human
Once more you are just the man I have been wanting to see, the young missionary began, promptly making use of the chance meeting.
gpt
May I break in with a bit of bad news?
human
There is no such thing as good news in this God-forsaken valley, Castner. What's your grief?
gpt
There is trouble threatening for the Cortwrights. Stephen Massingale is out and about again, and I was told this morning that he was filling himself up with bad whiskey and looking for the man who shot him.
human
You will find that there is always likely to be a second chapter in a book of that sort--if the first one isn't conclusive.
gpt
But there mustn't be this time, Castner insisted warmly.
human
We must stop it; it is our business to stop it.
gpt
Your business, maybe; it falls right in your line, doesn't it?
human
No more in mine than in yours,
gpt
Am I my brother's keeper?
human
Not if you claim kinship with Cain, who was the originator of that very badly outworn query, came the answer shot-like. Then:
gpt
What has come over you lately, Brouillard? You are a friend of the Massingales; I've had good proof of that. Why don't you care?
human
Great Heavens, Castner, I do care! But if you had a cut finger you wouldn't go to a man in hell to get it tied up, would you?
gpt
You mean that I have brought my cut finger to you?
human
Yes, I meant that, and the rest of it, too. I'm no fit company for a decent man to-day, Castner. You'd better edge off and leave me alone.