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THE TALE OF BRAZOS DICK

to caunfiscate my gun, for I felt cold and helpless and hopeless without it. And he said it was his dooty, boys, but that he'd now a better notion of Texas, and that he seed a gun was one of the necessities of life in Texas, and that his dooty didn't interfere none with his presentin' me with one as a gift from a friend. And I said if that was so I'd like a forty-four Smith and Wesson. And next mornin' he sent me one, a real daisy of a gun, and here she is!"

While he took another drink the boys looked at Dick's new gun, and said she was all right as a gun. And Pillsbury owned that he'd considerable respect for that magistrate, who was, he thought, a man.

"And when we'd finished hash pile," went on Dick, "we went to a theayter, and saw a show which made me laff caunsiderable; but what it was about I cayn't say, as we kem in late and reetired early, and went to Cheviot's Club, where he interduced me to more lords and some men as was soldiers, but not in gay attire jest then. And I sot among 'em, being tol'rable full and gay, and told 'em

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