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 killed her down there on Clear Creek the night of the raid—she's got a gash three inches long on the back of her head where he hit her with his gun."

"Say, is that so?"

Uncle Boley began to see through it like a reasonable man. Texas told him the facts in the matter, and how Fannie had come there in that disguise to find him. Before he was very far into the story the old man's face was glowing with admiration, and when he concluded Uncle Boley put out his hand in token that his belief and his friendship remained unshaken.

"I hope to see you two turn that feller Stott over like a snappin' turtle left on his back in the road."

"It will be done, Uncle Boley. And when it's done I'll set my foot on the road to go—I'll not have anything to stay around here for any more."

"If you're thinkin' about Sallie, I reckon not."

"I meant well—you can tell her when I'm gone that I meant well; but I kind of always tangled my feet up in the rope."

"You didn't have no call to fetch that girl up here to test her on me. I'd 'a' took you? word for it, Texas."

"I know it, sir."

"But it looks like things is shaped and set, and a man can't go around 'em, no matter which way he dodges. I guess it was laid out for this thing