[He laughs]. Oh you neednt try to brazen it
out. Youll look white enough before the boys are done with you.
BLANCO. You do me good. Feemy. Stay by me to the end, wont you?
Hold my hand to the last; and I'll die game. [He puts out his
hand: she strikes savagely at it; but he withdraws it in time and
laughs at her discomfiture].
FEEMY. You--
ELDER DANIELS. Never mind him, Feemy: he's not right in his head
to-day. [She receives the assurance with contemptuous credulity,
and sits down on the step of the Sheriff's dais].
Sheriff Kemp comes in: a stout man, with large flat ears, and a
neck thicker than his head.
ELDER DANIELS. Morning, Sheriff.
THE SHERIFF. Morning, Elder. [Passing on.] Morning, Strapper.
[Passing on]. Morning, Miss Evans. [Stopping between Strapper and
Blanco]. Is this the prisoner?
BLANCO [rising] Thats so. Morning, Sheriff.
THE SHERIFF. Morning. You know, I suppose, that if you've stole a
horse and the jury find against you, you wont have any time to
settle your affairs. Consequently, if you feel guilty, youd
better settle em now.
BLANCO. Affairs be damned! Ive got none.
THE SHERIFF. Well, are you in a proper state of mind? Has the
Elder talked to you?
BLANCO. He has. And I say it's against the law. It's torture:
thats what it is.
ELDER DANIELS. He's not accountable. He's out of his mind,
Sheriff. He's not fit to go into the presence of his Maker.
THE SHERIFF. You are a merciful man, Elder; but you wont take the
boys with you there.
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