affections. But I say deliberate that pigs has got no call to be in a
cow country, not none, unless salted. Say, can't we salt this one?
Then, who's the worse _off_ for it? What's all this furse about,
anyway?"

"That's right, Curly," said Dan Anderson, who stood with hands in
pockets and pipe in mouth, leaning against the door-jamb in front of
his "law office." "You have enunciated a great principle of law in
that statement. They have got to prove damages. Moreover, you have
got a counter-claim. It's laceratin' to be compared to a shoat."

"And me just goin' to be married," said Curly.

"Sure, it ain't right."

"Andersen," said I, moving up to the group, "did you ever hear of such
things as champerty and maintenance? The first thing you know, you'll
get disbarred for stirring up litigation."

"Keep away from my client," said Dan Anderson, grinning. "You're
jealous of my professional success, that's all. Neither of us has had
a case yet, and now that it looks like I was going to get one, you're
jealous. Do you want to pass up the first lawsuit ever held in the
county? Come now, I'm bored to death. Let's have some fun."

Curly began to shift uneasily on his feet. His hat went still farther
back on his red, kinky curls.

"Law!" said he. "Law! You don't mean--" For the first time in his
life Curly grew pale. "Why, I'll clean out the hull bunch!" he said,