Page:Hell-Bent fer Heaven (Hughes 1924).pdf/146

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Well, he couldn’t ha’ come home ’thout me— [He sees and starts guiltily.] Oh! Air you here, Andy?

Yeh, I’m here. I got a invitation I jist couldn’t refuse.

[, to ]

Couldn’t Andy tell you nothin’ ’bout Sid?

[Significantly]

I could, Rufe, but didn’t! All I told ’em wus that I shot at him, an’ as fur as I could see I missed him. [ breathes more easily. continues in the same spirit of bravado, glancing at ] But they wouldn’t ha’ been no doubt about it if I hadn’t drunk so much pop-skull that my hand ’us shaky!

You ought to thank the Lord you didn’t hit him, Andy!

No! If I didn’t hit him it ’us the licker saved him this time, not the Lord!

[ enters through the kitchen door, carrying a