Saxon reached out and touched his hand, and he knew that it was a
hand that loved his hand.
"I've only one regret," she said. "You've earned it all yourself.
I've had nothing to do with it."
"Huh!--you've had everything to do with it. You're like my second
in a fight. You keep me happy an' in condition. A man can't fight
without a good second to take care of him. Hell, I wouldn't a-ben
here if it wasn't for you. You made me pull up stakes an' head
out. Why, if it hadn't been for you I'd a-drunk myself dead an'
rotten by this time, or had my neck stretched at San Quentin over
hittin' some scab too hard or something or other. An' look at me
now. Look at that roll of greenbacks"--he tapped his breast--"to
buy the Boss some horses. Why, we're takin' an unendin' vacation,
an' makin' a good livin' at the same time. An' one more trade I
got--horse-buyin' for Oakland. If I show I've got the savve, an'
I have, all the Frisco firms'll be after me to buy for them. An'
it's all your fault. You're my Tonic Kid all right, all right,
an' if Possum wasn't lookin', I'd--well, who cares if he does
look?"
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