[To Blanco]. If it comes to hanging you,
youd better for your own sake be hanged in a proper state of mind
than in an improper one. But it wont make any difference to us:
make no mistake about that.
BLANCO. Lord keep me wicked till I die! Now Ive said my little
prayer. I'm ready. Not that I'm guilty, mind you; but this is a
rotten town, dead certain to do the wrong thing.
THE SHERIFF. You wont be asked to live long in it, I guess. [To
Strapper] Got the witness all right, Strapper?
STRAPPER. Yes, got everything.
BLANCO. Except the horse.
THE SHERIFF. Whats that? Aint you got the horse?
STRAPPER. No. He traded it before we overtook him, I guess. But
Feemy saw him on it.
FEEMY. She did.
STRAPPER. Shall I call in the boys?
BLANCO. Just a moment, Sheriff. A good appearance is everything
in a low-class place like this. [He takes out a pocket comb and
mirror, and retires towards the dais to arrange his hair].
ELDER DANIELS. Oh, think of your immortal soul, man, not of your
foolish face.
BLANCO. I cant change my soul, Elder: it changes me--sometimes.
Feemy: I'm too pale. Let me rub my cheek against yours, darling.
FEEMY. You lie: my color's my own, such as it is. And a pretty
color youll be when youre hung white and shot red.
BLANCO. Aint she spiteful, Sheriff?
THE SHERIFF. Time's wasted on you. [To Strapper] Go and see if
the boys are ready. Some of them were short of cartridges, and
went down to the store to buy them.
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