Look here! That kind of talk won t wash.
Potter trembled and grew white.
I thought I d got sober. I d no business to drink to-night. But it s
in my head yet worse n when we started here. I m all in a muddle;
can t recollect anything of it, hardly. Tell me, Joe _honest_, now,
old feller did I do it? Joe, I never meant to pon my soul and honor, I
never meant to, Joe. Tell me how it was, Joe. Oh, it s awful and him so
young and promising.
Why, you two was scuffling, and he fetched you one with the headboard
and you fell flat; and then up you come, all reeling and staggering
like, and snatched the knife and jammed it into him, just as he fetched
you another awful clip and here you ve laid, as dead as a wedge til
now.
Oh, I didn t know what I was a-doing. I wish I may die this minute if I
did. It was all on account of the whiskey and the excitement, I reckon.
I never used a weepon in my life before, Joe. I ve fought, but never
with weepons. They ll all say that. Joe, don t tell! Say you won t tell,
Joe that s a good feller. I always liked you, Joe, and stood up for you,
too. Don t you remember? You _won t_ tell, _will_ you, Joe? And the
poor creature dropped on his knees before the stolid murderer, and
clasped his appealing hands.
No, you ve always been fair and square with me, Muff Potter, and I
won t go back on you. There, now, that s as fair as a man can say.
Oh, Joe, you re an angel. I ll bless you for this the longest day I
live. And Potter began to cry.
Come, now, that s enough of that. This ain t any time for blubbering.
You be off yonder way and I ll go this. Move, now, and don t leave any
tracks behind you.
Potter started on a trot that quickly increased to a run. The half-breed
stood looking after him. He muttered:
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