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stamped。 Every day (when in Mesa) Honey would step into the drug…store 

and inquire; 〃Lin; wher're yu' goin'?〃 

     But Lin never answered any more。 He merely came to the soda…water 

fountain with the whiskey。 The passing of days brought a choked season of 

fine sand   and hard blazing sky。  Heat rose up from  the ground   and hung 

heavily over man and beast。 Many insects sat out in the sun rattling with 

joy; the little tearing river grew clear from the swollen mud; and shrank to 

a   succession   of   standing   pools;   and   the   fat;   squatting   cactus   bloomed 

everywhere   into   butter…colored   flowers   big   as   tulips   in   the   sand。   There 

were artesian wells in Mesa; and the water did not taste very good; but if 

you drank from the standing pools where the river had been; you repaired 

to the drug…store almost immediately。 A troop of wandering players came 

dotting along the railroad; and; reaching Mesa; played a brass…band up and 

down the street; and announced the powerful drama of 〃East Lynne。〃 Then 

Mr。   McLean       thought    of   the   Lynn  marshes   that   lie  between   there     and 

Chelsea;   and   of   the   sea   that   must   look   so   cool。   He   forgot   them   while 

following the painful fortunes of the Lady Isabel; but; going to bed in the 

back part of the drug…store; he remembered how he used to beat everybody 

swimming in the salt water。 



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                                          LIN McLEAN 



     〃I'm    goin';〃   he  said。   Then    he   got  up;   and;   striking   the   light;  he 

inspected his bank account。 〃I'm sure goin';〃 he repeated; blowing the light 

out;   〃and   I   can   buy   the   fatted   calf   myself;   you   bet!〃   for   he   had   often 

thought   of   the   bishop's   story。   〃You   bet!〃   he   remarked   once   more   in   a 

muffled voice; and was asleep in a minute。 The apothecary was sorry to 

have him go; and Honey was deeply grieved。 

     〃I'd pull out with yer;〃 he said;  〃only I can do business round Yuma 

and westward with the pinto。〃 

     For three farewell days Lin and Honey roved together in all sorts of 

places;   where   they  were   welcome;   and   once   more   Lin   rode   a   horse   and 

was in his native element。 Then   he travelled to Deming; and so through 

Denver to Omaha; where he was told that his trunk had been sold for some 

months。 Besides a suit of clothes for town wear; it had contained a buffalo 

coat for his brothersomething scarce to see in these days。 

     〃Frank'll have   to   get   along   without   it;〃   he   observed;   philosophically; 

and took the next eastbound train。 

     If you journey in a Pullman from Mesa to Omaha without a waistcoat; 

and with a silk handkerchief knotted over the collar of your flannel shirt 

instead of a tie; wearing; besides; tall; high…heeled boots; a soft; gray hat 

with a splendid brim; a few people will notice you; but not the majority。 

New   Mexico   and   Colorado   are   used   to   these   things。   As   Iowa;   with   its 

immense rolling grain; encompasses   you;  people will   stare a   little   more; 

for you're getting near the East; where cow…punchers are not understood。 

But in those days the line of cleavage came sharp…drawn at Chicago。 West 

of there was still tolerably west; but east of there was east indeed; and the 

Atlantic Ocean was the next important stopping…place。 In Lin's new train; 

good      gloves;    patent…leathers;     and    silence    prevailed     throughout      the 

sleeping…car;      which    was    for   Boston    without     change。    Had    not   home 

memories       begun    impetuously      to  flood    his  mind;    he   would    have    felt 

himself   conspicuous。  Town   clothes   and   conventions   had   their   due   value 

with him。 But just now the boy's single… hearted thoughts were far from 

any     surroundings;      and   he   was    murmuring       to  himself;     〃To…morrow! 

tomorrow night!〃 

     There were ladies in that blue plush car for Boston who looked at Lin 



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                                          LIN McLEAN 



for thirty miles at a stretch; and by the time Albany was reached the next 

day one or two of them commented that he was the most attractive…looking 

man   they   had   ever   seen!   Whereas;   beyond   his   tallness;   and   wide…open; 

jocular   eyes;   eyes   that   seemed   those   of   a   not   highly   conscientious   wild 

animal; there was nothing remarkable about young Lin except stage effect。 

The conductor had been annoyed to have such a passenger; but the cow… 

puncher troubled no one; and was extremely silent。 So evidently was he a 

piece of the true frontier that curious and hopeful fellow…passengers; after 

watching him with diversion; more than once took a seat next to him。 He 

met their chatty inquiries with monosyllables so few and so unprofitable in 

their quiet politeness that the passengers soon gave him up。 At Springfield 

he sent a telegram to his brother at the great dry…goods establishment that 

employed him。 

     The    train   began    its  homestretch     after  Worcester;     and   whirled    and 

swung by hills and ponds he began to watch for; and through stations with 

old wayside names。 These flashed on Lin's eye as he sat with his hat off 

and his forehead against the window; looking: Wellesley。 Then; not long 

after;   Riverside。   That   was   the   Charles   River;   and   did   the   picnic   woods 

used to be above the bridge or below? West Newton; Newtonville; Newton。 

〃Faneuil's   next;〃   he   said   aloud   in   the   car;   as   the   long…forgotten   home… 

knowledge shone forth in his recollection。 The traveller seated near said; 

〃Beg pardon?〃 but; turning; wondered at the all…unconscious Lin; with his 

forehead pressed against the glass。 The blue water flashed into sight; and 

soon after they were running in the darkness between high walls; but the 

cow…puncher never moved; though nothing could be seen。 When the porter 

announced       〃Boston;〃     he  started   up   and   followed     like  a  sheep    in  the 

general   exodus。   Down   on   the   platform   he   moved   along   with   the   slow 

crowd till some one touched him; and; wheeling round; he seized both his 

brother's hands and swore a good oath of joy。 

     There   they   stoodthe   long;   brown   fellow   with   the   silk   handkerchief 

knotted over   his   flannel shirt;   greeting   tremendously  the   spruce   civilian; 

who had a rope…colored mustache and bore a fainthearted resemblance to 

him。   The   story   was   plain   on   its   face   to   the   passers…by;   and   one   of   the 

ladies who had come in the car with Lin turned twice; and smiled gently to 



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                                          LIN McLEAN 



herself。 

     But Frank McLean's heart did not warm。 He felt that what he had been 

afraid of was true; and he saw he was being made conspicuous。 He saw 

men and women stare in the station; and he saw them staring as he and his 

Western brother went through the streets。 Lin strode along; sniffing the air 

of   Boston;   looking   at   all   things;   and   making   it   a   stretch   for   his   sleek 

companion to keep step with him。 Frank thought of the refined friends he 

should have to introduce his brother to; for he had risen with his salary; 

and now belonged to a small club where the paying…tellers of banks played 

cards every night; and the head clerk at the Parker House was president。 

Perhaps   he   should   not   have   to   reveal   the   cow…puncher   to   these   shining 

ones。   Perhaps   the   cow…puncher   would   not   stay   very   long。   Of   course   he 

was glad to see him again; and he would take him to dine at some obscure 

place this first evening。 But this was not Lin's plan。 Frank must dine with 

him; at the Parker House。 Frank demurred; saying it was he that should be 

host。 

     〃And;〃 he added; 〃they charge up high for wines at Parker's。〃 Then for 

the twentieth time he shifted a sidelong eye over his brother's clothes。 

     〃You're goin' to take your grub with me;〃 said Lin。 〃That's all right; I 

guess。 And there ain't any 'no' about it。 Things is not the same like as if 

father   was   livin'(his   voice   softened)and   here   to   see   me   come   home。 

Now I'm good for several dinners with wines charged up high; I expect; 

nor   it   ain't   nobody   in   this   world;   barrin'   just   Lin   McLean;   that   I've   any 

need to ask for anything。 'Mr。 McLean;' says I to Lin; 'can yu' spare me 

some cash?' 'Why; to be sure; you bet!' And we'll start off with steamed 

Duxbury   clams。〃   The   cow…puncher   slapped   his   pocket;   where   the   coin 

made a muf

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