CHAPTER XVIII

eful,Valancy.” Valancywasnotsosure.Barneymusthavedonesomething—sometime.Hewasamanofeducationandintelligence.Shehadsoondiscoveredthat,inlisteningtohisconversationsandwrangleswithRoaringAbel—whowassurprisinglywellreadandcoulddiscussanysubjectunderthesunwhensober.Suchamanwouldn’tburyhimselfforfiveyearsinMuskokaandliveandlooklikeatrampiftherewerenottoogood—orbad—areasonforit.Butitdidn’tmatter.AllthatmatteredwasthatshewassurenowthathehadneverbeenCissyGay’slover.Therewasnothinglikethatbetweenthem.ThoughhewasveryfondofCissyandsheofhim,asanyonecouldsee.Butitwasafondnessthatdidn’tworryValancy. “Youdon’tknowwhatBarneyhasbeentome,thesepasttwoyears,”Cissyhadsaidsimply.“Everythingwouldhavebeenunbearablewithouthim.” “CissyGayisthesweetestgirlIeverknew—andthere’samansomewhereI’dliketoshootifIcouldfindhim,”Barneyhadsaidsavagely. Barneywasaninterestingtalker,withaknackoftellingagreatdealabouthisadventuresandnothingatallabouthimself.TherewasonegloriousrainydaywhenBarneyandAbelswappedyarnsalltheafternoonwhileValancymendedtableclothsandlistened.Barneytoldweirdtalesofhisadventureswith“shacks”ontrainswhilehoboingitacrossthecontinent.Valancythoughtsheoughttothinkhisstealingridesquitedreadful,butdidn’t.ThestoryofhisworkinghiswaytoEnglandonacattle-shipsoundedmorelegitimate.AndhisyarnsoftheYukonenthralledher—especiallytheoneofthenighthewaslostonthedividebetweenGoldRunandSulphurValley.Hehadspenttwoyearsoutthere.Whereinallthiswasthereroomforthepenitentiaryandtheotherthings? Ifheweretellingthetruth.ButValancyknewhewas. “Foundnogold,”hesaid.“CameawaypoorerthanwhenIwent.Butsuchaplacetolive!Thosesilencesatthebackofthenorthwindgotme.I’veneverbelongedtomyselfsince.” Yethewasnotagreattalker.Hetoldagreatdeal