I suppose he is over at the stable." Joe went out, but soon returned to say that the Texan had just ridden off, after paying his bill; the stable-keeper did not know where.
"Let him go," murmured Bill.

"If he _is_ a man, and not a ghost, I wouldn't raise a hand to hurt him, not for all the gold in the Black Hills.

He was so like--_so_ like the chap I dropped in Abilene!" Bill took another drink, but it seemed as if nothing could lift the gloom which weighed down his heart.

Only once did his face brighten.
That was when Sam Chichester said there was no use hanging on at Laramie any longer for a bigger crowd; they were strong enough now, and would start for the Hills inside of four-and-twenty hours.
"That's the talk for me!" cried Bill.

"I want to get out of here as soon as I can, Joe, and pick me out some sort of a horse.