human
We been talkin' too loud, whispered the departing puncher.
gpt
You never can tell. I'm goin' out to sit on th' top step where there's more air,
human
You boys leave at daylight on th' jump. I got to stay here. You can say I'm waitin' for th' chance to pick up some money--buyin' a herd of yearlin's cheap, or anythin' you can think of. Anythin' that'll stick. You'll have plenty of time to smooth it out before you get back home. I want you boys to scratch up every cent you've got an' turn it over to me. Any left of that I gave you after supper?
gpt
Shore--quite some, grinned Arch.
human
We had better luck, down th' street. You must be aimin' to get a-plenty yearlin's, with that roll you got. What are _we_ goin' to do, busted?
gpt
I want a couple of Colts, too, continued Johnny.
human
You won't need any money. Th' waggin is well stocked--an' when you get back you can draw on Arnold.
gpt
We was goin' to stop at Highbank for a good time,
human
Have it in yore old man's hotel an' owe it to him,
gpt
Have a good time in my old man's place! exclaimed Arch.
human
Oh, _h--l_! He burst out laughing.
gpt
That'll tickle th' boys, _that_ will! The puncher looked searchingly at his foreman.
human
Hey, what's all th' trouble?
gpt
It's been comin' rapid, but I got it all. Yo're talkin' to th' wrong man. You want to fix up that story for th' ranch with some soft-belly that's ridin' that way. Better send a letter. We're all stayin' here. _Fine_ bunch of----
human
You can help me more by goin' back like nothin's happened, interrupted Johnny.
gpt
Th' ranch won't be worryin' me then, an' if you stayed here it might give th' game away. Besides, one man can live longer on th' money we got than four can, only have a quarter of th' chance to drink too much, an' only talk a fourth as much. That's th' natural play, an' everythin' has _got_ to be natural.
human
That's th' worst of havin' a smooth face, grumbled Arch, ruefully rubbing his chin.
gpt
If I only had whiskers, I could shave 'em off an' be a total stranger; but I don't reckon I could grow a good enough bunch to get back here in time.
human
Take _you_ a year or two; an' there's more'n whiskers needed to hide from a _good_ man. There's little motions, gait, voice--oh, lots of things. You can help me more if you go north. See Dave Green, tell him on th' quiet, an' ask him to send me down a couple hundred dollars. He can buy a check from th' Doc, payable to George Norton. There's a bank in this town. He's to send it to George Norton, general delivery.
gpt
Dave will spread it far an' wide, objected Arch.
human
He tells all he knows.
gpt
If he did, smiled Johnny,
human
Gosh! exclaimed Arch.
gpt
Mebby he can. He's a bang-up bartender.
human
Well, I reckon you know best, said Arch.
gpt
If you say so, we'll go home--but it hurts bad as a toothache. An' as long as we're goin', we can start tonight--this minute.
human
You'll start at daylight, like honest folks, chuckled Johnny.
gpt
Think I want Kane to sit down an' figger why a lazy outfit got ambitious all at once? An' th' two boys that lend me their guns want to be ridin' close to th' waggin, on its left side, until they get out of town. I don't want anybody noticin' they ain't got their guns. Mebby their coats'll hide 'em, anyhow. But before you do anythin' else, get me a copy of that weekly newspaper downstairs. There's some layin' around th' office. Shore you got it all?