human
That's shore some ridin', remarked Dave, surprised.
gpt
What's wrong? What's th' reason for killin' cayuses?
human
Wanted to paste somethin' up for others to shoot at,
gpt
How'd you come to leave ahead of Nelson? demanded Arnold, his easy-going boss.
human
Where is he? An' where's th' rest of th' boys?
gpt
Oh, he's tryin' to make a fortune buyin' up a herd of fine yearlin's, answered the record-maker with confident assurance.
human
It ain't nothin' to him that th' owner don't want to sell 'em. I near busted laughin' at 'em wranglin'. They was near fightin' when I left. You should 'a' heard 'em! Anybody'd think that man didn't own his own cattle. But I'm bettin' on Nelson, just th' same, for when I left they had got to wranglin' about th' price, an' that's allus a hopeful sign. He shore will tire that man out. I used a lead hoss as far as Highbank, changin' frequent', an' got a fresh off th' old man. Nelson told us all to go home, where we're needed--but he'll be surprised when he knows how quick _I_ got there. Sam an' th' others are with th' waggin, comin' slower.
gpt
I should hope so! snorted Arnold.
human
An' you ain't home yet. What's th' real reason for all this speed, an' for headin' here instead of goin' to th' ranch? A man that's born truthful makes a poor liar; but I'll say this for you, Arch--with a little practice you'll be near as good as Dave, here. Come on; tell it!
gpt
I've done told it already,
human
Shake hands with Red Connors an' Hopalong Cassidy, said Arnold.
gpt
You've heard of them, haven't you?
human
Holy cats! I _have_! exclaimed Arch, gripping the hands of the two in turn.
gpt
I certainly have. Have you two ever been in Mesquite? he demanded, eagerly.
human
Good! Now, wait a minute; I want to think,
gpt
Mebby he's aimin' to improve on me, said Dave.
human
Judgin' from th' studyin', I figger he's trying to bust in yore class, Arnold.
gpt
Seein' as how we're all friends of Nelson, an' his wife ought to be kept calm, I reckon I ought to spit it out straight. Here, you listen,
human
Arch, he said slowly,
gpt
Most generally th' East sends us purty poor specimens, observed Dave.
human
Once in awhile we get a thoroughbred. Gunsight's proud of th' one it got.
gpt
Arnold, said Arch eagerly,
human
I'll get to Mesquite tomorrow if it's moved to th' other side of h--l!
gpt
Wait a minute, he said. He slowly knocked the ashes from it and looked around.
human
While I'm appreciatin' what you just said, Arnold, I don't agree with it. He thought for a moment and then continued.
gpt
You don't know that son-in-law of yourn like I do. Somebody knocked him on th' head, stole his money an' his guns. Don't forget th' guns. Bein' an easterner, that mebby don't mean anythin' to you; but bein' an old Bar-20 man, it means a heap to me. He won't leave till he's squared up, all around. I _know_ it. Seein' how it is, we got to accept it; an' figger out some way to make his wife take it easy, an' not do no worryin'. Here! he exclaimed, leaning forward.
human
Arnold, you sit down an' write him a letter. Write it now. Tell him to stay down there until he gets a good herd of yearlin's. Then Arch has got to start back in th' mornin' an' join th' waggin, an' come home like he ought to. He stays here tonight, an' nobody has seen him, at all.
gpt
An' Dave don't need to bother with any check, said Red.
human
Hoppy an' me has plenty of money. We'll start for Mesquite at daylight, Arch, here, ridin' with us till we meet th' waggin. Of course, Hoppy don't mean that yo're really goin' to write a letter, Arnold,
gpt
That's just what I _do_ mean, said Hopalong.
human
He's goin' to write th' letter, but he ain't goin' to send it. He'll give it to Arch, an' then it can be torn up. What's th' use of lyin' when it's so easy to tell th' truth? 'Though I'm admittin' I wasn't thinkin' of that so much as I was that a man can allus tell th' truth better'n he can lie. When he tells about th' letter, he's goin' to be talkin' about a real letter, what won't get to changin' around in a day or two, or when he gets rattled. Mrs. Johnny is mebby goin' to ask a lot of questions.
gpt
I'll give odds that she does, chuckled Dave, looking under the backbar.
human
Here's pen an' ink, he said, pushing the articles across the counter.
gpt
There's paper an' envelopes around here some--here it is. Go ahead, now: 'Dear Johnny: I take my----'
human
Shut up! barked Arnold, glaring at him.
gpt
I guess I know how to write a letter! Besides, I don't take my pen in hand. It's your pen, you grinnin' chump! As long as we're ridin' on th' tail of Truth, let's stick to it, all th' way. Shut up, now, an' gimme a chance!