Colonel, I want to thank you for drawin' things down."
So he come up and shook me by the hand, and up files the rest and does
the same thing.
"Now, friends," says I, "hold on. Court hasn't passed sentence yet. I
pass that this crowd put up to the tune of what it can spare to
buy"--consulting the letter--"to buy Peggy a ticket West, kids
included, exceptin' only the gentleman that lost the horse."
"Why, we ain't broke altogether on Badger!" says he. "You ain't goin'
to bar me, boys?"
"Not on your life, if that's the way you feel," says I. I don't know
what amount that crowd could spare, but I'll bet high on one thing. If
you'd strong-armed the gang, you wouldn't start a bank with the
proceeds after the collection was taken. There wasn't a nickel in the
outfit. "I'm glad I didn't bring any more with me," says Burton,
strapping himself.
Of course, I was appointed to break the news to the prisoner. He
busted then; put his head on his arm and cried like a baby. But he
braced quick and stepped up to the lads. "There ain't nothing I can
say except thank you," says he. "I want to get each man's name so's I
can pay him back. Now, if anybody here knows of a job of work I can
get--well, you know what it would mean to me. Sporty life is done for
me, friends; I'll work hard for any man that'll take me."
"I got you," I says. "Come along with me and I'll explain.
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