"I do, John. I know that when Jeff-Jack left here he left his proxy--at your solicitation--with John Wesley Garnet!" "Which, he gave me to understand, was just what he intended to do, anyhow." "O, gave you to understand, of course! But it wasn't, John. Jeff-Jack's still got too many uses for Garnet, to cross him without a good excuse. But he knows what Gamble's influence is, and a different request from you would have put his proxy in safer hands. He would have saved you, John, if you hadn't yourself rushed in and spoken for Garnet." "And why should you assume that Garnet's holding the proxy has made----" "Oh, bah! Why, John, d'ye reckon I don't see that he and Bulger have gone over to Gamble, and are out-voting you--hauling you in hand over fist? It's written in large letters and hung up where all Susie can read it--except yourself!" "Where?" "In your face. And now you're staying here to stare at a lost game. O, John, for your own sake, get away! Clear out to-night! You can at least hide your helplessness. If you will, I'll call you back as soon as you can gain anything by coming. Yes, and I'll turn in and fight these fellows for you in the meantime!" "Thank you, General, but you're mistaken; the game _isn't_ lost. The moment Jeff-Jack and I----" "Ah! John, the moment's gone! Ask yourself! Will Jeff-Jack ever join the forlorn hope of a man who won't dance to his fiddle? _His_ self-sacrifices are not that sort." "And yet that's the very sacrifice you think I ought to let you make for me!" "By Joe! sir, it wouldn't be a sacrifice! If it will just get you out of town it will suit me perfectly!" "Then, sir, you'll not be suited! I'm going to stay here and see what my enemies are up to; and if they're up to what I think they are, I'll break their backs if I have to do it single-handed and alone! Good-day, sir." "Good-day, John; that's the way you'll have to do it, sir." "Devil take him," added the General as he found himself alone, "_he's_ crossed the bar. It's his heart that's safe. O, Fan, my poor child!" LXVII. PROBLEM: IS AN UNCONFIRMED DISTRUST NECESSARILY A DEAD ASSET? John went away heavy and bitter. Yet he remembered, this time, to take more care of his facial expression. He met Shotwell and Proudfit coming out of the best saloon. They stopped him, complimented his clothes and his legs, asked a question or two of genuine interest, poked him in the waistband, and regretted not meeting him sooner. Proudfit suggested, with the proper anathema, to go back and take a _re_-invigorator with Vice-President March. But the pleasant Shotwell said: "You forget, Colonel, that ow a-able young friend belongs to Gideon's ba-and, now, seh." Proudfit made a vague gesture of acknowledgment. "And anyhow"--his tongue thickened and his head waggled playfully--"anyhow, Shot, a ladies' man's just _got_ to keep his breath sweet, ain't he?"