“I’ve heard tell ’at you got so familiar over at the Diamond Dot, that the old man turned ya loose,” sez he. “Is the’ anything to it?”
I didn’t reply at once. My first impulse was to see if I couldn’t pull him and his Adam’s apple apart; for this wasn’t no accident. This was a studied insult, and every one there was watchin’ to see what would happen; but the’ was too much at stake; so I gripped myself until I had time to put that remark where it wouldn’t run any risk o’ spoilin’; and then I sez: “Well, I don’t just like to have it put that way; but I will admit that you haven’t missed it so terrible far.”
“Lookin’ for a job?” sez he.
“Oh, I’m not carin’ much,” sez I. “I’m thinkin’ some o’ takin’ a homestead, or buyin’ some other feller out; but I ain’t in any hurry. I may go on down into Texas, or take on again up here. Any chance for a job with your outfit?”
Durin’ the time I had been decidin’ on what I’d say, Dixon had been wonderin’ how I’d take it; and I don’t doubt he was some relieved. Anyway, he thawed out a little. “Nope, I hardly think so,” sez he. “We’ve been hard pushed for grass this season; but Ty bought a water-right on Ice Crick, and things has smoothed out again. Another thing is, that Badger-face has come back.”
I gave a start as natural as life, and I didn’t put it on, neither. I had no idy he’d mention Badger-face without a lot o’ pumpin’. “Badger-face?” sez I. “Good Lord, I thought he was dead!”
“Well, we thought so, too,” sez Dixon. “We hadn’t heard a word from him; but he showed up a while back, and as soon as he gets able, he’ll take to ridin’ again.”
“What’s wrong with him?” sez I.
“He’s purty well played out,” sez Dixon. “He sez ’at that feller, Bradford, is some sort of a government agent. Now, we ain’t got nothin’ again’ the government out this way, so long as it minds its own business; but when it gets to interferin’ with our rights, why it generally has to find a new agent. You were along with this feller, Bradford, when he scooped in Badger-face; and I doubt if that has slipped Badger’s mind yet. Badger’s memory for such things used to be purty reliable.”
“Well, if it comes to that,” sez I, “I’d rather have Badger-face on my trail than Dinky Bradford; though I own up, I don’t just know what government position Dinky holds.”