the　Gorees　sprawled　in　his　disreputable　office；　at　the　end
  of　his　row；　spurned　by　the　cronies　whom　he　had　gorged；
  strangers　dwelt　in　the　halls　of　his　fathers。
  A　cloud　of　dust　was　rolling；　slowly　up　the　parched
  street；　with　something　travelling　in　the　midst　of　it。　　A
  little　breeze　wafted　the　cloud　to　one　side；　and　a　new；
  brightly　painted　carryall；　drawn　by　a　slothful　gray　horse；
  became　visible。　　The　vehicle　deflected　from　the　middle
  of　the　street　as　it　neared　Goree's　office；　and　stopped　in　the
  gutter　directly　in　front　of　his　door。
  On　the　front　seat　sat　a　gaunt；　tall　man；　dressed　in
  black　broadcloth；　his　rigid　hands　incarcerated　in　yellow
  kid　gloves。　　On　the　back　seat　was　a　lady　who　triumphed
  over　the　June　heat。　　Her　stout　form　was　armoured　in　a
  skintight　silk　dress　of　the　description　known　as　〃change…
  able；〃　being　a　gorgeous　combination　of　shifting　hues。
  She　sat　erect；　waving　a　much…omamented　fan；　with　her
  eyes　fixed　stonily　far　down　the　street。　　However　Martella
  Garvey's　heart　might　be　rejoicing　at　the　pleasures　of　her
  new　life；　Blackjack　had　done　his　work　with　her　exterior。
  He　had　carved　her　countenance　to　the　image　of　emptiness
  and　inanity；　had　imbued　her　with　the　stolidity　of　his
  crags；　and　the　reserve　of　his　hushed　interiors。　　She　always
  seemed　to　hear；　whatever　her　surroundings　were；　the
  scaly…barks　falling　and　pattering　down　the　mountain…
  side。　　She　could　always　hear　the　awful　silence　of　Black…
  jack　sounding　through　the　stillest　of　nights。
  Goree　watched　this　solemn　equipage；　as　it　drove　to
  his　door；　with　only　faint　interest；　but　when　the　lank
  driver　wrapped　the　reins　about　his　whip；　awkwardly
  descended；　and　stepped　into　the　office；　he　rose　unsteadily
  to　receive　him；　recognizing　Pike　Garvey；　the　new；　the
  transformed；　the　recently　civilized。
  The　mountaineer　took　the　chair　Goree　offered　him。
  They　who　cast　doubts　upon　Garvey's　soundness　of　mind
  had　a　strong　witness　in　the　man's　countenance。　　His　face
  was　too　long；　a　dull　saffron　in　hue；　and　immobile　as　a
  statue's。　　Pale…blue；　unwinking　round　eyes　without
  lashes　added　to　the　singularity　of　his　gruesome　visage。
  Goree　was　at　a　loss　to　account　for　the　visit。
  〃Everything　all　right　at　Laurel；　Mr。　Garvey？〃　　he
  inquired。
  〃Everything　all　right；　sir；　and　mighty　pleased　is　Missis
  Garvey　and　me　with　the　property。　　Missis　Garvey　likes
  yo'　old　place；　and　she　likes　the　neighbourhood。　　Society
  is　what　she　'lows　she　wants；　and　she　is　gettin'　of　it。　　The
  Rogerses；　the　Hapgoods；　the　Pratts　and　the　Troys　hev
  been　to　see　Missis　Garvey；　and　she　hev　et　meals　to　most
  of　thar　houses。　　The　best　folks　hev　axed　her　to　differ'nt
  kinds　of　doin's。　　I　cyan't　say；　Mr。　Goree；　that　sech
  things　suits　me　　fur　me；　give　me　them　thar。〃　　Garvey's
  huge；　yellow…gloved　hand　flourished　in　the　direction　of
  the　mountains。　　〃That's　whar　I　b'long；　'mongst　the
  wild　honey　bees　and　the　b'ars。　　But　that　ain't　what　I
  come　fur　to　say；　Mr。　Goree。　　Thar's　somethin'　you　got
  what　me　and　Missis　Garvey　wants　to　buy。〃
  〃Buy！〃　　echoed　Goree。　　〃From　me？〃　　Then　he
  laughed　harshly。　　〃I　reckon　you　are　mistaken　about
  that。　　I　reckon　you　are　mistaken　about　that。　　I　sold　out
  to　you；　as　you　yourself　expressed　it；　'lock；　stock　and
  barrel。'　There　isn't　even　a　ramrod　left　to　sell。〃
  〃You've　got　it；　and　we　'uns　want　it。　　'Take　the
  money；'　says　Missis　Garvey；　'and　buy　it　fa'r　and
  squared'。'〃
  Goree　shook　his　head。　　〃The　cupboard's　bare；〃　he
  said。
  〃We've　riz；〃　pursued　the　mountaineer；　undetected
  from　his　object；　〃a　heap。　　We　was　pore　as　possums；
  and　now　we　could　hev　folks　to　dinner　every　day。　　We
  been　recognized；　Missis　Garvey　says；　by　the　best　society。
  But　there's　somethin'　we　need　we　ain't　got。　　She　says
  it　ought　to　been　put　in　the　'ventory　ov　the　sale；　but　it
  tain't　thar。　　'Take　the　money；　then；'　says　she；　'and　buy
  it　fa'r　and　squar'。〃'
  〃Out　with　it；〃　said　Goree；　his　racked　nerves　growing
  impatient。
  Garvey　threw　his　slouch　bat　upon　the　table；　and　leaned
  forward；　fixing　his　unblinking　eves　upon　Goree's。
  〃There's　a　old　feud；〃　he　said　distinctly　and　slowly；
  〃'tween　you　'uns　and　the　Coltranes。〃
  Goree　frowned　ominously。　　To　speak　of　his　feud　to
  a　feudist　is　a　serious　breach　of　the　mountain　etiquette。
  The　man　from　〃back　yan'〃　knew　it　as　well　as　the　lawyer
  did。
  〃Na　offense；〃　he　went　on　〃but　purely　in　the　way　of
  business。　　Missis　Garvey　hev　studied　all　about　feuds。
  Most　of　the　quality　folks　in　the　mountains　hev　'em。　　The
  Settles　and　the　Goforths；　the　Rankins　and　the　Boyds；　the
  Silers　and　the　Galloways；　hev　all　been　cyarin'　on　feuds
  f'om　twenty　to　a　hundred　year。　　The　last　man　to　drap
  was　when　yo'　uncle；　Jedge　Paisley　Goree；　'journed　co't
  and　shot　Len　Coltrane　f'om　the　bench。　　Missis　Garvey
  and　me；　we　come　f'om　the　po'　white　trash。　　Nobody
  wouldn't　pick　a　feud　with　we　'uns；　no　mo'n　with　a　fam'ly
  of　tree…toads。　　Quality　people　everywhar；　says　Missis
  Garvey；　has　feuds。　　We　'uns　ain't　quality；　but　we're
  uyin'　into　it　as　fur　as　we　can。　　'Take　the　money；　then；'
  says　Missis　Garvey；　'and　buy　Mr。　Goree's　feud；　fa'r
  and　squar'。'〃
  The　squirrel　hunter　straightened　a　leg　half　across　the
  room；　drew　a　roll　of　bills　from　his　pocket；　and　threw　them
  on　the　table。
  〃Thar's　two　hundred　dollars；　Mr。　Goree；　what　you
  would　call　a　fa'r　price　for　a　feud　that's　been　'lowed　to
  run　down　like　yourn　hev。　　Thar's　only　you　left　to　cyar'
  on　yo'　side　of　it；　and　you'd　make　mighty　po'　killin'。　　I'll
  take　it　off　yo'　hands；　and　it'll　set　me　and　Missis　Garvey
  up　among　the　quality。　　Thar's　the　money。〃
  The　little　roll　of　currency　on　the　table　slowly　untwisted
  itself；　writhing　and　jumping　as　its　folds　relaxed。　　In　the
  silence　that　followed　Garvey's　last　speech　the　rattling　of
  the　poker　chips　in　the　court…house　could　be　plainly　heard。
  Goree　knew　that　the　sheriff　had　just　won　a　pot；　for　the
  subdued　whoop　with　which　he　always　greeted　a　victory
  floated　across　the　sqquare　upon　the　crinkly　heat　waves。
  Beads　of　moisture　stood　on　Goree's　brow。　　Stooping；　he
  drew　the　wicker…covered　demijohn　from　under　the　table；
  and　filled　a　tumbler　from　it。
  〃A　little　corn　liquor；　Mr。　Garvey？　　Of　course　you
  are　joking　about　what　you　spoke　of？　　Opens　quite　a
  new　market；　doesn't　it？　　Feuds。　　Prime；　two…fifty　to
  three。　　Feuds；　slightly　damaged　　two　hundred；　I
  believe　you　said；　Mr。　Garvey？〃
  Goree　laughed　self…consciously。
  The　mountaineer　took　the　glass　Goree　handed　him；
  and　drank　the　whisky　without　a　tremor　of　the　lids　of
  his　staring　eyes。　　The　lawyer　applauded　the　feat　by　a
  look　of　envious　admiration。　　He　poured　his　own　drink；
  and　took　it　like　a　drunkard；　by　gulps；　and　with　shudders
  at　the　smell　and　taste。
  〃Two　hundred；〃　repeated　Garvey。　　〃Thar's　the　money。〃
  A　sudden　passion　flared　up　in　Goree's　brain。　　He
  struck　the　table　with　his　fist。　　One　of　the　bills　flipped
  over　and　touched　his　hand。　　He　flinched　as　if　something
  had　stung　him。
  〃Do　you　come　to　me；〃　he　shouted；　〃seriously　with　such
  a　ridiculous；　insulting；　darned…fool　proposition？〃
  〃It's　fa'r　and　squar'；〃　said　the　squirrel　hunter；　but　he
  reached　out　his　hand　as　if　to　take　back　the　money；　and
  then　Goree　knew　that　his　own　flurry　of　rage　had　not　been
  from　pride　or　resentment；　but　from　anger　at　himself；
  knowing　that　he　would　set　foot　in　the　deeper　depths　that
  were　being　opened　to　him。　　He　turned　in　an　instant　from
  an　outraged　gentleman　to　an　anxious　chafferer　recom…
  mending　his　goods。
  〃Don't　be　in　a　hurry；　Garvey；〃　he　said；　his　face　crimson
  and　his　speech　thick。　　〃I　accept　your　p…p…proposition；
  though　it's　dirt　cheap　at　two　hundred。　　A　t…trade's　all
  right　when　both　p…purchaser　and　b…buyer　are　s…satisfied。
  Shall　I　w…wrap　it　up　for　you；　Mr。　Garvey？〃
  Garvey　rose；　and　shook　out　his　broadcloth。　　〃Missis
  Garvev　will　be　pleased。　　You　air　out　of　it；　and　it　stands
  Coltrane　and　Garvey。　　Just　a　scrap　ov　writin'；　Mr。
  Goree；　you　bein'　a　lawyer；　to　show　we　traded。〃
  Goree　seized　a　sheet　of　paper　and　a　pen。　　The　money
  was　clutched　in　his　moist　hand。　　Everything　else　sud…
  denly　seemed　to　grow　trivial　and　light。
  〃Bill　of　sale；　by　all　means。　　'Right；　title；　and　interest
  in　and　to'　。　。　。　'forever　warrant　and　　'　No；
  Garvey；　we'll　have　to　leave　out　that　'defend；'〃　said
  Goree　with　a　loud　laugh。　　〃You'll　have　to　defend　this
  title　yourself。〃
  The　mountaineer　received　the　amazing　screed　that　the
  lawyer　handed　him；　folded　it　with　immense　labour；　and
  laced　it　carefully　in　his　pocket。
  Goree　was　standing　near　the　window。　　〃Step　here；
  said；　raising　his　finger；　〃and　I'll　show　you　your　recently
  purchased　enemy。　　There　he　goes；　down　the　other　side
  of　the　street。〃
  The　mountaineer　crooked　his　long　frame　to　look
  through　the　window　in　the　direction　indicated　by　the　other。
  Colonel　Abner　Coltrane；　an　erect；　portly　gentleman　of
  about　fifty；　wearing　the　inevitable　long；　double…breasted
  frock　coat