“Uh-huh,” agrees Magpie. “She shore is. I’ve knowed six good men to git killed on th’ spot, four more in th’ pen, and dozens who have been crippled fer life over friendly arguments.”
“How unique!” exclaims th’ perfessor’s heavier half. “How unique.”
“Yes’m,” agrees Magpie, “two of ’em was, but th’ rest was jist common ordinary arguments.”
“As I was—er—saying,” continues th’ perfessor, “I am up here to settle a friendly argument.”
“Th’ question is?” asks Magpie.
“Do rattlesnakes and prairie-dogs live together in harmony, and will a female grizzly recognize its own offspring after it has been away from, it for twenty-four hours.”
“That’s uh —— of uh reason fer comin’ way up here!” snorts Magpie.
“Why didn’t yuh write to me? I’d ’a’ told yuh.”
“That’s what I said,” cuts in th’ human carbuncle. “When you told me about it I——”
“Doctor,” pipes th’ perfessor, “there’s no use arguing with me. This is a serious question. Professor Manning’s theory is wrong, and I am going to prove it.”