Blanco.  You do me good.  Feemy.  Stay by me to the end, wont you?  Hold my hand to the last; and I’ll die game. [He puts out his hand:  she strikes savagely at it; but he withdraws it in time and laughs at her discomfiture].

Feemy.  You—­

Elder Daniels.  Never mind him, Feemy:  he’s not right in his head to-day. [She receives the assurance with contemptuous credulity, and sits down on the step of the Sheriff’s dais].

Sheriff Kemp comes in:  a stout man, with large flat ears, and a neck thicker than his head.

Elder Daniels.  Morning, Sheriff.

The Sheriff.  Morning, Elder. [Passing on.] Morning, Strapper. [Passing on].  Morning, Miss Evans. [Stopping between Strapper and Blanco].  Is this the prisoner?

Blanco [rising] Thats so.  Morning, Sheriff.

The Sheriff.  Morning.  You know, I suppose, that if you’ve stole a horse and the jury find against you, you wont have any time to settle your affairs.  Consequently, if you feel guilty, youd better settle em now.

Blanco.  Affairs be damned!  Ive got none.

The Sheriff.  Well, are you in a proper state of mind?  Has the
Elder talked to you?

Blanco.  He has.  And I say it’s against the law.  It’s torture:  thats what it is.

Elder Daniels.  He’s not accountable.  He’s out of his mind,
Sheriff.  He’s not fit to go into the presence of his Maker.

The Sheriff.  You are a merciful man, Elder; but you wont take the boys with you there. [To Blanco].  If it comes to hanging you, youd better for your own sake be hanged in a proper state of mind than in an improper one.  But it wont make any difference to us:  make no mistake about that.

Blanco.  Lord keep me wicked till I die!  Now Ive said my little prayer.  I’m ready.  Not that I’m guilty, mind you; but this is a rotten town, dead certain to do the wrong thing.

The Sheriff.  You wont be asked to live long in it, I guess. [To Strapper] Got the witness all right, Strapper?

Strapper.  Yes, got everything.

Blanco.  Except the horse.

The Sheriff.  Whats that?  Aint you got the horse?

Strapper.  No.  He traded it before we overtook him, I guess.  But
Feemy saw him on it.

Feemy.  She did.

Strapper.  Shall I call in the boys?

Blanco.  Just a moment, Sheriff.  A good appearance is everything in a low-class place like this. [He takes out a pocket comb and mirror, and retires towards the dais to arrange his hair].

Elder Daniels.  Oh, think of your immortal soul, man, not of your foolish face.

Blanco.  I cant change my soul, Elder:  it changes me—­sometimes. 
Feemy:  I’m too pale.  Let me rub my cheek against yours, darling.