You're a man. The girl loves you. An' I love her. My God,
man! More than all the world, I love the woman who is to be your
wife--an' I have no right to! I tell you I'm half-savage! Take her,
an' go! Go fast, an' go a long time! I never want to hear of you
again. But--I can still say--good luck!" he extended his hand and
Endicott seized it.
"I shall be sorry to think that we are never to meet again," he said
simply.
The shadow of a smile flickered on the Texan's lips: "After a while,
maybe--but not soon. I've got to lick a savage, first--and they die
hard."
Endicott turned to go, when the other called to him: "Oh, Win!" He
turned. "Is she here--anywhere around? I must tell her good-bye."
"Yes, she is down the creek a way. I'll send her to you."
The Texan advanced to meet her, Stetson in hand: "Good-bye," he said,
"an' good luck. I can't give you no regular weddin' present--there's
nothin' in the town that's fit. But, I'll give you this--I'll give you
your man clean-handed. He ain't wanted. There's no one wants him--but
you. He didn't kill Purdy that night. It's too bad he didn't--but he
didn't. We all thought he did, but he only creased him. He came to,
after we'd pulled out. I heard it from the puncher I had the fight
with in the coulee--an' it's straight goods.
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