"I was. But ain't he hungry?"
Shoop chuckled. "Let him in, son."
Lorry opened the door. Bondsman stalked in, sniffed at Lorry's boots, and padded to the kitchen.
"What do you feed him?" said Lorry, hesitating.
"He won't take nothin' from you," said Shoop, heaving himself up. "I've had him since he was a pup. You set down and I'll 'tend to him.
"And I says to him," said Shoop, as he returned to his chair,—"I says, 'Bondsman, that there cat was just passin' the buck to us to see if we was game.' And he ain't got over it yet."
"I've roped 'em," said Lorry—"roped 'em out of a tree."
"Uh-uh. Where'd you learn to rope?"
"At the Starr Ranch. I worked there once."
"Git tired of it?"