"Then at last the night that loved me, Turned its pent-up furies loose, Roaring out on me its anger And unpitying abuse. How the rain beat down upon me! How the lightning burned its track Through the clouds of storm and thunder As I reached your sod-walled shack! All was dark within, and quiet, When I rapped upon the door. Then I saw the flash of matches And the lamplight on the floor; Heard you stomp your heavy boots on, Heard you walk and draw the bar, But the door, when thrown wide open, Showed Jim Johnson standing thar. 6 "'What you doing here?' I shouted, When I saw his hateful leer; 'Tell me what this means, Jim Johnson. Where is Billy? Ain't he here?' He was standing on the doorstep, And the light that shone within Seemed to twist his wrinkled features In a sort of wonder-grin. 'Well! well! Nancy! sure's I'm livin'! Out there in the pouring wet! Sure I'll care for you, Miss Nancy, I'll protect you, don't you fret! I'm a friend that you can count on, Does me good to see your face! Come in, gal, and dry your garments, You have struck the very place!' 7 "You don't blame me, do you, Billy, If I did go in and stay, Warming by your stove and fire, Just to hear what he would say? I will try to tell his story As he told it, if I can, Putting in what I remember Of his 'interesting plan.' 'Now, then, gal, I heard you calling As you stood there in the dark, On a fellow, named Bill Truly, But you shot 'way off the mark. Billy ain't here now, and further, He won't be here, you can bet; Anyhow, that's what he told me Two weeks past, when we last met. 8 "'When your folks all skipped the country I decided I'd move, too; Thought perhaps you'd get in trouble And I'd try to help you through; So I got beyond the posse, Rode like fire upon your track, Found your dad, and _you_ not with him, So I turned and came right back. Riding home along the Solomon,-- For the truth I pledge my word-- I met Billy with his horses Three miles east of Mingo's Ford. Stopped and shook my hand and told me He was so far on his way To a ranch 'way up in Utah, Where he'd made his plans to stay. 9 "'Said he wanted to be friendly, So the things that he had left, If I cherished no hard feelings, I could look on as his gift. "If you come across Miss Nancy You can say to her for me, That I've got another sweetheart, And that she is wholly free." Billy'd never do to tie to-- He's too fickle, gal, for you-- So I just propose to offer You a man that will stay true. I have worked it out, Miss Nancy-- It's the problem of my life; I have planned that you shall stay here As my own dear little wife.' 10