History in Books the world's story, told by its literature

Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Summary

July and Joe reach Fort Worth, where July mails a short, laboured letter to Elmira that he has fussed over for days, down to the spelling of "skeeters." At the post office the clerk digs out a letter waiting for him — not from Elmira but from Peach, reporting that Ellie left on a whiskey boat just after he did, that Roscoe never noticed and has now set out to find him, and that July should forget his wife and go hang Jake Spoon. Joe guesses the news before he is told: his mother never stays in one place. Then he lets slip that she has gone looking for Dee Boot, his father — the man Elmira told July had died of smallpox in Dodge. July turns east without even searching the saloons for Jake. That night he lies awake wishing he could cross the sky on the stars as stepping-stones, dreams that Ellie has come back and touched him, and wakes crying at the loss of it.

Analysis

July abandons his stated errand, and the novel quietly swaps his plot: no longer a manhunt, now a marriage he cannot understand. Joe's offhand mention that Dee Boot is alive detonates the smallpox lie, and the stars-as-stepping-stones passage marks how far July's mind has slipped.

Plates

Camped on the road, July scratches the word "skeeters" in the dirt and asks Joe whether he has spelled it right.
00 Camped on the road, July scratches the word "skeeters" in the dirt and asks Joe whether he has spelled it right.
The eight buffalo they surprised cross the little river, and July forgets his gloom long enough to watch.
01 The eight buffalo they surprised cross the little river, and July forgets his gloom long enough to watch.
Late in the day they ride into Fort Worth, and the number of houses and the wide dusty streets full of wagons amaze Joe.
02 Late in the day they ride into Fort Worth, and the number of houses and the wide dusty streets full of wagons amaze Joe.
A small herd of wild-looking longhorns is driven right down the street by four equally wild-looking cowboys, and Joe watches, hoping to see one roped.
03 A small herd of wild-looking longhorns is driven right down the street by four equally wild-looking cowboys, and Joe watches, hoping to see one roped.
At the post office counter July finally hands over the letter and buys his stamp, and the old clerk scrutinises the address and asks whether Arkansas is where he is from.
04 At the post office counter July finally hands over the letter and buys his stamp, and the old clerk scrutinises the address and asks whether Arkansas is where he is from.
The old clerk scratches through pigeonholes and dusty papers hunting July's letter while three cowboys wait, and the one with the red moustache loses his patience.
05 The old clerk scratches through pigeonholes and dusty papers hunting July's letter while three cowboys wait, and the one with the red moustache loses his patience.
Outside on the board sidewalk, July leans against the hitch rail working through Peach's hen-scratchy letter while Joe sits watching the traffic.
06 Outside on the board sidewalk, July leans against the hitch rail working through Peach's hen-scratchy letter while Joe sits watching the traffic.
"Ain't he your pa?" — Joe says "Yep" proudly about Dee Boot, and July, told his wife's dead man is alive, looks as though the news has made him sick.
07 "Ain't he your pa?" — Joe says "Yep" proudly about Dee Boot, and July, told his wife's dead man is alive, looks as though the news has made him sick.
Without looking for Jake in a single saloon, July mounts and rides east so fast that Joe has to lope to keep him in sight.
08 Without looking for Jake in a single saloon, July mounts and rides east so fast that Joe has to lope to keep him in sight.
Camped two hours after dark, July lies awake all night under the stars wishing he could cross the sky on them like stepping-stones, while Joe sleeps with his mouth open.
09 Camped two hours after dark, July lies awake all night under the stars wishing he could cross the sky on them like stepping-stones, while Joe sleeps with his mouth open.