"Tell me, they do, that you air sorter gittin' up in the picters, John."
"I am not studying pictures. I have no intention of becoming an artist."
"Oh, you know what I mean? Say, one time er good while ergo, I told you that you would hear from me in a way that would make you squeal. Ricolleck?"
"Wall, the reason you ain't is becaze I went off down ter my uncle's in the white oak neighborhood, an' ever' time I came back you was off at school or somewhar else. Now, don't you think it is erbout time we was havin' er settlement?"
"I don't owe you anything," John replied.
John felt the girl's trembling touch upon his arm. He looked at her, and saw that her face had grown paler. She gave him a look of earnest meaning, and then slowly shook her head. Not another word was spoken until they were within a few steps of Eva's home. Then John, bidding her good evening, said that he must hurry on and assist Potter and Alf in feeding the cattle.
"I wish to see you a moment," said the girl, drawing him aside. "Don't have anything to do with that man." She added, in an undertone, "he is utterly without principle."
"I will keep an eye on him," John replied. "The coward ever seems to fear the light of an open eye quite as much as he does the gleaming of a weapon. Good-evening."
John walked rapidly, but Juckels, moving with a sort of dog trot, soon overtook him.
"Looks like we mout have rain, John; the sun's goin' ter bed sorter bloody, ez the feller says."
"Hickory switches grow putty plentiful long here, don't they?"
"Never wuz cut in the face with one, I reckon?"
"I should think so, if you have a good memory."
"You bet I've got er good one. Now here, I want you ter 'polyjise ter me."
"You know, an' you've got ter do it ur suthin' is goin' ter happen."
"Something is always happening. If something didn't happen, time would be very dull to some people."
"Yas; an' when suthin' do happen, time mout stop ter some people. You've hearn uv fellers what b'l'eves that er pistol sometimes snaps, but er knife don't, hain't you?"
"There are fellows, too, that I suppose you have heard of."
"The kind that would not hesitate a moment to knock you down and kick you across the road. I see your knife, you coward." They had stopped in the road, and were facing each other.