“Judge,” says Magpie, “we’ll let a certain few bring their guns inside the hall. Now, let’s get down to business. Is Pete Gonyer makin’ the star?”
“Moon. He had a round piece of glass, but he says there ain’t no danged way he can cut a star. Moon will do as well, won’t it?”
“If we can’t get a star; but the Bible says they followed a star.”
“Yaller Rock county won’t never know that,” says Dirty. “Not if yuh don’t tell em.”
“We’re having the stage built twice as big, and then we’ll put dirt over the boards so it will look like a desert. We’ll have a curtain built along two sides and the back, and we’ve got to have them stairs braced up a little before we can bring Maud S up into the hall.”
“Is Maud S comin’ to the show?” asks Dirty.
“She’s the ca-mel,” explains Magpie. “Goin’ to fix up some humps on her back and yuh never could tell her from a ca-mel. Sabe?”
“Suppose she brays?” says Scenery.
“Suppose she gestures?” says Dirty. “My ——, but a mule can gesture.”
“Maud S ain’t got a kick left in her old carcass,” grins Magpie.