Remember the old playing-cards that had a joker which was a picture of a long-legged old pelican riding a little mule? The feller’s legs are so long he has to spread himself to keep from dragging his feet on the ground, and he’s got kind of a funny old face.
He rides up, insists on shaking hands with us and then reads the old sign.
“I have found it,” says he proud-like.
“You’ve found somethin’,” agrees Hashknife. “You goin’ to visit Willer Crick?”
“Name’s Cobb, Reverend Cobb, and I am God’s pardner. Yes, I am going to visit the place, brother.”
“I’m Hashknife Hartley, and I ain’t got no brother. I’ll say to you that Willer Crick ain’t the healthiest place on this earth, no matter who your pardner is.”
“I’ve come a long ways,” says he, “a long ways on a mule. I’ve heard that it’s kinda ungodly.”
“Ungodly!” snorts Hashknife, “lemme tell yuh somethin’ about that—uh—no, I won’t either. You’ve come a long ways on a mule.”
“Are they as bad as folks has told me?”
“Man,” says Hashknife, “man, there ain’t never been a liar foaled yet that could do that place justice. That there sign is a compliment to that community.”