All the trouble I ever was in, said Ballard, was caused by whiskey or women or both. He’d often heard men say that.
Ballard was an outcast, who had neither family nor friends but was well-known among other citizens of the town for his rather strange behavior. Ballard himself sensed that something was wrong with him, but that thought entered his mind rather rarely and he could never articulate what he felt properly. So he blamed “whiskey or women or both”, for he “heard men say that”. Such a thought is dangerous not only for an insane person but for everyone. The longer one puts responsibility on other people’s shoulders – women, children, immigrants or whatnot - the more difficult it is going to be to solve that problem.
What sort of meanness have you got laid out for next?
It is always difficult for those, who are entitled to protect the law, to put up with an idea of letting off a person, who is definitely guilty but there is not enough evidence to imprison him/her. Sheriff knows that Ballard could be dangerous, so he asks Ballard, “What sort of meanness have you got laid out for next”, for it is only one thing is left for him to do. The sheriff sees Ballard go away with a heavy heart, because he feels partially responsible for the crimes Ballard is going to commit.
You think the people was meaner then they are now?
Ballard is not only one villain in the town. There were more and there will definitely be more than one could probably even imagine. Some terrible, unfair and horrible things happen to good people daily. It is not a surprise that the deputy is rather discouraged to work, for it seems that this time the good side is not going to win this battle. He asks, “you think the people was meaner then they are now” , but can’t find the answer.
