Part 17 (1/2)
”No, I can't quit. I have got to go on.” Bill's face fell. ”And perhaps I can make up in some other ways. I may be able to help some fellows a bit.” The sincerity and humble earnestness of Shock's tone quite softened Bill's heart.
”Well, there's lots of 'em need it,” he said in his gruff voice.
”There's the blankest lot of fools on these ranches you ever seen.”
Shock became alert. He was on the track of business.
”What's wrong with them?” he enquired.
”Wrong? Why, they aint got no sense. They stock up with cattle, horses, and outfit to beat creation, and then let the whole thing go to blazes.”
”What's the matter with them?” persisted Shock, ”Are they lazy?”
”Lazy! not a hair. But when they get together over a barrel of beer or a keg of whisky they are like a lot of hogs in a swill trough, and they won't quit while they kin stand. That's no way for a man to drink!”
continued Bill in deep disgust.
”Why, is not this a Prohibition country?”
”Oh! Prohibition be blanked! When any man kin get a permit for all he wants to use, besides all that the whisky men bring in, what's the good of Prohibition?”
”I see,” said Shock. ”Poor chaps. It must be pretty slow for them here.”
”Slow!” exclaimed Bill. ”That aint no reason for a man's bein' a fool.
I aint no saint, but I know when to quit.”
”Well, you're lucky,” said Shock. ”Because I have seen lots of men that don't, and they're the fellows that need a little help, don't you think so?”
Bill squirmed a little uneasily.
”You can't keep an eye on all the fools unless you round 'em up in corral,” he grunted.
”No. But a man can keep from thinking more of a little tickling in his stomach than he does of the life of his fellowman.”
”Well, what I say is,” replied Bill, ”every fellow's got to look after himself.”
”Yes,” agreed Shock, ”and a little after the other fellows, too. If a man is sick--”
”Oh! now you're speakin',” interrupted Bill eagerly. ”Why, certainly.”
”Or if he is not very strong.”
”Why, of course.”
”Now, don't you think,” said Shock very earnestly, ”that kicking a man along that is already sliding toward a precipice is pretty mean business, but s.n.a.t.c.hing him back and bracing him up is worth a man's while?”
”Well, I guess,” said Bill quietly.
”That's the business I'm trying to do,” said Shock. ”I'd hate to help a man down who is already on the incline. I think I'd feel mean, and if I can help one man back to where it's safe, I think it's worth while, don't you?”
Bill appeared uncomfortable. He could not get angry, Shock's manner was so earnest, frank, respectful, and sincere, and at the same time he was sharp enough to see the bearing of Shock's remarks upon what was at least a part of his business in life.