Page:Hell-Bent fer Heaven (Hughes 1924).pdf/73

Rh mebby you don’t object to the Hunts an’ Lowries a-swoppin’ blood that way instid o’ the way they use’ to!

[Starts violently and lays his hand on his pistol]

Swoppin’ blood! Wus Sid a-talkin’ about the Hunts an’ Lowries a-swoppin’ blood like they use’ to?

’Tain’t like you to be skeered of him, Andy!

Umn? Wha’s ’at? [He lurches toward drunkenly and seizes him by the collar.] Any man ’at says I’m afraid o’ Sid Hunt’s a God-dam’ liar!

I didn’t say it! [ relaxes his grip and grunts interrogatively. continues, glancing suggestively in the direction that  has gone] But I know the man that did.

Umn? You know the man ’at said I— Who is he?

I ain’t tellin’ no tales, but he don’t live more ’n a thousand miles from here!