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 got 'em there. My profits'd go up in smoke. If they want to be mean about it, they've got me."

"It ain't likely they'd start a fuss that'd stampede your herd to hell and gone over the prairie," Dunham said.

"Well, you got me in here, Dunham, and I believe I'm purty near big enough to hold 'em."

"That's what I was thinkin' a little while ago."

"You mean you're goin' to cut loose from me now?"

"I don't see how I can do you any good, and I might do you a lot of harm. They're not half as sore at you as they are at me."

"It will be a kind of unfriendly place for you after this, Dunham. I was wonderin' what your plans might be. Wouldn't you like to help me to Kansas City with the cattle, and go back to Texas with us?"

"No, I don't exac'ly figure on goin' to Texas."

"Whatever you plan to do, Dunham, I want to show my appreciation for the way you've helped me through. I don't know how you worked it on 'em, but I know I didn't breathe for about ten minutes when you rode over here and stopped. I looked for hell to pop."

"Maybe it takes a fool for luck, the way the old folks say," Dunham replied to this respectful bid for enlightenment on his methods of breaking quarantine. He seemed to shut the door on that lead, and Hughes was wise enough to take the hint.

"You refused my offer to pay you, Dunham, but I want to do something to acknowledge the debt I'm under to you before we part."