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 up any stranger that looks at her. And all the boys along the Crick reckons to back him up; and we says that you bein' a legal lawyer, and probably stuck on peace, will see that the only safe way of proceedin' is to keep outside the borders of Scurry County, and prob'ly to return home by an early East-bound express."

"And if I don't I am to be shot up?" asked Remington. "Considerably shot up," said Jack with much emphasis; "so to speak, riddled like a sieve."

"That would be inconvenient," said Remington, "very inconvenient. And what would you think of me if, to adopt the language current in this romantic locality, I took water and an express?"

"We'd think you war wise," said Jack, "but our opinion of you would be poor. We'd reckon to forget you quick, havin' better to remember."

"Your candour is refreshing," said the lawyer. "But I happen to be an American."

"From the East. Our opinion of the East