human
John got his senses back enough to know what had happened, an' one glance around told him that he was right, continued Corwin.
gpt
Finally he managed to get his legs loose enough to hobble, an' he butted out into th' flyin' sand with his eyes shut an' his nose buried agin' his shoulder so he could breathe; an' somehow he managed to hit a buildin' in his blind driftin'. It was McNeil's, an' by throwin' his weight agin' th' door an' buttin' it with his shoulders an' elbows, he woke up Sam, who let him in, untied his arms an' th' rest of him, fixed him up as well as he could in a hurry an' then left him there. Sam got Pete Jennings, next door, sent Pete an' a scatter-gun to watch over what was left in th' bank, an' then started out to find me. He had to give it up till it got light, so he waited in th' bank with Pete. Th' bank fellers are there now, checkin' up. Th' big, burglar-proof safe was blowed open neat as a whistle--but they plumb ruined th' little one. They overlooked th' biggest of all, down in th' cellar. Well, he sighed, arising,
human
I got to go on with my callin'--an' it's one fine day to be wanderin' all over town.
gpt
If I was sheriff I wouldn't have to do much wanderin', said Idaho.
human
But, anyhow, it can't last,
gpt
Th' harder, th' shorter. It's gettin' less all th' time, he said, pivoting and sitting on the edge of the bed.
human
But, just th' same, he yawned, stretching ecstatically,
gpt
I'm shore-e-e--g-l-a-d _I_ can stay indoors till she peters out. Yo're plumb right, Corwin; them fellers never left town last night. An' if I was you I'd be cussed suspicious of anybody that seemed anxious to leave any time today.
human
They never did leave town last night,
gpt
An' nobody can leave today, neither, said Corwin.
human
If they try it they will be stopped, he added, pointedly.
gpt
I've got a deputy coverin' every way out, sand or no sand. So-long,
human
You speakin' about sand in yore hair gave me what I needed,
gpt
That's why I said it, laughed his companion.
human
I saw that yore neck was stiff an' felt sorry for you. Now what th' devil do you think about that bank?
gpt
Kane,
human
That name must 'a' been cut on th' butt of th' gun that hit you, chuckled Idaho.
gpt
It's been drove in solid. Get a rustle on; I'm hungry, an' my teeth are full of sand. I'm anxious to hear what Ed knows.
human
Hello, grunted Ed.
gpt
Sheriff come pokin' his face in _yore_ room?
human
He did, answered Johnny;
gpt
My boot just missed him, regretted Ed.
human
He sung out right prompt when he felt th' wind of it. D--d four-flush.
gpt
I'm among friends an' sympathizers, chuckled Idaho.
human
He says as how he's goin' wanderin' around in th' sand blasts doin' his duty. Duty nothin'! I'm bettin' he's settin' in Kane's, right now, takin' it easy.
gpt
Then he can't get much closer to 'em, snorted Ed.
human
He can near touch th' men that did it. He paused as Johnny laughed in Idaho's face and, shrugging his shoulders, turned and rearranged the glasses on the backbar:
gpt
All right; laugh an' be d--d! he snorted;
human
There was plenty in th' hash this mornin', said Idaho;
gpt
Just because you'll make a han'some corpse ain't no reason why you should be in any hurry, retorted Ed.
human
Here! he snorted, tossing a pack of cards on the bar.
gpt
Go over an' begin th' wranglin' agin--'though th' Lord knows I ain't got nothin' agin' Nelson. He glanced out of the window.
human
Purty near blowed out. It'll be ca'm in another half-hour; an' then you get to blazes out of here, an' stay out till dark!
gpt
I wish I had yore happy disposition, said Idaho.
human
I'd shore blow my brains out.
gpt
There wouldn't be anythin' to clean up, anyhow! retorted Ed.
human
Lord help us, here comes Silent Lewis!
gpt
Hello, fellers! cried the newcomer.
human
Gee but it's been some storm. Sand's all over everythin'. Hear about th' bank robbery?
gpt
Bank robbery? queried Ed, innocently.
human
What bank robbery? Sand bank?
gpt
Sand bank! Sand bank nothin'! blurted Silent.
human
Ain't you heard it yet? Why, I live ten miles out of town, an' I know all about it.
gpt
I believe every word you say, said Ed.
human
Tell us about it.
gpt
Gee, where have you-all been? demanded Silent
human
Why, John Reddy, settin' on his chair, watchin' th' safe, hears a moanin', so he opened th' door----
gpt
Of th' safe?
human
No, no; of th' bank. Th' bank door, th' rear one. He hears a moan----
gpt
Which moan; first, or second?
human
Th' first--th' second didn't come till--hey, I thought you didn't hear about it?
gpt
I didn't; but you mentions two moans, separate an' distinct,
human
You shore did,
gpt
Yessir; you shore did. Two moans, one at each end.
human
But I didn't get to th' second moan at all!
gpt
Now, what's th' use of tellin' us that? flared the bartender.
human
Don't you think we got ears?
gpt
If you can't tell it right, shut up,
human
I can tell it right if you'll shut up! retorted Silent.
gpt
As I said, he hears a moan, so he leaves th' safe an' goes to th' door. Then he hears a second moan, scratching', an'----
human
Hey! growled Ed indignantly.
gpt
What you talkin' about? Who in h--l ever heard of a second moan scratchin'----
human
It was th' first that scratched, corrected Idaho.
gpt
He said it plain. You must be listenin' with yore feet.
human
If you'd gimme a chance to tell it--
gpt
Never mind my hearin' you, snapped Ed at Idaho.
human
I know what I heard. An' lemme tell you, Silent, you can't cram nothin' like that down my throat. Before you go any further, just explain to me how a moan can scratch! I'm allus willin' to learn, but I want things explained careful an' full.
gpt
He ain't quick-witted, like you an' me, said Johnny.
human
We understand how a scratch moans, but he's too dumb. Go on an' tell th' ignoramus.
gpt
If yo're so cussed quick-witted, will you please tell me what'n blazes you are talkin' about? demanded Silent, truculently.
human
What do you mean by a scratch moans?
gpt
That's what I want to know, growled Idaho.
human
You can't scratch moans. Cuss it, I reckon I ought to know, for I've tried to do it, more'n once, too.
gpt
Yo're dumber than Nelson, jeered Ed.
human
It's all plain to me.
gpt
What is?
human
Moanin' scratches, that's what!
gpt
Of a safe? asked Johnny.
human
Then why didn't you say so? How'd _I_ know that you meant that. Go on, Silent.
gpt
You was at th' second moan,
human
He scratched that, said Idaho.
gpt
He got as far as leavin' th' safe, 'though what he was doin' in there with it, I'd like to know. Reddy let you in?
human
Look here, Idaho, scowled Silent.
gpt
I wasn't in there at all. You'll get me inter trouble, sayin' things like that. I was ten miles away when it happened.
human
Then why didn't you say so, at th' beginnin'?
gpt
Ah! triumphantly exclaimed Johnny.
human
Then you tell us how you could hear th' scratchin' an' moanin'; tell us that!
gpt
That's all right, Nelson, said Idaho, soothingly.
human
He can hear more things when he's ten miles away than any man you ever knowed. Go ahead, Silent.
gpt
You go to h--l! roared Silent, glaring.
human
You think yo're smart, don't you, _all_ of you? I was goin' to tell you about th' robbery, but now you can cussed well find it out for yoreselves! An' don't let me hear about any of you sayin' I was in that bank last night, neither! D--d fools! and he stamped out, slamming the door behind him.
gpt
Blow an' be d--d! he growled at the storm.
human
I'd ruther eat sand than waste time with them ijuts. 'Scratch moans!' Scratch _h--l_!