The other gave a short laugh. “That’s worse.”
“I been Justice of the Peace for so long, Homer, that the advice business has come to be a habit.”
“Fire ahead.” The blue eyes were resentful.
“It don’t amount to much, what I’m a-goin’ to say,” proceeded the Judge, “because I know blamed well that you ain’t doin’ what they say you’re doin’.”
“‘They’ is usually a liar.”
“But sometimes, ‘Where there’s smoke there’s fire’—as the sayin’ goes. In this case there’s just enough smoke to worry me.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry if I was you. What’s your gossip?”
The hand that was resting on the younger man’s shoulder dropped to the Judge’s side. “Folks say you’re gamblin’.”
There was scarcely a noticeable paling of Homer’s face, but a sneer curved his mouth. “Gambling!” he repeated. “I’ll bet you got that yarn from a woman.”
“Yas,” admitted the Judge.