He recalled how he had felt
when he had squared himself with Roth for that six-gun. But the
surreptitious taking of the six-gun had been rather a mistake than a
deliberate intent to steal. And Pete tried to justify himself with the
thought that all his subsequent trouble had been the result of mistakes
due to conditions thrust upon him by a fate which had slowly driven him
to his present untenable position--that of a fugitive from the law,
without money and without friends. He came to the bitter conclusion
that his whole life had been a mistake--possibly not through his own
initiative, but a mistake nevertheless. He knew that his only course
was to retrace and untangle the snarl of events in which his feet were
snared. Accustomed to rely upon his own efforts--he had always been
able to make his living--he suddenly realized the potency of money;
that money could alleviate suffering, influence authority, command
freedom--at least temporary freedom--and even in some instances save
life itself.
Yet it was characteristic of Pete that he did not regret anything that
he had done, in a moral sense.
Pages:
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489