human
I ruther pity the pore critter, said Ephraim;
gpt
That is the very thing that should make them laugh, when he has his make-up on. I have seen the burlesque tragedian overdone on the stage, so that he was nauseating; but I believe Burns can give the character just the right touch.
human
Well, if you firmly believe that, it's no use to talk to you, for you'll never change your mind till you have to, broke out Hodge.
gpt
I have seen a sample of that in the way you deal with your enemies. Now, there was Leslie Lawrence----
human
Let him rest in peace, said Frank.
gpt
He is gone forever.
human
An' it's a dinged good riddance! said Gallup.
gpt
The only thing I'm sorry fer is that the critter escaped lynchin'!
human
Yes, he should have been lynched! flashed Bart.
gpt
At the Twin Star Ranch now the poor girl he deserted is lying on a bed of pain, shot down by his dastardly hand.
human
He did not intend the bullet for her,
gpt
No; but he intended it for you! It was a great case of luck that he didn't finish you. If you had pushed the villain to the wall before that, instead of dealing with him as if he had the least instinct of a gentleman in his worthless body, you would have saved the girl from so much suffering.
human
She loves him still, said Frank.
gpt
Her last words to me were a message to him, for she does not know he is dead beneath the quicksands of Big Sandy.
human
The quicksands saved him from the gallows.
gpt
An' they took another ungrateful rascal along with him, b'gee!
human
Yes, nodded Frank;
gpt
I think there is no doubt but Lloyd Fowler perished with Lawrence, for I fancied I recognized Fowler in the fellow who accompanied Lawrence that fatal night.
human
And Fowler was a drinking man, so I should think he would be a warning to you, said Hodge.
gpt
I shouldn't think you'd care to take another sot into the company.
human
You must know that there is as little resemblance between Fowler and Burns as there is between night and day.
gpt
Perhaps so, but Burns can drink more whisky than Fowler ever could.
human
And he is ashamed of himself for it. I have talked with him about it, and I know.
gpt
Oh, he made you believe so. He is slick.
human
He was not trying to deceive me.
gpt
So you think. He knows where his money comes from to buy whisky. It's more than even chance that, when you are ready to start on the road, he will give you the slip.
human
He asked me to release him to-day.
gpt
And you refused?
human
I did. I urged him to stay with us.
gpt
That settles it! he exclaimed.
human
Now I know theatricals have wrought your downfall! Your glory is fast departing.
gpt
Then let it depart! laughed Frank.
human
You have been forced to confess yourself mistaken on other occasions; you may on this.
gpt
Good-night,
human
Some fellows would say it'd be a gol-danged sensible thing fer yeou to git rid of that feller, he said, nodding toward the door.
gpt
He's gittin' to be the greatest croaker I ever knew.
human
Hodge is getting worse, admitted Frank, gravely.
gpt
I think the unfortunate end of his college course has had much to do with it. He broods over that a great deal, and it is making him sour and unpleasant. I can imagine about how he feels.
human
If he ever larfed he'd be more agreeable. Danged if I like a feller that alwus looks so sollum an' ugly. Sometimes he looks as ef he could snap a spike off at one bite an' not harf try.
gpt
Wait, said Frank.
human
If I am successful with this play, I hope to go back to Yale in the fall and take Hodge with me. I think he is getting an idea into his head that his life career has been ruined at the very start, and that is making him bitter. I'll take him back, run him into athletics, get his mind off such unpleasant thoughts, and make a new man of him.
gpt
Waal, I hope ye do, said Gallup, rising and preparing to go.
human
There's jest one thing abaout Hodge that makes me keer a rap fer him.
gpt
What's that?
human
It's ther way he sticks to yeou. Be gosh! I be'lieve he'd wade through a red-hot furnace to reach yeou an' fight for yeou, if yeou was in danger!
gpt
I haven't a doubt but he'd make the attempt,
human
An' he kin fight, the Vermonter went on.
gpt
Aout at Ace High, when we was up against all them ruffians, he fought like a dozen tigers all rolled inter one. That's ernnther thing that makes me think a little somethin' of him.
human
Yes, agreed Merry,
gpt
Bart is a good fighter. The only trouble with him is that he is too ready to fight. There are times when one should avoid a fight, if possible; but Hodge never recognizes any of those times. I never knew him to try to avoid a fight.
human
Waal, drawled Ephraim, with a yawn,
gpt
I'm goin' to bed. Good-night, Frank.
human
Good-night.