ELDER DANIELS [following him] Then why don’t you put us on to the man that done you out of it?
BLANCO. Because he’d be too clever for you, just as he was too clever for me.
ELDER DANIELS. Make your mind easy about that, Blanco. He wont be too clever for the boys and Sheriff Kemp if you put them on his trail.
BLANCO. Yes, he will. It wasnt a man.
ELDER DANIELS. Then what was it?
BLANCO [pointing upward] Him.
ELDER DANIELS. Oh what a way to utter His holy name!
BLANCO. He done me out of it. He meant to pay off old scores by bringing me here. He means to win the deal and you cant stop Him. Well, He’s made a fool of me; but He cant frighten me. I’m not going to beg off. I’ll fight off if I get a chance. I’ll lie off if they cant get a witness against me. But back down I never will, not if all the hosts of heaven come to snivel at me in white surplices and offer me my life in exchange for an umble and a contrite heart.
ELDER DANIELS. Youre not in your right mind, Blanco. I’ll tell em youre mad. I believe theyll let you off on that. [He makes for the door].
BLANCO [seizing him, with horror in his eyes] Dont go: dont leave me alone: do you hear?