Page:Hell-Bent fer Heaven (Hughes 1924).pdf/108

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Well, I reckon they ain’t no use in tellin’ you that I made a fool o’ myself while ago. You ’us all here an’ seed it. But she wanted me to say it, and— [He stops, unable to find suitable words.]

Fergit it, Andy. That’s what I’m a-goin’ to do. Somebody done some purty tall talkin’, I admit. But it expect it ’us the licker you drunk, instid o’ you.

I dunno ’bout that. But I know it ’us me that drunk the licker!

’Tain’t none o’ my business, Andy, but if I found out they ’us truck I couldn’t put inside o’ me ’thout addlin’ my brains, I’ll be derned if I wouldn’t keep it out er bust!

I’m a-goin’ to keep it out hereafter if I know myself!

Then here’s sompen you can take home with you when you start.

[He takes pistol out of his pocket and offers it to him.]