"You are?" Tom's voice held a note of alarm. "When?"
"A week ago today."
"How'd it happen?"
"You know that feller over to Cunnel's?"
"Reckon I do! Was it him?"
Tusk nodded. Tom remained deep in thought, wondering how he might proceed without Nancy's knowledge.
"He'll pay for it, all right," he said, at last. "He's been owin' me a little sum for a spell, an' we'll ask him to come across for two!"
"Aw, hell," Tusk turned with an air of disgust, "that ain't him. This here'n ain't got no money what I'm talkin' 'bout. I don't mean the railroad feller!"
"That's so; I did hear tell as how another feller was over there!"
"Well, I'd sort of reckon," Tusk growled. "An' what's moh, he's a Dawson! There ain't no love lost 'tween me an' you an' the Dawsons, Tom!"