Courier Democrat., 1904-12-22
CHAPTER VII.

lT~ 1HE spring round ups were al!
over and Bruce had nothing
= to do but to loaf about the
Stopping Place, drinking ole
Latour's bad whisky and making him
self nuisance. In vain the Pilot
tried to win him with loans of books
and magazines and other kindly cour-
tesies. He would be decent for day
and then would b-..:,' :.,rth in violent
augmentation as:l.;, .'rligion and all
who held to 1t. lie so!ply missed the
Duke. who was away south on one OF
his periodic journeys, Of which no one
knew anything or cared to ask. The
Dukes presence always steadied Bruce
and took the rasp out Of his manners.
It was rather a relief to all that he
was absent from the next fortnightly
service, though Moore declared he was
ashamed to confess this relief.
II can't touch him." he said to me
after the service. HE is far too clever.
But" and his voice was full Of pain.
"1'd give something to help him"
eff he doesn't quit his nonsense" 1
replied, hell soon be past helping.
He doesn't go out Of his range. his few
cattle wander everywhere, his shack
Is in beastly state and he himself is
going to pieces, miserable fool that he
is.' For it did seem shame that q
fellow should SO throw himself away
for nothing.
You are hard" said Moore. with his
eyes upon me.
Hard: Isn't it true:" answered
hotly. Then. there's his mother at
home"
"Yes. but can he help 1t? Is it all
his fault:" he replied. with his steady
eyes still looking into me.
"His fault: Whose fault. then:"
what Of the Noble Seven: Have
they anything to do with this:" His
voice was quiet. but there was an ar
resting intensity in it.
"Weli." l said. rather weakly. "a
man ought to look after himself"
"Yes-and his brother little" Then
he added: What have any Of you
done to help him: The Duke could
have pulled him up year ago if he
had been willing to deny himself lit
tie. and SO with all of you. You all do
Just what pleases you regardless Of any
other. and so you help one another
down
say. though afterward many things
came to me- For though his voice was
quiet and low. his eyes were glowing
and his face was alight with the fire
that burned within. and felt like one
convicted Of crime. This was GER
tainly new doctrine for the west, an
uncomfortable doctrine to practice, in
terfering seriously with personal lib
erty. but in the Pilots way of viewing
things difficult to escape. There would
be no end to ones responsibility.
refused to think it out.
Within a fortnight we were think
ing it out with some intentness. The
Noble Seven were to have a great
blowout at the Hill brothers ranch.
The Duke had got home from his
southern trip little more weary look
ing and a little more cynical in his
smile. The blowout was to be held
on permit Sunday, the alternate to the
preaching Sunday. which was con-
cession to the Pilot. secured chiefly
through the influence of Hi and his
baseball nine. 1t was something to
have created the situation involved in
the distinction between preaching and
permit Sundays. Hi put it rather
graphically. The devil takes his
innin's one Sunday and the Pilot the
next" adding emphatically, HE hain't
done much scorin' yit. but my moneys
on the Pilot. you betr' Bill was more
cautious and preferred to wait develop
ments. And developments were rapid
The Hill brothers meet was unusu-
ally successful from a social point Of
view. Several permits had been requi-
sihoned, and whisky and beer abound
ed. Races all day and poker all night
and drinks Of various brews both day
and night, with varying impromptu
diversions, such as shooting the horns
OF wandering steers, were the social
amenities INDUCED in By the Noble
Company. On Monday evening I rode
out to the ranch, urged BY Moore. who
vas anxious that some one should
look sitter Bruce.
II don't belong to them" he sod:
you Do. They won't resent your COM
ing"