"Look'e 'ere, Dan, you reported a thousan' dollars; how much did you sure'nuff git, now, on the squar? Be straight with yer pard, or somethin' will happen. Yer personal'ty is liable to be scattered over the landscape. I've dun got the drap on you, an' am feelin' plenty hostile." As he said this, he carelessly fingered his revolver.
"Course, Bill," said Dan. "You see I collected sixteen hundred dollars. That leaves me an' you three hundred dollars apiece more."
"Waal, that's more like it, an' certainly prevents a misonderstandin'," said Bill. "Course I nach'ally knew you wuz givin' them jays a razzle-dazzle, but you cain't razzle-dazzle me. I wish we could 'a' got along 'thout 'em, but as they usually do most of the kitchen work, an' you an' me git the big end of the boodle, I guess we've got no kick comin'."
Presently they mounted their mustangs and started down the valley toward Meade.
"Say, Dan," said Bill, "can you fur sure keep a secret?"
"Waal, if the court knows herself, I kin. What's roamin' 'round permiscus-like on yer mind, Bill?"
"Waal, I ain't got no partic'lar use fur thet Stanton feller. If I don't miss my guess, he's snoopin' 'round Major Hampton's ranch."
"Waal, speakin' wide-open like, it's a mighty sight to me, pard," replied Bill. "I don't intend Marie Hampton shall fall in love with thet highfalutin cuss, even if I's got to scatter his nachalness over the landscape."
"Put 'er thar, Bill," said Dan, extending his hand, and breathing hard on his restless tooth. "I don't hev to hev a meetin'-house fall on me afore I see which way the wind's a-blowin'. Thet Hugh Stanton is a kind o' soopercilious, high-steppin' chap, an' if he goes to interferin' with you, we'll fix him as easy as rollin' off a log. No use gettin' peevish, Bill, but if his attitood is sort o' pesterin' you, jist say the word, an' he'll not be lustin' fur trouble very long on this 'ere range."
"I don't mind onbosomin' myself," said Kin-neman, "an' sayin' she's the purtiest woman in the hull world, an' I b'lieve the major 'ill be favorable."
"Course, Bill," said Dan, "I'm married an' hev nuthin' to say, but if I wuz n't you'd hev to speak up in meetin' or you'd surely git left. Oh, I know a purty face when I sees it, an' there ain't nary a one on the range that compares with the major's daughter."