Heart's Desire by Emerson Hough
page 25 of 330 (07%)
page 25 of 330 (07%)
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a plate," said he. "I've paid more for worse--yes, a lot worse. But
by the way, Mac, where's that other can of oysters? I thought you said there were four." "That's what I said," broke in Tom Osby. "I done told Mac I ought to bring 'em all down, but he said only three." "Well," said McKinney, always a conservative and level-headed man, "I allowed that if they would keep a month, they would keep a little longer. Now you all know there's goin' to be a stage in next week, and likely it'll bring the president of the New Jersey Gold Mills, who's been due here a couple of weeks. Now here we are, hollerin' all the time for Eastern Capital. What's the right thing for us to do when we get any Eastern Capital into our town? This here man comes from Philadelphy, which I reckon is right near the place where oysters grows. What are you goin' to _do_? He's used to oysters; like enough he eats 'em every day in the year, because he's shore rich. First thing he hollers for when he gets here is _oysters_. Looks like you all didn't have no public spirit. Are we goin' to give this here Eastern man the things he's used to, kinder gentle him along like, you know, and so get all the closeter and easier to him, or are we goin' to throw him down cold, and leave him dissatisfied the first day he strikes our camp? It shore looks to me like there ain't but one way to answer that." "And that there one answer," said Tom Osby, "is now a-reclinin' in the snowbank up on Carrizy." "I reckon that's so, all right, Mac," assented Curly, reflectively. "I _could_ have et one more oyster or so, but I can quit if it's for the |
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