“Then I don't see why he wouldn't take me along,” Billy complained. And Separ laughed.
But the lover was not back to-morrow. He was capable of anything, gossip remarked, and took up new themes. The sun rose and set, the two trains made their daily slight event and gathering; the water-tank, glaring bulkily in the sun beaconed unmolested; and the agent's natural sleep was unbroken by pistols, for the cow-boys did not happen to be in town. Separ lay a clot of torpor that I was glad to leave behind me for a while. But news is a strange, permeating substance, and it began to be sifted through the air that Tubercle was going to God's country.
That is how they phrased it in cow-camp, meaning not the next world, but the Eastern States.
“It's certainly a shame him leaving after we've got him so good and used to us,” said the Virginian.
“We can't tell him good-bye,” said Honey Wiggin. “Separ'll be slow.”
“We can give his successor a right hearty welcome,” the Virginian suggested.
“That's you!” said Honey. “Schemin' mischief away ahead. You're the leadin' devil in this country, and just because yu' wear a faithful-looking face you're tryin' to fool a poor school-marm.”
“Yes,” drawled the Southerner, “that's what I'm aiming to do.”
So now they were curious about the successor, planning their hearty welcome for that official, and were encouraged in this by Mr. McLean. He reappeared in the neighborhood with a manner and conversation highly casual.
“Bring your new wife?” they inquired.