“That’s a —— of a question to ask,” says Bosco, and we watches him blend into the mesquite, going away from Piperock.
“That must ’a’ been Scenery on the elephant,” says Magpie awed-like. “Scenery must ’a’ lost his clothes in the crash.”
“Speculation has ruined a lot of men,” says I. “Why stop to speculate?”
We saddled our broncs and we didn’t hit the main road until we’re in shooting distance of Paradise. Then we turns a corner and runs slap into Jay-Bird and Hassayampa. They’re packing just enough to feel glad. They hands us a bottle.
“You fellers going to the celebration?” I asks.
“You betcha,” agrees Hassayampa. “Looking forward to a hyiu time. How’s the circus?”
“Only thing of it’s kind on earth,” says Magpie between swallers. “Piperock is going crazy over it.”
“Bet they are,” agrees Hassayampa. “Piperock deserves it. Don’t want to sell out, do you?”
“Sell it?” asks Magpie. “Hadn’t thought of such a thing. Who wants to buy it, Hassayampa?”
“It ain’t worth no more than you paid for it, Magpie,” says Jay-Bird, “but we’d pay that much, eh, Hassayampa?”