He was looking at a serape-draped horseman, the one the widow had seen on the previous night, who was now cantering slowly up the street. Seeing the group on the veranda, he rode up, threw himself lightly from his saddle, and joined them. He was an alert, determined, good-looking fellow of about thirty-five, whose smooth, smiling face hardly commended itself to Santa Ana, though his eyes were distinctly sympathetic. He glanced at the depressed group around him and became ominously serious.
When did it happen? he asked gravely.
What happen? said the nearest bystander.
The Funeral, Flood, Fight, or Fire. Which of the four Fs was it?
What are ye talkin about? said the proprietor stiffly, scenting some dangerous humor.
YOU, said Brooks promptly. Youre all standing here, croaking like crows, this fine morning. I passed YOUR farm, Johnson, not an hour ago; the wheat just climbing out of the black adobe mud as thick as rows of pins on paperwhat have YOU to grumble at? I saw YOUR stock, Briggs, over on Two-Mile Bottom, waddling along, fat as the adobe they were sticking in, their coats shining like fresh paintwhats the matter with YOU? And, turning to the proprietor, theres YOUR shed, Saunders, over on the creek, just bursting with last years grain that you know has gone up two hundred per cent. since you bought it at a bargainwhat are YOU growling at? Its enough to provoke a fire or a famine to hear you groaningand take care it dont, some day, as a lesson to you.
All this was so perfectly true of the prosperous burghers that they could not for a moment reply. But Briggs had recourse to what he believed to be a retaliatory taunt.
I heard youve been askin Widow Wade to come to your dance, he said, with a wink at the others. Of course she said Yes.
Of course she did, returned Brooks coolly. Ive just got her note.
What? ejaculated the three men together. Mrs. Wade comin?
Certainly! Why shouldnt she? And it would do YOU good to come too, and shake the limp dampness out o you, returned Brooks, as he quietly remounted his horse and cantered away.
Darned ef I dont think hes got his eye on the widder, said Johnson faintly.