Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/173

 and stood by his pony shaking his head, as if flies were worrying him too.

"I hev my doubt about his havin' been raised in the East," said Jack. "But it's done now! Whatever ole Colonel Shaylor says, Jerome will hev to shoot him some."

And after thinking over the matter he rode on to see Mary, who gave him still more to think of when he told her what he had done.

"And what will Mamie say?" she asked.

"Blessed if I know," replied Jack. "That's what the law-sharp says."

"If I know girls she'll make you wish you were dead," said Mary viciously. "How do you know she doesn't like him best?"

Jack shook his head sulkily.

"She cayn't possibly like a law-sharp and a stranger. And now it's fixed. Jerome will hev to shoot him some, because I said he would. And then the ole Colonel will be mad."

"You've done a very silly thing," said Mary. "What would you do if I liked someone better than you?"