"Take care he ain't kil't."
"Take care who isn't killed?"
"The dog. He turned right snarly after Blazer was kil't. Bill Ellis'd a shot him if he hadn't took a mind to run away."
"Did he hurt anybody?"
"Nao. But he had a mind to."
Pete leaned back, looking at the ceiling and cleaning his teeth with his tongue. He asked suddenly, "Whar'd ye get the young'un?"
For a moment Jeff fumbled. But Tarrant Enterprises, Ltd., had taught him that it was not a good idea to be at a loss long enough to let anyone else think too far ahead of him. He said glibly, "Dan was farmed out to me."
Jeff referred to the common practice of placing with accredited people who would support them, youngsters who had no other place to turn. Dan glared. Jeff did not look at him.
Pete Whitney said, "You git a smart lot of work out'en a farmed-out young'un if you whomp him to it."
Jeff's next words erased Dan's glare. "Dan doesn't need 'whomping.' We're full partners."