human
The worst of it is, he confessed, after he had explained how he had known the girl since she was a barefooted papoose with the
gpt
Bill show, and he was Indian Agent there;
human
Well, why don't you let her stay? Weary demanded.
gpt
She will anyway--mama! We're not what you can call over-run with women on this job.
human
Why don't you make a squaw-man outa Dave? Pink suggested boldly,
gpt
Say, what does that there walka-some-darn-thing mean, that she calls yuh? Big Medicine wanted to know.
human
By cripes, I hate talk I don't savey.
gpt
Wagalexa Conka? Luck smiled shamefacedly.
human
Oh, that's just a name the Indians gave me. Means Big Turkey, in plain English. Her father, old Chief Big Turkey, adopted me into the tribe, and they call me by his name. Annie-Many-Ponies has heard it used ever since she was a kid. By tribal law I'm her brother. Well, what's the word, boys? Shall we let her stay or not? We could use her, all right, and put a dash of old-plains' color in the picture that I haven't got, as it stands. It's up to you to decide.
gpt
You're wrong, Pink grinned.
human
She's decided that, herself. Gee, she's pretty!
gpt
Certainly she is; but get this, boys: She isn't going to stay just because she's pretty, and if I had a different bunch than you fellows, she'd have to go for that reason. I'm responsible for her--_sabe?_ Bill Holmes, you get this; I saw you eyeing her pretty strong. That girl is the daughter of an influential chief, and she comes pretty near being the pride of the reservation. There can't be any romantic stuff, if they let her stay. Her father and the Agent will consent, if they do consent, on the strength of the confidence they have in me. They're going to keep that confidence. Get that, and get it strong, because I sure mean what I'm telling you. He eased the tenseness with a laugh.
human
I don't mean to offend anybody, he said,
gpt
He stopped and lighted the cigarette he had been carefully rolling.
human
Well, he finished after the pause,