Considering Vic's extreme measures to avoid introspection (spending himself into sleep), what might the author be foreshadowing about the potential psychological impact of achieving his goal, even if financially successful? How might this challenge a common understanding of what constitutes "success"?

From the book

exchange for the greetings. “Red-eye,” he ordered, and seized bottle and glass as Lorrimer spun them deftly towards him. Captain Lorrimer picked up the bottle and gazed at it mournfully when Vic had poured his drink. “Son,” he murmured, “you've sure raised an awful thirst.”

t with breathless interest. Whatever it was that the strange fellow heard, a light had gleamed in his eyes for a moment. As he sauntered back towards the bed just a trace of it lingered about him, a hint of sternness. “Spring?” answered Gregg. “Yep, I smelled spring a few days back and I started out to find some action. ​ You can see for yourself that I found it, partner.” He stirred, uneasily, but it was necessary that the story should be told lest it reach the ears of this man from another source. It was one thing to shelter a fugitive from justice whose crime was unknown, perhaps trifling,…

d gently, “but she's paid for.” “Paid for? Dan, they ain't any money could pay me back for Grey Molly.” “I know; I know! Not that way, but there was a life given for a life.” “Eh?” ​ “One man died for Molly.” As the meaning came home to Gregg he blinked, and then, looking up, he found a change in the eyes of Barry, for they seemed to be lighted from within coldly, and his glance went down to the very bottom of Vic's soul, probing. It was only an instant, a thing of which Gregg could not make sure, and then Dan slipped back into his place among the shadows by the wall. But a chill sense of…

these evenings so bitterly that he purposely spent himself every day, so as to pass from supper into sleep at a stride. It needed a long day to burn out his strength thoroughly, so he set his rusted alarm-clock, and before dawn it brought him groaning out of the blankets to cook a hasty breakfast and go slowly up to the tunnel. In short, he wedded himself to his work; he stepped into a routine which took the place of thought, and the change in him was so gradual that he did not see the danger. A mirror might have shown it to him as he stood this morning at the door of his lean-to, for the…

d about and very soon there was only a little stiffness in his right arm to remind him of Pete Glass and the dusty roan. He spent most of his time close to the cabin, for though he had forgotten the world there was no decisive proof that the world would forget him half so ​ easily; that was not the way of the sheriff. He had been known to spend years in the hunt for a single misdoer and Vic had no care to wander out where he might be seen. Besides, it was very pleasant about the cabin. The house itself was built solidly, roomily, out of logs hewn on the timbered slopes above and dragged down…