"He came into Antelope on a freight. Got side-tracked and had to stay.
He didn't know this used to be your country till I told him."

"Well, that beats me, Jack! Say, Sun was just an uncle to me when we
were on the road. We made it clear around, freights, cattle-boats, and
afoot. I didn't hit the booze then. Funny thing: he used to hit it,
and I kind of weaned him. Now it's me. . ."

"He's straight, all right," said Corliss. "He 'tends right to
business. The boys like him."

"Everybody liked him," asserted Will Corliss. "But he is the queerest
Hobo that ever hit the grit."

"Some queer, at that. It's after nine now, Will. You get to bed. I
want to see Banks a minute. I'll be back soon."

When John Corliss had left the room, something intangible went with
him. Will felt his moral stamina crumbling. He waited until he heard
his brother leave the hotel. Then he went downstairs and returned with
a bottle of whiskey. He drank, hid the bottle, and went to bed. He
knew that without the whiskey he would have been unable to sleep.


The brothers had breakfast together next morning. After breakfast
Corliss went for the team and returned to the hotel, hoping to induce
his brother to come home with him. Will Corliss, however, pleaded
weariness, and said that he would stay at the Palace until he felt
better.