human
I'll just admit that she'll marry me--what then? It's time I was kind of takin' inventory. Here's what she gets: One cow-hand an' outfit--includin' one extra saddle horse, a bed-roll, an' a war-bag full of odds an' ends of raiment; some dirty, an' some clean; some tore, an' some in a fair state of preservation. Eight hundred an' forty dollars in cash--minus what it'll take to square me in Timber City. An'--an'--that's all! She ain't goin' to derive no hell of a material advantage from the union, that's sure. But, if I've still got my job it ain't so bad to start off with. Other assets, what we used to call incorporeal hereditaments back in law school--fair workin' knowledge of the cattle an' horse business. Health--good. Disposition--um-m-m, kind, to murderous. Habits--bad, to worse. Let's see: smokin'--that's all right: chewin'--prob'ly be allowable if indulged in out doors only. Swearin'--prob'ly won't be an issue till the kids get old enough to listen. Gamblin'--prob'ly be limited to poker--friendly games an' pifflin' limit. Drinkin'--let's see, the only year since I can remember I don't drink nothin' I quit better than eight hundred dollars to the good--first time I ever had eight hundred dollars all at once in my life. What happens? Get to drinkin' for a half a day, an' Bing! Off comes a hundred, maybe two hundred to pay up for the hell I raised! Does it pay? Not for a married man! Not for me! An' besides, what was it she said when I turned down the drink she offered me? She said, 'I'm glad--I hate the stuff.' He paused, smiling reminiscently,
gpt
Come on, Blue, let's get this stuff over with, an' wash our hands, an' hit for Red Sand. Cass says Cinnabar Joe's place ain't only about four miles above McWhorter's.
human
Well--why in hell don't you shoot?
gpt
Want to git it over with in a hurry, do you? sneered the outlaw.
human
Well I don't! I'm goin' to git you all right, but I'm goin' to take my time to it. When you skipped out a year back fer fear of what I'd do to you, you'd ought to stayed away.
gpt
Just as big a damned fool as ever, Purdy. Just as big a four-flusher, too. You better shoot while you've got the chance. 'Cause if you don't I'll kill you, sure as hell.
human
Gittin' in yer bluff right up to the last, eh? Thought you could sneak up an' git me when I wasn't lookin', eh? Thought--