While holdin' himse'f at what you might call 'par' on all o'casions, Dave is still plenty minglesome an' fraternal with the balance of the herd, an' would no more think of donnin' airs or puttin' on dog than he'd think of blastin' away at one of us with his gun.

Yet eight weeks prior thar shorely dawns a change.
"Which the first symptom--the advance gyard as it were of Dave's gettin' queer--is when Dave's standin' in front of the post-office.
Thar's a faraway look to Dave at the time, like he's tryin' to settle whether he's behind or ahead on some deal.

While thus wropped in this fit of abstraction Dan Boggs comes hybernatin' along an' asks Dave to p'int into the Red Light for a smell of Valley Tan.

Dave sort o' rouses up at this an' fastens on Dan with his eyes, half truculent an' half amazed, same as if he's shocked at Dan's familiarity.

Then he shakes his head decisive.
"'Don't try to braid this mule's tail none!' says Dave, an' at that he strides off with his muzzle in the air.