"Then just you ride back an' tell Buck Hardy that Bud Shoop says he'll stand responsible for Adams keepin' the peace in Jason County, same as I stood responsible for Buck oncet down in the Panhandle. Buck will remember, all right."
"Can't you give me a letter to Buck, explainin' things?" queried the deputy.
Bud glanced at Torrance. "I think we can," said the supervisor.
Lorry stepped to the door with the deputy. There was no personal feeling evident as they shook hands.
"You could tell ma to send down my clothes by stage," said Lorry.
Shoop and Torrance seemed to be enjoying themselves.
"I put in my say," said Bud, "'cause I kind of like the kid. And I reckon I saved that deputy a awful wallopin'. When a fella like young Adams talks pleasant and chokes his hat to death at the same time you can watch out for somethin' to fall."
"Do you think Adams would have had it out with him?"
"He'd 'a' rode along a spell, like he said. Mebby just this side of the county line he'd 'a' told the deputy which way was north. And if the deputy didn't take the hint, I reckon Adams would 'a' lit into him. I knowed Adams's daddy afore he married Annie Adams and went to live in Sonora."
"Then you knew that his father was Jim Waring?"