He's been ruled off twict 'n' there's no chance fur him to
get back. I wouldn't stand fur him only I'm in so bad I has to do
somethin'.
"'If he takes any coin from me he'll have to be Hermann,' I says to
myself, 'n' I shows up at the hotel the next mawnin'.
"Harms is settin' in the lobby readin' the dope-sheet. I pipes him off
'n' he don't look good to me fur a minute, but I goes over 'n' shakes
his mitt.
"'Well, Blister, old scout, how're they breakin'?' he says.
"'So, so,' I says.
"'That right?' he says. 'I hears different. Fishhead Peters tells me
they've got you on the ropes.'
"'What th' hell does that gassy Fishhead know about me?' I says.
"'Cut out the stallin',' he says. 'It don't go between friends. Would
you like to git a-holt of a new roll?'
"'I don't mind tellin' you that sooner 'n have my clothes tore I lets
somebody crowd a bundle of kale on to me,' I says.
"'That sounds better,' he says. 'Come on--we'll take a cab ride.'
"'Where we goin'?' I asks him, as we gets into a cab.
"'Goin' to look at a hoss,' he says.
"'What fur?' I says.
"'Wait till we git there 'n' I'll tell you,' he says.
"We rides fur about a hour 'n' pulls up at a barn out in the edge of
town. We goes inside 'n' there's a big sorrel geldin', with a blaize
face, in a box-stall.
"'Look him over,' says Harms. I gets one pike at the hoss--
"'Why! it's ole Friendless!' I says.
"'Look close,' he says. 'Wait till I get him outside.
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