“Busted a diamond he had in a ring,” said Smith. “Well, they got fines, them fellers did, when I marched ’em out of there, I’m here to tell you! If it’d been me that was judge I’d ’a’ sent ’em all to jail for life.
“When I was comin’ back to the ranch from that trip I met that bear you’ve heard so much talk and mostly lies, about. That bear he’s the most slandered bear that ever lived.”
“Slandered?”
“That’s it. He wasn’t wallered to death, choked to death, pounded to death, nor run down. He was just plain shot in the top of the head.”
“What a queer place to shoot a bear! How did you manage it?”
“He managed it. He come under the tree where I was at.” 278
“Oh, I see.”
“And that’s all there is to that yarn, ma’am. I got a man today that I can put on that work of levelin’ off for you in the morning, if you want me to.”
“I think we’ll let it stand a day or two,” she told him. “I’ll let you know when to take it up again. I’ve got so much to think about right now that I just stand turning round and round.”
“Yes, you do feel that way in a new place, sometimes,” Smith allowed. “Well, I guess I’ll have to be goin’ on down to the store. Business is pickin’ up so fast I’ll have to keep open all the time, not only evenin’s like I have been doin’.”