“Have you any idee how long ago it was ’at the woman was drugged?” asked the Friar.
“I haven’t any idee,” sez Badger-face weakly. “Carl was killed four years ago this Christmas eve; so it had to be before that.”
“Listen to me, Badger-face,” sez the Friar, grippin’ his hand tight. “I want you to get well. I know that all these men will stand by you and help you to start a new life.”
“How long is it since I’ve been laid up?” asked Badger.
“Two weeks,” sez the Friar. “This is two days after Christmas.”
“Who tended to me?” asked Badger.
“We all did,” sez the Friar, “and we all stand ready to help you make a new start.”
“I had a good enough start,” sez Badger; “but I fooled it away, an’ I’m too old now to make a new one.”
“Is there any word you want sent to your friends at Ty Jones’s?” asked the Friar.
Once more Badger skinned his face into the grin. “Friends?” sez he. “When you trap a wolf, does he send any word to his friends? I haven’t got no friends.”