human
You get up very sudden storms in your quiet town, Miss Delarue, he said.
gpt
An hour ago Las Plumas was as sleepy and decorous--and dead--as the graveyard on the hill over yonder. But a man rides up and says ten words and, br-r-r, the whole population is agog and ready to spring at one another's throats.
human
Yes, she assented,
gpt
Why, they are saying that Emerson Mead has killed Will Whittaker!
human
What!
gpt
It may not be true.
human
Oh, I don't believe it can be true!
gpt
Nobody seems to know, certainly, that Will is dead. He and Mead had a quarrel a week ago and Mead threatened to kill him. Will left the ranch that day to come to town, and he hasn't been seen since. Of course, he may have changed his mind and gone off to some other part of the range.
human
Of course, she assented eagerly.
gpt
At this time of year he is very likely to have been needed somewhere else on the range. I don't believe he has--he is dead.
human
There is much feeling about it on the street. And it seems to be quite as much a matter of politics as a personal quarrel.
gpt
Oh, everything is politics here, Mr. Wellesly! said the girl.
human
If the people all over the United States take as much interest in politics as they do here, I don't see how they have found time to build railroads and cities.
gpt
They don't take it the same way, Miss Delarue. Las Plumas politics is a thing apart and of its own kind. Except in party names, it has no connection with the politics of the states. Here it is merely a case of 'follow your leader,' of personal loyalty to some man who has run, or who expects to run, for office. Being so personal, of course, it is more virulent.
human
Do you think there is likely to be any violence this time?
gpt
There is violent talk already. I heard more than one man say that Mead ought to be lynched --he was watching her face as he talked--
human
That's an unusually fine girl. Handsome, too. Or she would be if she didn't wear English shoes and walk like an elephant. She seems to be interested in Emerson Mead, but old Delarue certainly wouldn't permit anything serious. He's too ardently on our side, or thinks he is, the old French windbag, though he's never even been naturalized. I'll see her again while I'm here and find out if there is anything between them. It might have some consequence for us if there is. I wish the Colonel hadn't got the company so mixed up in their political quarrels. But there may be an advantage in it, after all, for I guess it will furnish the easiest way of getting rid of those one-horse outfits. The old man's got the upper hand now, and as long as he keeps it we'll be all right.
gpt
What a nice looking man he is, ran her thoughts.
human
He is interesting to talk with, too. The people here may be just as good as he is, but--well, at least, he isn't tongue-tied.