No, sir; you mustn't judge all by vagabonds like Joe Morgan."

There was a testy spirit manifested that I did not care to
provoke. I could have met his assertion with facts and inferences
of a character to startle any one occupying his position, who was
in a calm, reflective state; but to argue with him then would have
been worse than idle; and so I let him talk on until the
excitement occasioned by my words died out for want of new fuel.





NIGHT THE THIRD

JOE MORGAN'S CHILD.


I don't see anything of your very particular friend, Joe Morgan,
this evening," said Harvey Green, leaning on the bar and speaking
to Slade. It was the night succeeding that on which the painful
and exciting scene with the child had occurred.

"No," was answered--and to the word was added a profane
imprecation. "No; and if he'll just keep away from here, he may go
to--on a hard-trotting horse and a porcupine saddle as fast as he
pleases. He's tried my patience beyond endurance, and my mind is
made up that he gets no more drams at this bar. I've borne his
vile tongue and seen my company annoyed by him just as long as I
mean to stand it. Last night decided me. Suppose I'd killed that