This does not pretend to be an exact reproduction of the sheriff's speech, because he had an honest man's loathing and contempt for this kind of male. But it is the gist of his words. The procurer made the first hundred yards in fifteen seconds flat, so the sheriff speeded his count, lest he get out of range. The satisfaction was accorded him of dusting Jackson's heels as he ran, and Lafe repaired to the Cowboys' Rest in a better frame of mind. "She ain't here," the landlord told him. "She's done gone." The sheriff found her at the Fashion. "You reckon you're a married woman, I take it, ma'am?'" he inquired cheerily. "I married him in El Paso. Yes, I had to. He'd paid my fare. Yes, I do." "Well, you ain't," said Lafe. "He's got one wife already that I know of, that fine gen'l'man, and probably bunches more, besides." She thought this over for a minute. There was no surprise; neither was there any of the joy he had anticipated; and no sign of reaction or tears. CHAPTER XIII AND HETTY COMES TO BADGER TO LIVE "Where is she?" she asked. "Who? This wife? Oh, over beyond. Not so very far from here. You won't never see her," was the careless reply. Again she appeared to ponder what he said. A slight shiver was quickly repressed. At last: "So that's what he is? You reckon--" "Where's your outfit, ma'am?" the sheriff interrupted. "My trunk? It's here. I've taken a room." They were in the parlor of the Fashion, one flight above the street. It was sumptuously furnished, the proprietor taking pride in his establishment--a red plush sofa, a table, three chairs, and a cottage-organ. On the wall was a chromo lithograph of a girl clinging to a wave-swept pillar of stone. This was entitled "Rock of Ages." Thereupon she told him her story. Of course Lafe did not believe half of what she said, although he gave ear gravely to her direct manner of replying to his questions. The girl's self-possession and cool disregard of the extremity to which she was reduced, suggested only one explanation to his mind--ripe experience. He had never encountered these traits among ladies of domestic virtues.