"Ye-es, I guess a feller'll have to act if he wants to hold Alta. She's young, and the young like change. 'Specially the girls. A man to keep Alta on the line'll have to marry her and set her to raisin' children. You know, Duke, there's something new to a girl in every man she sees. She likes to have him around till she leans ag'in' him and rubs the paint off, then she's out shootin' eyes at another one." "Are there others besides Jedlick?" "That bartender boards there at the _ho_-tel. He's got four gold teeth, and he picks 'em with a quill. Sounds like somebody slappin' the crick with a fishin'-pole. But them teeth give him a standin' in society; they look like money in the bank. Nothing to his business, though, Duke; no sentiment or romance or anything." "Not much. Who else is there sitting in this Alta game?" "Young feller with a neck like a bottle, off of a ranch somewhere back in the hills." Taterleg mentioned him as with consideration. Lambert concluded that he was a rival to be reckoned with, but gave Taterleg his own way of coming to that. "That feller's got a watch with a music box in the back of it, Duke. Ever see one of 'em?" "No, I never did." "Well, he's got one of 'em, all right. He starts that thing up about the time he hits the steps, and comes in playin' 'Sweet Vilelets' like he just couldn't help bustin' out in music the minute he comes in sight of Alta. That feller gives me a pain!" The Duke smiled. To every man his own affair is romance; every other man's a folly or a diverting comedy, indeed. "She's a little too keen on that feller to suit me, Duke. She sets out there with him, and winds that fool watch and plays them two tunes over till you begin to sag, leanin' her elbow on his shoulder like she had him paid for and didn't care whether he broke or not." "What is the other tune?" "It's that one that goes: _A heel an' a toe and a po'ky-o_, _A heel an' a toe and a po'ky-o_ --you know that one." "I've heard it. She'll get tired of that watch after a while, Taterleg." "Maybe. If she don't, I guess I'll have to figger some way to beat it." "What are Jedlick's attractions? Surely not good looks." "Money, Duke; that's the answer to him--money. He's got a salt barrel full of it; the old man favors him for that money." "That's harder to beat than a music box in a watch." "You _can't_ beat it, Duke. What's good looks by the side of money? Or brains? Well, they don't amount to cheese!" "Are you goin' to sidestep in favor of Jedlick? A man with all your experience and good clothes!" "Me? I'm a-goin' to lay that feller out on a board!" They hitched at the hotel rack, that looking more respectable, as Taterleg said, than to leave their horses in front of the saloon. Alta was heard singing in the interior; there were two railroad men belonging to a traveling paint gang on the porch smoking their evening pipes.