ort about yere who the instant he finds how
you makes them dug-out improvements sends on an' wins out a gov'ment
patent an' takes title to that identical quarter-section which embraces
your camp. Now he's allowin' to go squanderin' over to Tucson an' get
a docyment or two from the jedge an' run you out.'

"Son, this pore innocent Coyote takes in Dan's fictions like so much
spring water; he believes 'em utter. But the wonder is to see how he
changes. He don't say nothin', but his-eyes sort o' sparks up an' his
face gets as gray as his ha'r. It's now that Doc Peets comes along.

"'Yere is this devourin' scoundrel now,' says Texas Thompson, p'intin'
to Peets. 'You-all had better talk to him some about it.' Then
turnin' to Peets with a wink, Texas goes on: 'Me an' Mister Boggs is
tellin' our friend how you gets a title to that land he's camped on,
an' that you allows you'll take possession mebby next week.'

"'Why, shore,' says Peets, enterin' into the sperit of the hoax, an'
deemin' it a splendid joke; 'be you-all the maverick who's on that
quarter-section of mine?'

"'Which I'm Colonel Coyote Clubbs,' says Coyote, bowin' low while his
lips trembles, 'an' I'm at your service.'

"'Well,' says Peets, 'it don't make much difference about your name,
all you has to do is hit the trail. I needs that location you've done
squatted on because of the water.'

"'An' do I onderstand, sir,' says Coyote some agitated, 'that you'll
come with off'cers to put me outen my dug-out?'

"'Shore,' says Peets, in a case-hardened, pitiless tone, 'an' why not?
Am I to be debarred of my rights by some coyote-slaughterin' invader
an' onmurmurin'ly accede tharto? Which I should shore say otherwise.'

"'Then I yereby warns you, sir,' says Coyote, gettin' pale as paper.
'I advises you to bring your coffin when you comes for that land, for
I'll down you the moment you're in range.'

"'In which case,' says Peets, assoomin' airs of blood-thirsty
trucyoolence, 'thar's scant use to wait. If thar's goin' to be any
powder burnin' we might better burn it now.'

"'I've no weepon, sir,' says Coyote, limpin' about in a circle, 'but if
ary of these gentlemen will favour me with a gun I'll admire to put
myse'f in your way.'

"Which the appearance of Coyote when he utters this, an' him showin' on
the surface about as war-like as a prairie-dog, convulses Dan an'
Texas. It's all they can do to keep a grave front while pore Coyote in
his ignorance