GHOST [_dealing_]. And after several hands, you brought up the subject of Padie. And I told you I was out of the race--and that you'd better get out too, because the best man already had her. And then--and then I sensed you were going to draw, and when I had my gun out, it was empty. Clever boy! You had it fixed right. And so you plugged me square. And the moon and stars went out for me and I dropped into the black gulf. [_Lon, throwing his hand down, buries his face in his hands, groaning._] GHOST [_pitilessly_]. You left me with my face to the stars for the coyotes to find. Then, very coolly, you turned the Other Man's horse toward home and sent him off cracking. And you jumped to a piñon log that led off to a ledge of lava where your footprints wouldn't show. And you turned up in half an hour with the boys in town. Then you inquired casually where the Other Man was. You _knew_, you devil! You knew they'd never get an alibi from him for that night, 'cause--Padie was with him. Padie had her dear arms about his neck while you, clever dog! were out fixing to put a rope there. And you done it, too! _Won_ her? Yes, you did--like hell! After the trial was all over, and the dead buried, me and him, you passed a dirty whisper around town about her, and then married her, to save her good name. That's how you won her. [_There is an immense silence, broken only by the heavy breathing of Lon, which comes in rattling gasps._] GHOST [_sings_]. There's many a star shall jangle in the west, There's many a leaf below, There's many a damn that will light upon the man For treating a poor girl so. GHOST. But I ain't forgot all you done for me. Neither has the Other Man, [_with deep solemnity_] and he's come--to settle too-- LON [_staggering up_]. No! I don't believe in you! You're nothin' at all! There ain't no-- [_Lon sways and catches at the table; as he swings around, the figure of Another stands outside the door, a tall figure with something white twisted about its neck. Lon with a cry of horror puts out his arms as if to ward off the apparition and backs slowly toward the left wall._] FIRST GHOST [_coming toward him_]. Murderer! betrayer! We've come to settle! LON [_screaming_]. No! no! no! I don't believe-- [_He falls, and the pile of rubbishy furniture topples over on to him with a crash. The two apparitions vanish. The door to the bar is flung open and Hank leaps in, at the same moment that Padie appears above, whitely clad._] PADIE. Lon! Lon! What's the matter? HANK [_going toward the pile of stuff_]. Go back! It's something terrible. [_He heaves the heavy pieces from the body and drags it out, as Padie, with a long cry, flies down the stairs. He feels the breast quickly and rises before Padie reaches the table._] HANK. I'm afraid he's done for. PADIE [_drawing a deep quivering breath_]. Oh. HANK. He must 'a' fell. PADIE. I knew--drink'd do fer him.