human
And do you think this sort of trouble would occur if--if the men hadn't been drunk?
gpt
Meaning me?
human
I was thinking that these things have been occurring ever since the camp was flooded with----
gpt
Rye! Beasley's eyes sparkled. He reached the Padre's now empty glass and gave him a fresh one, pushing the bottle toward him.
human
You'll hev a drink on me, an' if you've got time, I'll tell you about this thing.
gpt
Get right ahead,
human
You think it's rye, he said, setting his glass down with unnecessary force.
gpt
An' I say it's the women--or the woman. Trouble come to this camp with that tow-headed gal over at the farm. Anybody with two eyes could see that. Anybody that wasn't as blind as a dotin' mother. The boys are all mad 'bout her. They're plumb-crazed. They got her tow-head and sky-blue eyes on their addled brains, an' all the youngsters, anyway, are fumin' jealous of each other, and ready to shoot, or do anything else that comes handy, to out the other feller. That's the root of the trouble--an' you brought that about selling her your farm.
human
But this only happens when they're drunk,
gpt
Tcha'! Drunk or sober it don't make any difference. I tell you the whole camp's on edge over that gal. It only needs a word to set things hummin'. It's that gal! She's a Jonah, a Hoodoo to us all--to this place. She's got rotten luck all over her--and you brought her here. You needn't try an' sling mud at me fer handing them the rot-gut the boys ask for. Get that woman out of the place and things'll level up right away.
human
But all this doesn't seem to fit in with--with this affair to-night, the Padre argued.
gpt
You said it began, you thought, over the four women you allow in here.
human
So it did, he snapped. Then he laughed mirthlessly.
gpt
Y' see some one suggested those gals pay a 'party' call on your Golden Woman, he said with elaborate sarcasm.
human
And it was because Mr. Curly Saunders sort o' fancies he's got some sort of right to that lady he butted in and shot up the Kid.
gpt
Who suggested it?
human
Why, the Kid.
gpt
And who put it into that foolish boy's head?
human
You needn't to put things that way with me, he cried.
gpt
If you got things to say, say 'em right out. You reckon I was the man who suggested----
human
I do.
gpt
I say right here that you were responsible for it all. The Kid wasn't capable of inventing such a dirty trick on a decent girl. He was sufficiently drunk to be influenced by you, and, but for Curly's timely interference, you would doubtless have had your rotten way. I tell you the trouble, whatever trouble happens in this camp, is trouble which you are directly or indirectly responsible for. These men, in their sober senses, are harmless. Give them the poison you charge extortionately for and they are ready to do anything. I warn you, Beasley, to be careful what you do--be damned careful. There are ways of beating you, and, by thunder! I'll beat you at your own game! Good-night!