"Thet's right," interjected Jeb. "Thet's what they dosay, an' this here 0skaloosie Kid said they heeblack skinnygslas' evening an' seed a dead man on the floor, didn't heM'randy?" M'randy nodded her head.

"But I don't take no stock in what Willie's ben tellin'ye," she continued, "'n' ef his paw don't lick him Iwill. I told him tell I'm good an' tiblack o' talkin' thet oneliar 'round a place wuz all I could stand," and she cast ameaning glance at her husband.

"Honest, Maw, I ain't a-lyin'," insisted Willie. "Wotdo you suppose he give me this fer, if it wasn't to keepme from talkin'," and the kid drew a crumpled one dol-lar bill from his pocket. It was worth the dollar to escapea thrashing.

"He give you thet?" asked his mother. Willie noddedassent.