put a different look upon the face of
things.

"It seems like the ole man took it some hard," said Curly, lighting a
_cigarrillo_. "He don't seem to remember that I was due to be a
member of the family right soon, same as the pig. I don't like to
think I'm shy when it comes to comparison with a shoat. Gimme time,
and I reckon I could take the place of the pig in my new dad's
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,
the red surging back in his face and his hand instinctively going to
his gun.

"No, you won't," said Dan Anderson. "Do you want to bust up your
marriage with the girl from Kansas?"

"Sho'!" said Curly, and fell thoughtful. "This looks bad," said he;
"mighty bad." He sat down and began to think. I do not doubt that Dan
Anderson at that moment was a disgrace to his profession, though later
he honored it. He winked at me.

"Don't you tamper with my client," said he; and then resumed to Curly;
"What you need is a lawyer. You've got to have legal advice. It
happens that the full bar of Heart's Desire is now present talking to
you. Take your pick. I've got a might