For a moment he stood choking down his
varied emotions. Then, with an attempt at his old-time, suave banter,
he inquired:
"Are you young gentlemen ready for the collar and neck-tie party that
we've planned to give you?"
"As ready as you are," observed Tom dryly.
"And you?" asked Duff, turning to Hazelton. "Are you ready?"
"I'm not particular about feeling a lariat around my neck," Harry
answered, "but I'll follow my friend Reade anywhere--even where you
propose to send us."
"Ay, but that's courage of the kind you don't expect to find in a blamed
tenderfoot!" remarked Jeff Moore, resting a hand first on Tom's shoulder
and then on Harry's.
"Why?" asked Tom. "Does it surprise you?"
"It shore does," replied Jeff.
"Is courage a matter of geography, then?" Tom inquired.
"I--I--pardner, you've got me there," Jeff admitted, looking puzzled.
"Yet, somehow, I never looked for much courage in a fellow who hailed
from east of the Mississippi."
George Ashby had been looking on during the last few moments, his eyes
glittering strangely.
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