Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/176

 Alabammer," said Jack; "I'm some alarmed that Jerome will hev to back down. I'll persuade him to peace. But thishyer letter lies heavy on my mind. Mary's mighty cruel to send it by me. Women is some spiteful, so they are. I do dread seein' Mamie now!"

And he rode to the Griggs' house up Ennis Creek as if he was going to his own immediate execution. He met Jerome at the ford just below the ranch, and pulled up.

"Jerome, my son," said Jack, "I've shore a sad confession to make, and it's a deal tougher than cuttin' mesquite with a blunt axe. I'm a blamed fool, so I am, and the proof of it is the way I feel. And there's further corroboratin' written evidence of it in my pocket, very convincin'. I'm no better than a burro, and I own I'm worse than a mule."

"What's wrong now?" asked Jerome in great alarm.

"When I rode in to Painted Rock," said Jack, "I'd gotten it all clear in my mind, and now it ain't no clearer than a riley crick. I reckoned I'd see Remington myself and