Im shore powerful sorry Ivebeen such a dumb-haid.
In the lobby entrance theyran squarely into Darnell, gay, heated of
face.
Jim was not sanguine, and felt deeply
regretful.
But Jims reflection was that Darnell certainly did
not knowcowboys of the Arizona-range stripe. This is thesecond time the Diamonds
near been busted. When Slinger appeared down the trail there wasonly one
exclamation, which was Curlys Ahuh!
Speaks kinda bad fer me, but I shore do think jest
thet, went onSlinger. We could have gone on for years heah, appropriatin a few
steers now anthen, an living easy.
But I shore would have loved to fetch her. What I
saidaboot gun play to your gamblin new hand, Darnell, goes for you,
too.
Next morning the bunk-house was incredibly quiet
when Jim knocked andstamped in.
How sweet to hear Mollys laugh trill
out!
Curly evidently was a perpetual source ofsurprise,
delight, and mystery to Gloriana. Nancys married an her husbands a jealousold
geezer.
Molly saw nothingexcept the ruddy coals of the
fire, until Jim gave her a nudge.
An thets why youre leavin the Hash-Knife? For
instance, just a moment ago he saw you holding Mollyshand.
The point is,not what the Diamond will do without
Curly, but what Twill.
Darnell looked up and gave Curly a hard glance. Ive
shore been in a particular kissable spell lately. Bud ran a pipe-line from Yellow
Jacket spring, and had wateron the place before the house was up.
Curlys presence alwayssteadied him, whether in
amaze, anger, or indecision. Slinger, you lay off Darnell, insisted Jim, forcefully.