He parted from her with a sense of having been unnecessarily harsh with a woman who wished to be his good friend.
He was hungry and that made him think of his horse which he returned to at once. After watering and feeding his tired beast he turned in at a coffeehouse and bought a lunch—not being able to afford a meal. Everywhere he went men pointed a timid or admiring thumb at him. They were unobtrusive about it, but it annoyed him at the moment. His mind was too entirely filled with perplexities to welcome strangers' greetings. "I must earn some money," was the thought which brought with it each time the offer of the Express Company. He determined each time to take it although it involved riding the same trail over and over again, which made him shudder to think of. But it was three times the pay of a cowboy and a single month of it would enable him to make his trip to the East.
After his luncheon he turned in at the office and sullenly accepted the job. "You're just the man we need," said the manager. "We've had two or three hold-ups here, but with you on the seat I shall feel entirely at ease. Marshal Haney has recommended you—and I know your record as a daring man. Can you go out to-morrow morning?"
"Quicker the better."
"I'd like to have you sleep here in the office. I'll see that you have a good bed."
"Anywhere."
After Mose went out the manager winked at the marshal and said:
"It's a good thing to have him retained on our side. He'd make a bad man on the hold-up side."
"Sure thing!" replied Haney.