East between India and China, which is why it has that name, I guess."

"My god, that's on the other side of the world." "It is, indeed."

I studied Signore Difranco's face. He was obviously excited by the prospect of traveling to the Far East. His light-blue eyes were twinkling, and he was grinning. It was then that I noticed how much older he was than me. His black hair was streaked with gray, and distinct lines creased his dark, tanned skin. When I had met him some two years before at Mrs. Kimmelmann's boardinghouse in Dodge City, he appeared to be in his midforties. Now he seemed closer to fifty.

Signore Difranco seemed to know what was running through my mind.

He was, without doubt, one of the most intuitive men I have ever known. "I'm no sp...

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