Me and Dirty Shirt are in jail for upholdin’ Piperock.
And this is what he sent to me—
Good for you. We appreciate yore civic pride.
He didn’t sign his name, but he didn’t need to. I sabe that hombre like a book. Dirty gets kinda gloomy over it all and swears that he’s all through with Piperock. Right there and then I adds my voice to his.
“If that’s patriotism,” says Dirty, “gimme death. Our own town has turned us down, Ike Harper. I didn’t think they’d do it. And they wouldn’t, if they wasn’t gettin’ civilized.”
A little later on cometh Chuck Warner, Liniment Lucas and Testament Tilton.
“You can take the preacher back,” says Dirty. “We ain’t in for murder, you know.”
“I’m not in my clerical capacity,” says Testament. “Be ye both of good cheer.”
“— of a fine chance, the way Hank runs his place here,” snorts Dirty.
“I’ve been up to Piperock,” says Chuck, wigglin’ his ears. Chuck’s got flexible ears and he can wiggle ’em like a mule.