He saw Hollis shoot a quick glance at him. He cackled again, his mirth swelling as he caught the surprised and puzzled expression of Hollis’s face.
“I have a very original opinion of people who laugh without any visible cause,” remarked the latter, grinning reluctantly in the semi-darkness.
Norton’s reply was another cackle. They rode in silence for a long time.
Then Norton spoke. “This is a great country,” he said.
Silence from Hollis, though taking a quick glance at him Norton again observed the puzzled grin on his face.
“And original,” he remarked, placing upon the latter word the same peculiar emphasis that Hollis had given it a moment before.
Hollis grinned widely; he began to detect a subtle meaning in the range boss’s speech and actions. But he did not answer; it would not strain his patience to await until such a time as Norton made his meaning clear.
“But there’s some things that ain’t original,” continued Norton in the same tone, after another short silence.
This remark clearly required comment. Hollis grinned mildly. “Meaning what?” he questioned.
Norton met his gaze gravely. “Meanin’ that the ways of makin’ love are pretty much the same in every country.” He laughed. “I know there’s different ways of makin’ it–in books,” he continued; “the folks which write books make their men an’ women go at it all kinds of ways. But did you ever know anyone in real life to make love to a girl any different than anyone else?”