“She’s the purtiest girl I ever see!�
“How’d you used to go callin’ on a girl, you old bronco-peeler? With a six-gun hangin’ from yore belt an’ a bowie knife between yore teeth?�
“Yes!� Pop shouted, above the din. “I sure would! In my day we went courtin’ in hats, not hair tonic!�
“I suppose that’s why you got so much hair now!� Gus yelled, doubling up with exaggerated laughter. “Boy, that dome of yourn shines like a Mexican dollar!�
Pop clamped his hat savagely back on his head, and then grinned.
“Well, I suppose boys will be boys. ’Scuse me now. I got to work. There’s some blocks behind the cook-house you children can amuse yourselves with. You can build houses. But don’t build ’em too high. They might fall on you an’ bust a finger nail or somethin’. Then Norine wouldn’t like you no more!� Before they could answer him, the veteran puncher tramped off.
“Crazy old coot!� Nat Raymond said with a grin. “Always has the last word! Well, let’s get goin’, boys. There’s plenty to do. Roy, you’re the boss this week, ain’t you? Want me to ride down to Eagles and see if our inoculation stuff has come in yet?� He had reference to an antitoxin which cattle are given to prevent a disease called blackleg.
“Guess you’d better, Nat,â€� Roy said. “And while you’re there, take a good look around. See if you can spot that puncher in a shirt that—isn’t striped.â€�
“I get you,� Nat returned. “An’ if I see a geezer with a scar on the left side of his face I’ll let you know that, too.� Mr. Manley had told the story of the robbery to all the men on the X Bar X.
Roy and Teddy walked slowly over toward the corral.