human
Tom Tuttle, I reckon I'm onto his curves! He's goin' to strike the mountain road back of town a ways and come in alone, past Frenchy Delarue's place, as if he'd just come to town!
gpt
Frenchy Delarue! Does he mean to have it out with Frenchy for the way he talked at that mass-meetin'? Say, Nick, we ought to be handy, for he'll sure need us. Come on, let's ride out that way.
human
Tommy, sometimes I think you sure ain't got any more sense than a two-year-old! Emerson don't care anything about Frenchy Delarue, or what he said at a dozen mass-meetings. He don't hold things against a man that way.
gpt
I don't see what you want to make a fool of a fellow for, he said sulkily.
human
If you-all don't want to tell me what it's all about, say so, and I won't ask any more questions.
gpt
That's all right, Tommy. It was such a good joke I couldn't help it. Don't you remember that stunning pretty girl we saw on the street with the kid the day Emerson came into town, that I told you was Frenchy Delarue's daughter?
human
What? Emerson! You don't mean--say, Nick! I don't--Emerson?
gpt
I don't know anything about it, but two or three times I've seen things about Emerson that made me think he must be gettin' into that sort of trouble somewhere, and if he is I sure think it can't be anybody but Miss Delarue.
human
If it was you or me, Nick, I could understand it. But Emerson! Nick, I can't believe it until I know it's so!
gpt
I wouldn't have thought so either, but you never can tell, Nick replied oracularly.
human
Now, I'd kiss Amada Garcia, or any other pretty girl, every time I got a chance. You wouldn't do it unless you could sneak around behind the house where nobody could see, and you wouldn't say a word about it afterward. But Emerson, well, maybe Emerson would too, but I don't reckon he would even think about kissin' her unless she asked him to, and I'm dead sure he'd never think about it afterward. But that's just the sort of a man who gets knocked plumb out when a woman does hit him. It wouldn't make any difference to you or me, or not very long anyway, because we'd go right along and love some other girl just as much the next time. Likely you've been in love as many times as I have, and I don't know how many that is, but I don't believe Emerson ever thought more'n twice about any woman before this. But I sure reckon he's knocked out now, and bad enough to last him a long time. He's just the sort that don't want any woman if he can't get the one he does want. But you and me, Tommy,--Lord-a-mighty! We'll have a sweetheart every time we can get one!