Page:West of Dodge (1926).pdf/103

 the cute little smile so fetching among the young ladies of Damascus. "Old Charley cut loose at 'em from the winder of his office before—"

"He'll hear from Charley, don't you worry. Charley ain't around swallerin' no talk like that feller handed him at the inquest."

This came from Larrimore, whose greatest pleasure lay in the contemplation of collections and adjustments of matters in arrears.

"Do you suppose Bill's wife she'll keep him on the case when she comes?"

Kraus put it as a general question, an open bid for the opinions of all.

"I've been wonderin'," Justice replied.

Jim was sitting tilted back in his accustomed place, the legs of his chair in the little depressions which held them secure against a slip. His hands were clasped across his replete paunch, his walrus face expressed the satisfaction he always found in taking a crack at somebody behind his back. It had been a life-long diversion. Jim had started bushwhacking when he was seventeen.

"I'll bet if we could sober Old Doc Ross up she wouldn't keep Hall on the case a minute," Kraus said. "I think some of us fellers ought to take him down to the barn and see if we can't git him goin' straight."

"Couldn't be done in time," Justice said, shaking his head in sad expression of fatuity. "She'll be here on the ten-seven to-night. Judge Waters got a wire from her this morning."

"Might as well order Bill's coffin, then," Kraus declared.