads。
\"Iknewsomethingwasgoin’tohappen，\"saidWyngate。\"Ididn’tfeelabitlikeworkthismorning。\"
Hereoneoftheirnumberranofftomeettheadvancinghorseman。
Theywatchedhimuntiltheysawthelatterreinup，andhandabrownenvelopetotheirmessenger，whoranbreathlesslybackwithittotheLedgeasthehorsemangallopedawayagain。
\"AtelegraphforJacksonWells，\"hesaid，handingittotheyoungmanwhohadbeenreadingthescrapofpaper。
Therewasadeadsilence。Telegramswereexpensiveraritiesinthosedays，especiallywiththeyouthfulBohemianminersoftheZipCoonLedge。Theywereburningwithcuriosity，yetasingularthinghappened。Accustomedastheyhadbeentoalifeofbrotherlyfamiliarityandunceremoniousness，thisportentousmessagefromtheoutsideworldofcivilizationrecalledtheiroldformalpoliteness。
Theylookedsteadilyawayfromthereceiverofthetelegram，andheonhispartstammeredanapologetic\"Excuseme，boys，\"ashebroketheenvelope。
Therewasanotherpause，whichseemedtobeinterminabletothewaitingpartners。ThenthevoiceofWells，inquitenaturaltones，said，\"Bygum！that’sfunny！Readthat，Dexter，——readitoutloud。\"
DexterRice，theforeman，tooktheprofferedtelegramfromWells’shand，andreadasfollows：——
Youruncle，QuincyWells，diedyesterday，leavingyousoleheir。
Willattendyouto-morrowforinstructions。
BAKERANDTWIGGS，Attorneys，Sacramento。
Thethreeminers’faceslightenedandturnedjoyouslytoWells；butHISfacelookedpuzzled。
\"Maywecongratulateyou，Mr。Wells？\"saidWyngate，withaffectedpoliteness；\"orpossiblyyourunclemayhavebeenEnglish，andatitlegoeswiththe’prop，’andyoumaybeLordWells，orVeryWells——atleast。\"
ButhereJacksonWells’syouthfulfacelostitsperplexity，andhebegantolaughlongandsilentlytohimself。ThiswasprotractedtosuchanextentthatDexterassertedhimself，——asforemanandseniorpartner。
\"Lookhere，Jack！don’tsittherecacklinglikeachuckle-headedmagpie，ifyouAREtheheir。\"
\"I——can’t——helpit，\"gaspedJackson。\"Iamtheheir——butyousee，boys，thereAIN’TANYPROPERTY。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？Isallthatasell？\"demandedRice。
\"Notmuch！Telegraph’stooexpensiveforthatsorto’feelin’。
Yousee，boys，I’vegotanUncleQuincy，thoughIdon’tknowhimmuch，andheMAYbedead。Buthiswholefixin’sconsistedofaclaimthesizeofours，andplayedoutlongago：aramshackleloto’shedscalledacottage，andakindofmarketgardenofaboutthreeacres，whereherearedandsoldvegetables。Hewasalwayspoor，andasforcallingit’property，’andMEthe’heir’——goodLord！\"
\"Amiser，assureasyou’reborn！\"saidWyngate，withoptimisticdecision。\"That’salwaystheway。You’llfindeverycrackofthatblessedoldshedstuckfullofgreenbacksandcertificatesofdeposit，andlotsofgolddustandcoinburiedalloverthatcowpatch！Andofcoursenoonesuspectedit！Andofcoursehelivedalone，andneverletanyonegetintohishouse——andnearlystarvedhimself！Lordloveyou！There’shundredsofsuchcases。Theworldisfullof’em！\"
\"That’sso，\"chimedinPulaskiBriggs，thefourthpartner，\"andI
tellyouwhat，Jacksey，we’llcomeoverwithyouthedayyoutakepossession，andjust’prospect’thewholeblamedshanty，pigsties，andpotatopatch，forfun——andwon’tchargeyouanything。\"
ForamomentJackson’sfacehadreallybrightenedundertheinfectionofenthusiasm，butitpresentlysettledintoperplexityagain。
\"No！YoubettheboysaroundBuckeyeHollowwouldhavespottedanythinglikethatlongago。\"
\"BuckeyeHollow！\"repeatedRiceandhispartners。
\"Yes！BuckeyeHollow，that’stheplace；nottwentymilesfromhere，andaGod-forsakenhole，asyouknow。\"
AcloudhadsettledonZipCoonLedge。TheyknewofBuckeyeHollow，anditwasevidentthatnogoodhadeveryetcomeoutofthatNazareth。
\"There’snouseoftalkingnow，\"saidRiceconclusively。\"You’lldrawitallfromthatlawyersharkwho’scomingheretomorrow，andyoucanbetyourlifehewouldn’thavetakenthistroubleiftherewasn’tsuthin’init。Anyhow，we’llknockoffworknowandcallithalfaday，inhonorofourdistinguishedyoungfriend’saccessiontohisbaronialestatesofBuckeyeHollow。We’lljusttoddledowntoTomlinson’satthecross-roads，andhaveanipandaquietgameofoldsledgeatJacksey’sexpense。Ireckontheestate’sgoodforTHAT，\"headded，withseveregravity。\"And，speakingasafa’r-
mindedmanandthepresidentofthisyerCompany，ifJacksonwouldoccasionallytakeoutandairthattelegraphicdispatchofhiswhilewe’reatTomlinson’s，itmightdosomethingforthatCompany’scredit——withTomlinson！We’rewantin’somenewblastin’plantbad！\"
Oddlyenoughthetelegram——accidentallyshownatTomlinson’s——
producedagratifyingeffect，andtheZipCoonLedgemateriallyadvancedinpublicestimation。Withthispossibleinfusionofnewcapitalintoitsresources，theCompanywasbesetbyoffersofmachineryandgoods；anditwasdeemedexpedientbythesapientRice，thattopreventthedisseminationofanymoreaccurateinformationregardingJackson’spropertythenextday，thelawyershouldbemetatthestageofficebyoneofthemembers，andconveyedsecretlypastTomlinson’stotheLedge。
\"I’dletyougo，\"hesaidtoJackson，\"onlyitwon’tdoforthatd————dskunkofalawyertothinkyou’retooanxious——sabe？Wewanttorubintohimthatweareinthehabitoutyerofhavin’thingslefttous，andafortin’moreorless，fallingintousnowandthen，ain’tnothin’alongsideoftheZipCoonclaim。Itwon’thurtyetokeepupabigbluffonthathandofyours。Nobodywoulddareto’call’you。\"
IndeedthisideawascarriedoutwithsuchelaborationthenextdaythatMr。Twiggs，theattorney，wasconsiderablyimpressedbothbytheconductofhisguide，who（althoughburningwithcuriosity）
expressedabsoluteindifferenceregardingJacksonWells’sinheritance，andthecalmnessofJacksonhimself，whohadtobeostentatiouslycalledfromhisworkontheLedgetomeethim，andwhoevengavehimanaudienceinthehearingofhispartners。
Forcedintoanapologeticattitude，heexpressedhisregretatbeingobligedtobotherMr。Wellswithanaffairofsuchsecondaryimportance，buthewasobligedtocarryouttheformalitiesofthelaw。
\"Whatdoyousupposetheestateisworth？\"askedWellscarelessly。
\"Ishouldnotthinkthatthehouse，theclaim，andthelandwouldbringmorethanfifteenhundreddollars，\"repliedTwiggssubmissively。
TotheimpecuniousownersofZipCoonLedgeitseemedalargesum，buttheydidnotshowit。
\"Yousee，\"continuedMr。Twiggs，\"it’sreallyacaseof’willingaway’propertyfromitsobviousordirectinheritors，insteadofabeneficialgrant。Itakeitthatyouandyourunclewerenotparticularlyintimate，——atleast，soIgatheredwhenImadethewill，——andhissimpleobjectwastodisinherithisonlydaughter，withwhomhehadhadsomequarrel，andwhohadlefthimtolivewithhislatewife’sbrother，Mr。MorleyBrown，whoisquitewealthyandresidinginthesametownship。Perhapsyouremembertheyounglady？\"
JacksonWellshadadimrecollectionofthiscousin，ahateful，red-hairedschoolgirl，andanequallyunpleasantmemoryofthisotheruncle，whowaspurse-proudandhadnevertakenanynoticeofhim。Heansweredaffirmatively。
\"Theremaybesomeattempttocontestthewill，\"continuedMr。
Twiggs，\"asthedisinheritingofanonlychildandadaughteroffendsthesentimentofthepeopleandofjudgesandjury，andthelawmakessuchawillinvalid，unlessareasonisgiven。
Fortunatelyyourunclehasplacedhisreasonsonrecord。Ihaveacopyofthewillhere，andcanshowyoutheclause。\"Hetookitfromhispocket，andreadasfollows：\"’Iexcludemydaughter，JocelindaWells，fromanybenefitorprovisionofthismywillandtestament，forthereasonthatshehasvoluntarilyabandonedherfather’sroofforthehouseofhermother’sbrother，MorleyBrown；
haspreferredthefleshpotsofEgypttothevirtuousfrugalitiesofherownhome，andhasdiscardedthehumblefriendsofheryouth，andtheassociatesofherfather，forthemeretriciousandslavishsympathyofwealthandposition。Inlieuthereof，andascompensationtherefor，Idoherebygiveandbequeathtohermyfullandfreepermissiontogratifyherfrequentlyexpressedwishforanotherguardianinplaceofmyself，andtobecometheadopteddaughterofthesaidMorleyBrown，withtheprivilegeofassumingthenameofBrownasaforesaid。’Yousee，\"hecontinued，\"astheyounglady’spresentpositionisabetteronethanitwouldbeifshewereinherfather’shouse，andwasevidentlyacompromise，thesentimentalconsiderationofherbeinglefthomelessandpennilessfallstotheground。However，astheinheritanceissmall，andmightbeoflittleaccounttoyou，ifyouchoosetowaiveit，I
daresaywemaymakesomearrangement。\"
ThiswasanutterlyunexpectedideatotheZipCoonCompany，andJacksonWellswasforamomentsilent。ButDexterRicewasequaltotheemergency，andturnedtotheastonishedlawyerwithseveredignity。
\"You’llexcusemeforinterferin’，but，astheseniorpartnerofthisyerLedge，andJacksonWellsyerbein’amostimportantmember，whataffectshisusefulnessonthisclaimaffectsus。Andweproposetocarryoutthisyerwill，withallitsdipsandspursandangles！\"
AsthesurprisedTwiggsturnedfromonetotheother，Ricecontinued，\"Ezfaraswekinunderstandthislittlegame，it’sthejustpunishmentofahigh-flyinggirlasbreaksherporeoldfather’sheart，andthere-wardofayoungfellerezhasbintoourknowledgeezdevotedanephewastheymake’em。Timeandtimeagain，sittin’aroundourcampfireatnight，we’veheardJackseysay，——kindertohimself，andkindertous，’NowIwonderwhat’sgoneo’olduncleQuincy；’andheneversatdowntoasquaremeal，oreverrosefromasquaregame，butwhatheallussaid，’IfolduncleQuincewasonlyherenow，boys，I’ddiehappy。’Ileaveittoyou，gentlemen，ifthatwasn’tJacksonWells’sgaitallthetime？\"
Therewasaprolongedmurmurofassent，andanaffectingcorroborationfromNedWyngateof\"Thatwashim；thatwasJackseyallthetime！\"
\"Indeed，indeed，\"saidthelawyernervously。\"Ihadquitetheideathattherewasverylittlefondness\"——
\"Notonyourside——notonyourside，\"saidRicequickly。\"UncleQuincymaynothaveantedupinthismattero’feelin’，norseenhisnephew’srise。Youknowhowitisyourselfinthesethings——
beingalawyerandafa’r-mindedman——it’sallononeside，ginerally！There’salwaysonewholovesandsacrifices，andallthat，andthere’salwaysonewhorakesinthepot！That’sthewayo’theworld；andthat’swhy，\"continuedRice，abandoninghisslightlyphilosophicalattitude，andlayinghishandtenderly，andyetwithasingularlysignificantgrip，onWells’sarm，\"wesaytohim，’Hangontothatwill，anduncleQuincy’smemory。’Andwehevtosayit。Forhe’sthattender-heartedandkeerlessofmoney——
havinghisownshareinthisLedge——thatefthatgirlcamewhimperin’tohimhe’dlethertakethe’prop’andletthehullthingslide！Andthenhe’drememberthathehadrewardedthatgalthatbroketheoldman’sheart，andthatwouldupsethimagaininhiswork。Andthere，yousee，isjustwhereWEcomein！Andwesay，’Hangontothatwilllikegrimdeath！’\"
ThelawyerlookedcuriouslyatRiceandhiscompanions，andthenturnedtoWells：\"Nevertheless，Imustlooktoyouforinstructions，\"
hesaiddryly。
ButbythistimeJacksonWells，althoughreallydubiousaboutsupplantingtheorphan，hadgatheredthesenseofhispartners，andsaidwithafrankshowofdecision，\"IthinkImuststandbythewill。\"
\"ThenI’llhaveitproved，\"saidTwiggs，rising。\"Inthemeantime，ifthereisanytalkofcontesting\"——
\"Ifthereis，youmightsay，\"suggestedWyngate，whofelthehadnothadafairshowinthelittlecomedy，——\"yemightsaytothatoldskeesicksofawife’sbrother，ifhewantstonipplein，thattherearefourmenontheLedge——andfourrevolvers！Wearegin’rallyfa’r-minded，peacefulmen，butwhenanoldman’sheartisbroken，andhisgrayhairsbroughtdowninsorrowtothegrave，sotospeak，we’reboundtoattendthefuneral——sabe？\"
WhenMr。Twiggshaddepartedagain，accompaniedbyapartnertoguidehimpastthedangerousshoalsofTomlinson’sgrocery，RiceclappedhishandonWells’sshoulder。\"Ifithadn’tbeenforme，sonny，thatsharkwouldhavelandedyouintosomecompromisewiththatred-hairedgal！Isawyouweakenin’，andthenIchippedin。
ImayhavepileduptheagonyalittleonyourloveforoldQuince，butifyouaren’tanungratefulcub，that’showyououghttohevbeenfeein’，anyhow！\"
Nevertheless，theyouthfulWells，althoughtouchedbyhiselderpartner’sloyalty，andconvincedofhisowndisinterestedness，feltapainfulsenseoflostchivalrousopportunity……
OnmatureconsiderationitwasfinallysettledthatJacksonWellsshouldmakehispreliminaryexaminationofhisinheritancealone，asitmightseeminconsistentwiththepreviousindifferentattitudeofhispartnersiftheyaccompaniedhim。Buthewasimploredtoyieldtonoblandishmentsoftheenemy，andtoevenmakehisvisitasecret。
Hewent。Thefamiliarflower-spikedtreeswhichhadgiventheirnametoBuckeyeHollowhadneveryieldedentirelytoimprovementsandtheincursionsofminingenterprise，andmanyofthemhadevensurvivedthedisusedditches，thescarredflats，thediscardedlevels，ruinedflumes，androoflesscabinsoftheearlieroccupation，sothatwhenJacksonWellsenteredthewide，stragglingstreetofBuckeye，thatsummermorningwasfilledwiththeradianceofitsblossomsandfragrantwiththeirincense。Hisfirstvisitthere，tenyearsago，hadbeenapurelyperfunctoryandhastyone，yetherememberedtheostentatioushotel，builtinthe\"flushtime\"
ofitsprosperity，andalreadyinagreenprematuredecay；herecalledtheExpressOfficeandTownHall，alsopassingawayinakindofsimilargreendeliquescence；thelittlezincchurch，nowovergrownwithfernandbrambles，andthetwoorthreefinesubstantialhousesintheoutskirts，whichseemedtohavesuckedthevitalityofthelittlesettlement。Oneofthese——hehadbeentold——wasthepropertyofhisrichandwickedmaternaluncle，thehatedappropriatorofhisred-headedcousin’saffections。Herecalledhisbriefvisittothedepartedtestator’sclaimandmarketgarden，andhisbynomeansfavorableimpressionofthelonely，crabbedoldman，aswellashisreliefthathisobjectionablecousin，whomhehadnotseensincehewasaboy，wasthenabsentattherivaluncle’s。Hemadehiswayacrosstheroadtoasunnyslopewherethemarketgardenofthreeacresseemedtorolllikeariverofgreenrapidstoalittle\"run\"orbrook，which，eveninthedryseason，showedatricklingrill。Butherehewasstruckbyasingularcircumstance。Thegardenrestedinarich，alluvialsoil，andunderthequickeningCalifornianskyhaddevelopedfarbeyondtheabilityofitslatecultivatortorestrainorkeepitinorder。Everythinghadgrownluxuriantly，andinmonstroussizeandprofusion。Thegardenhadeventrespasseditsbounds，andimpingedupontheopenroad，thedesertedclaims，andtheruinsofthepast。StimulatedbythelittlecultivationQuincyWellshadfoundtimetogiveit，ithadleapeditsthreeacresandriotedthroughtheHollow。Therewerescarletrunnerscrossingtheabandonedsluices，peasclimbingthecourt-housewall，strawberriesmattingthetrail，whiletheseedsandpollenofitsfewhomelyEasternflowershadbeenblownfarandwidethroughthewoods。Byagrimsatire，Natureseemedtohavebeentheonlythingthatstillprosperedinthatsettlementofman。
Thecabinitself，builtofunpaintedboards，consistedofasitting-room，dining-room，kitchen，andtwobedrooms，allplainlyfurnished，althoughoneofthebedroomswasbetterordered，anddisplayedcertainsignsoffemininedecoration，whichmadeJacksonbelieveithadbeenhiscousin’sroom。Luckily，theslight，temporarystructureborenodeeptracesofitspreviousoccupancytodisturbhimwithitsmemories，andforthesamereasonitgainedincleanlinessandfreshness。Thedry，desiccatingsummerwindthatblewthroughithadcarriedawayboththeodorsandthesenseofdomesticity；eventheadobehearthhadnofiresidetalestotell，——itsveryasheshadbeenscatteredbythewinds；andthegravestoneofitsdeadowneronthehillwasnomoreflavorlessofhispersonalitythanwasthisplainhouseinwhichhehadlivedanddied。Theexcessivevegetationproducedbythestirred-upsoilhadcoveredandhiddentheemptytincans，brokenboxes，andfragmentsofclothingwhichusuallyheapedandlitteredthetent-pegsofthepioneer。Nature’sownprofusionhadthrustthemintoobscurity。
JacksonWellssmiledasherecalledhissanguinepartner’sideaofatreasure-troveconcealedandstuffedinthecrevicesofthistenement，alreadysopalpablypickedcleanbythosewholesomescavengersofCalifornia，thedryairandburningsun。Yethewasnotdispleasedatthisobliterationofaprevioustenancy；therewasthebetterchanceforhimtooriginatesomething。Hewhistledhopefullyashelounged，withhishandsinhispockets，towardstheonlyfenceandgatethatgaveupontheroad。Somethingstuckuponthegate-postattractedhisattention。Itwasasheetofpaperbearingtheinscriptioninalargehand：\"Noticetotrespassers。
LookoutfortheOrphanRobber！\"Aplainsignboardinfadedblacklettersonthegate，whichhadbornethelegend：\"QuincyWells，DealerinFruitandVegetables，\"hadbeenrudelyalteredinchalktoread：\"JacksonWells，DoubleDealerinWillsandCodicils，\"andtheintimation\"Bouquetssoldhere\"hadbeenchangedto\"Bequestsstolehere。\"Foraninstantthesimple-mindedJacksonfailedtodiscoveranysignificanceofthisoutrage，whichseemedtohimtobemerelythewantonmischiefofaschoolboy。Butasuddenrecollectionofthelawyer’scautionsentthebloodtohischeeksandkindledhisindignation。Hetoredownthepaperandrubbedoutthechalkinterpolation——andthenlaughedathisownanger。
Nevertheless，hewouldnothavelikedhisbelligerentpartnerstoseeit。
Alittlecurioustoknowtheextentofthisfeeling，heenteredoneoftheshops，andbyoneortwoquestionswhichjudiciouslybetrayedhisownershipoftheproperty，heelicitedonlyatradesman’sinterestinapossiblefuturecustomer，andtheordinarycuriosityaboutastranger。Thebarkeeperofthehotelwascivil，butbriefandgloomy。Hehadheardthepropertywas\"willedawayonaccountofsomefamilyquarrelwhich\"warn’tnoneofhis。\"Mr。WellswouldfindBuckeyeHollowamightydullplaceafterthemines。Itwasplayedout，suckeddrybytwoorthreebigmineownerswhoweretryingto\"freezeout\"theothersettlers，soastheymightgettheplacetothemselvesand\"boomit。\"Brown，whohadthebighouseoverthehill，wastheheaddevilofthegang！Wellsfelthisindignationkindleanew。AndthisgirlthathehadoustedwasBrown’sfriend。WasitpossiblethatshewasapartytoBrown’sdesignstogetthisthreeacreswiththeotherlands？Ifso，hislong-sufferingunclewasonlyjustinhisrevenge。
Heputallthisdiffidentlybeforehispartnersonhisreturn，andwasalittlestartledattheiradoptingitwithsanguineferocity。
Theyhopedthathewouldputanendtohisthoughtsofbackingoutofit。Suchacoursenowwouldbedishonorabletohisuncle’smemory。Itwasclearlyhisdutytoresisttheseblastedsatrapsofcapitalists；hewasprovidentiallyselectedforthepurpose——avillageHampdentowithstandthetyrant。\"AndIreckonthatsharkofalawyerknewallaboutitwhenhewasgettin’offthat’purpstuff’aboutpeople’ssympathieswiththegirl，\"saidRicebelligerently。\"Contestthewill，wouldhe？Why，ifwecaughtthatBrownwithafingerinthepiewe’djustwhipuptheboysonthisLedgeandlynchhim。Youhangontothatthreeacresandthegardenpatchofyourforefathers，sonny，andwe’llseeyouthrough！\"
Nevertheless，itwaswithsomemisgivingsthatWellsconsentedthathisthreepartnersshouldactuallyaccompanyhimandseehimputinpeaceablepossessionofhisinheritance。Hisinstincttoldhimthattherewouldbenocontestofthewill，andstilllessanyoppositiononthepartoftheobjectionablerelative，Brown。Whenthewagonwhichcontainedhispersonaleffectsandthefewarticlesoffurniturenecessaryforhisoccupancyofthecabinarrived，theexaggeratedswaggerwhichhiscompanionshadputonintheirpassagethroughthesettlementgavewaytoapastoralindolence，equallyhalfreal，halfaffected。Lyingontheirbacksunderabuckeye，theypermittedRicetovoicethegeneralsentiment。
\"There’sasuthin’soothin’anddreamyinthiskindo’life，Jacksey，andwe’llmakeapointofcomin’hereforacoupleofdayseverytwoweekstolendyouahand；itwillbeamightygoodchangefromourniggerworkontheclaim。\"
Inspiteofthisassurance，andthefactthattheyhadvoluntarilycometohelphimputtheplaceinorder，theydidverylittlebeyondlendingacheeringexpressionofunqualifiedpraiseandunstintedadvice。Attheendoffourhours’weedingandtrimmingtheboundariesofthegarden，theyunanimouslygavetheiropinionthatitwouldbemoresystematicforhimtoemployChineselaboratonce。
\"Yousee，\"saidNedWyngate，\"theChinesenaturallytaketothiskindo’business。Why，youcan’ttakeupachinaplateorsaucerbutyousee’empicturedthereworkingatjobslikethis，andtheykinliveongreenthingsandricethatcostnothin’，andchickens。
You’llkeepchickens，ofcourse。\"
Jacksonthoughtthathishandswouldbefullenoughwiththegarden，buthemeeklyassented。
\"I’llgetapair——youonlywanttwotobeginwith，\"continuedWyngatecheerfully，\"andinamonthortwoyou’vegotallyouwant，andeggsenoughformarket。Onsecondthoughts，Idon’tknowwhetheryouhadn’tbetterbeginwitheggsfirst。Thatis，youborrysomeeggsfromonemanandahenfromanother。Thenyouset’em，andwhenthechickensarehatchedoutyoujustreturnthehentothesecondman，andtheeggs，whenyourchickensbegintolay，tothefirstman，andyou’vegotyourchickensfornothing——andthereyouare。\"
Thisingeniousproposition，whichwasdeliveredonthelastslopeofthedomain，wherethepartnerswerelyingexhaustedfromtheirwork，wasbrokeninuponbytheappearanceofasmallboy，barefooted，sunburnt，andtow-headed，who，afteramoment’shurriedscrutinyofthegroup，threwaletterwithunerringprecisionintothelapofJacksonWells，andthenfledprecipitately。Jacksoninstinctivelysuspectedhewasconnectedwiththeoutrageonhisfenceandgate-post，butashehadavoidedtellinghispartnersoftheincident，fearingtoincreasetheirbelligerentattitude，hefeltnowanawkwardconsciousnessmingledwithhisindignationashebrokethesealandreadasfollows：——
SIR，——Thisistoinformyouthatalthoughyouhavegotholdofthepropertybyunderhandedandsneakingways，youain’tnorighttotouchorlayyourvilehandsontheCherokeeRosealongsidethehouse，norontheGiantofBattles，norontheMaiden’sPridebythegate——thesamebeingthepropertyofMissJocelindaWells，andplantedbyher，underthepenaltyoftheLaw。Andifyou，oranyofyourgangofruffians，touchesitorthem，oranythereof，ordon’tdeliveritupwhencalledforingoodorder，youwillbepersecutedbythem。
AVENGER。
ItistobefearedthatJacksonwouldhavesuppressedthisalso，butthekeeneyesofhispartners，excitedbytheabruptnessofthemessenger，wereuponhim。Hesmiledfeebly，andlaidtheletterbeforethem。Buthewasunpreparedfortheirexaggeratedindignation，andwithdifficultyrestrainedthemfromdashingoffinthedirectionofthevanishedherald。\"Andwhatcouldyoudo？\"
hesaid。\"Theboy’sonlyamessenger。\"
\"I’llgetatthatd————dskunkBrown，who’sbackofhim，\"saidDexterRice。
\"Andwhatthen？\"persistedJackson，withacertainshowofindependence。\"Ifthisstuffbelongstothegirl，I’mnotcertainIshan’tgivethemupwithoutanyfuss。Lord！Iwantnothingbutwhattheoldmanleftme——andcertainlynothingofHERS。\"
HereNedWyngatewasheardtomurmurthatJacksonwasoneofthosemenwhowouldliedownandletcoyotescrawloverhimiftheyfirstpresentedagirl’svisitingcard，buthewasstoppedbyRicedemandingpaperandpencil。Theformerbeingtornfromamemorandumbook，andastubofthelatterproducedfromanotherpocket，hewroteasfollows：——
SIR，——Inreplytothehogwashyouhavekindlyexudedinyourletterofto-day，IhavetoinformyouthatyoucanhavewhatyouaskforMissWells，andperhapsatrifleonyourownaccount，bycallingthisafternoonon——Yourstruly——
\"Now，signit，\"continuedRice，handinghimthepencil。
\"Butthiswilllookasifwewereangryandwantedtokeeptheplants，\"protestedWells。
\"Neveryoumind，sonny，butsign！Leavetheresttoyourpartners，andwhenyoulayyourheadonyourpillowto-nightreturnthankstoanoverrulingProvidenceforprovidingyouwiththerightgangofruffianstolookafteryou！\"
Wellssignedreluctantly，andWyngateofferedtofindaChinamaninthegulchwhowouldtakethemissive。\"AndbeingaChinaman，Browncandoanycussin’orbucktalkTHROUGHhim！\"headded。
Theafternoonworeon；thetallDouglaspinesnearthewaterpoolswheeledtheirlongshadowsroundandhalfwayuptheslope，andthesunbegantopeerintothefacesoftherecliningmen。Subtleodorsofmintandsouthern-wood，stragglersfromthegarden，bruisedbytheirlimbs，replacedthefumesoftheirsmoked-outpipes，andthehammersofthewoodpeckerswerebusyinthegroveastheylaylazilynibblingthefragrantleaveslikepeacefulruminants。Thencamethesoundofapproachingwheelsalongtheinvisiblehighwaybeyondthebuckeyes，andthenahaltandsilence。
Riceroseslowly，brightpinpointsinthepupilsofhisgrayeyes。
\"Bringin’awagonwithhimtototethehullshantyaway，\"suggestedWyngate。