aloud, "I've lost!" and closed the door again.

"What's he lost?" inquired the American drummer.

"Oh, you mustn't mind him," drawled the Virginian. "He's one of
those box-head jokers goes around openin' and shuttin' doors
that-a-way. We call him harmless. Well," he broke off, "I reckon
I'll go smoke. Not allowed in hyeh?" This last he addressed to
the landlady, with especial gentleness. She shook her head, and
her eyes followed him as he went out.

Left to myself I meditated for some time upon my lodging for the
night, and smoked a cigar for consolation as I walked about. It
was not a hotel that we had supped in. Hotel at Medicine Bow
there appeared to be none. But connected with the eating-house
was that place where, according to Steve, the beds were all
taken, and there I went to see for myself. Steve had spoken the
truth. It was a single apartment containing four or five beds,
and nothing else whatever. And when I looked at these beds, my
sorrow that I could sleep in none of them grew less. To be alone
in one offered no temptation, and as for this courtesy of the
country, this doubling up--!

"Well, they have got ahead of us." This was the Virginian
standing at my elbow.

I assented.

"They have staked out their claims," he added.