THE FIGURE [_a thin echo_]. You could make me believe by the falling of your arm That the sun rose up in the west.-- [_Lon picks up the soiled pack of cards from the table and begins to shuffle them mechanically, nor does he once turn toward the apparition._] LON [_in a hoarse whisper_]. And what'r _you_ doin' here? [_The Figure sits down nonchalantly in a chair a little to one side of Lon's. He is dressed in the western style, that is, without style, corduroys, heavy boots, flannel shirt. In fact, he looks almost natural. But there is a curious dark mark in the center of his forehead--or is it a round, dark hole?_] LON [_petulantly_]. Cain't you stay where you was put--with a heap o' rocks on top o' ye? THE FIGURE [_thinly ironical_]. Can't seem to give up the old habits, y' know. LON [_thickly, tossing the pack down_]. What's the hell's a corpse got to do with habits? GHOST [_unmoved_]. You pore fool, you'll _learn_ when you come over. LON [_huskily_]. Come over--wh'ar? GHOST [_significantly_]. Where I am. [_Sings in a quavering voice._] There's many a girl can go all round about And hear the small birds sing-- LON [_snarling_]. Dry up on them corpse tunes o' yourn, Harvey Mace. GHOST [_leering_]. Oh, you recognize me, eh? You recognize your old friend and pardner, do you, Lon Purdy? LON [_sullenly_]. I _knowed_ you'd come. GHOST [_triumphantly_]. And you believe in me, eh? Well, that's good, too. LON [_stubbornly_]. Believe? Well! I knowed I'd be seein' things soon, what with the booze. I knowed it'd be the snakes or you. Padie told me I'd be seein' things. GHOST [_maliciously_]. So you believe in _her_, anyway. Well, how's Padie--and the children? LON. You know damn well we ain't had none. GHOST. What, no children! How unfortunate! The house of love not to be graced with fruit ... sterile, sterile. LON [_belligerently_]. Er you referrin' to me? GHOST. To your spiritual union only, my friend. Physically, I know, nothing was wanting for a perfect match,--female form divine to mate with big blond beast. A race of superpeople! LON. What the hell 'r' you gabbin'? You allus had a lot of talky-talk. That's what made a hit with Padie, before, before-- GHOST. Before the Other Man came along and cut us both out. [_Sings._] And many a girl that stays at home alone And rocks the cradle and spins. GHOST [_reflectively_]. Yes, I'm afraid we both stood up pretty poorly alongside him. I had the words, the brain, the idea. I could charm her, tantalize her, quicken her mind, arouse her imagination. That's why I cut you out with her. LON [_sneeringly_]. Gab! GHOST. Yes, gab. It was one better to her than mere brute--guts! You personified strength. You didn't have nerves enough to be afraid of anything. You had endurance, cheek, deviltry, and a kind of raw good nature. These took with the gay, immature girl she was, until I came. You had--Guts; I had--Gab. LON. And the Other Feller?