ot if I kin get that Jonesburg slack--ha, ha!

DAVE. Why, that's great!

JIM. [_Drawing watch._] It's a half hour before train time. I'll jump
to St. Louis with the scheme. [_Stands thinking._

DAVE. [_Going._] I got to get the leather put on this shaft--but
that's great. [_Exit._

KATE _appears in outside door._

KATE. [_Coming toward_ JIM, _who is turning gumbo thoughtfully in his
hands._] Jim!

JIM. Why, Kate--[_Gumbo._] See here--how's this for an idea?

KATE. What did you mean--by this? [_She extends letter._

JIM. Why, just that. I thought it looked like his writin',--same
backhand, and no shadin' to it.

KATE. How could Mr. Travers have written it?

JIM. Why, no use gettin' mad, Kate. It kin look _like_ his writin',
can't it?

KATE. [_Going to anvil and leaning on back of it._] You don't like
him, Jim, do you?

JIM. [_Picks up old horse-shoe._] Well--[_Mechanically pounds gumbo
with horse-shoe._

KATE. [_Pause._] Not much--

JIM. No--not a great deal, Kate.

KATE. [_Displaying the letter._] Do you think he's a bad enough man to
have done this?

JIM. Well, a fellow who takes a risk like that--to clear another man
who's been arrested in his place, ain't so bad.

KATE. A train robber!

JIM. Why, I don't _say_ he done it.

KATE. But you think so.

JIM. [_Laughing._] Oh, no, I don't--there's a ten thousand dollar
reward for the right man.

KATE. Then why hand this letter to me? Why imply it?

JIM. Why, Kate, I'm a friend of--your pa's--I've known you ever since
you was eight or ten years old. I don't know this man Travers--_you_
don't know him. He comes to your house.

KATE. Well.

JIM. Comes to see you, don't he?

KATE. [_Getting in front of anvil._] He does--what of it?

JIM. Why--I don't think I'd like a preacher of the Gospel if he was
to do that. [_Pause._] I--I never meant to say anything--but when
men--other men--I mean anybody gets to payin' you attention, why, I'm
afraid to keep still any longer--

KATE. [_Turns away._] To keep still--

JIM. [_Advances._] Yes, I've been sheriff here, an' whenever I've
had anything to do, I've said to myself, now don't--do
anything--ugly--'cause Kate--[KATE _turns toward him; he qualifies
tone._] some day, you know--Kate might think more of me if I hadn't
done it. You know yourself that I quit drinkin' a year before the
local option--on account of that essay you read, examination day--why,
Kate, I care more for how you feel about anythin