“She sure did!” Allen said quickly. “I figger yuh don’t have to worry none!”
Directly after breakfast Slivers Hart started for town, and Pop went out to inspect his mine. Mrs. Howes took Allen by the hand and led him into the sitting room. She pointed an accusing finger at some holes in the wall opposite the door.
“Nothin’ happened last night! Then please tell me how them holes got in that wall. Now don’t lie. I know—yuh saved Pop an’ me once before when we was in Arizona, an’ yuh did it ag’in last night! They are buckshot marks, an’ they was intended for Pop. Oh, Jim, Jim! Yuh are too good to go on bein’ all alone!” she ended with a sigh, and there were tears in her eyes.
“Shucks, ma’am! Where did yuh get all the loose language at?” Allen asked nervously and twisted his hat in his hand.
“Will there ever come a time when I kin repay yuh for what yuh have done for Pop an’ me?” she asked wistfully.
“Sure! Didn’t yuh feed me pie an’ let me steal some for my hosses? Ain’t we even then?”
She looked at him and shook her head. “You know, Jim, I guess you really think that makes us even!”
“It sure does!” Allen said decisively, as he picked up his rifle. “Ma’am, don’t yuh worry—things is comin’ out pretty! I’m sayin’ good-by, ’cause I don’t figger on comin’ back!”
“Are yuh sayin’ good-by to Jack?”
“Me? Not any! After this mornin’, I hopes I don’t see him again for a long time!”