CHAPTER V.
The Queerness of Dave Tutt.
"Which these queernesses of Dave's," observed the Old Cattleman, "has already been harrowin' an' harassin' up the camp for mighty likely she's two months, when his myster'ous actions one evenin' in the Red Light brings things to a climax, an' a over-strained public, feelin' like it can b'ar no more, begins to talk.
"It's plumb easy to remember this Red Light o'casion, for jest prior to Dave alarmin' us by becomin' melodious, furtive--melody bein' wholly onnacheral to Dave, that a-way--thar's a callow pin-feather party comes caperin' in an' takin' Old Man Enright one side, asks can he yootilise Wolfville as a strategic p'int in a elopement he's goin' to pull off.
"'Which I'm out to elope a whole lot from Tucson,' explains this pin-feather party to Enright, 'an' I aims to cinch the play.

I'm a mighty cautious sport, an' before ever I hooks up for actooal freightin' over any trail, I rides her once or twice to locate wood and water, an' pick out my camps.

Said system may seem timorous, but it's shore safer a heap.

So I asks ag'in whether you-all folks has any objections to me elopin' into Wolfville with my beloved, like I suggests.

I ain't out to spring no bridals on a onprotected outfit, wherefore I precedes the play with these queries.' "'But whatever's the call for you to elope at all ?' remonstrates Enright.