Which he gets us mighty near distracted; no one can keep a tab on him.

What with them silences an' volyoobilities, sobrieties an' days of drink, an' all in bewilderin' alternations, he's shore got us goin' four ways at once.
"'In spite of the fact,' continyooes Dan Boggs when we're turnin' Dave's conduct over in our minds an' rummagin' about for reasons; 'in spite of the fact, I says, that I'm plenty posted in advance that I'm up ag'inst a gen'ral shout of derision on account of me bein' sooperstitious, I'm yere to offer two to one Dave's hoodooed.
Moreover, I can name the hoodoo.' "'Whatever is it then ?' asks Texas Thompson; 'cut her freely loose an' be shore of our solemn consid'ration.' "'It's opals,' says Boggs.

'Them gems as every well-instructed gent is aware is the very spent of bad luck.

Dave's wearin' one in his shirt right now.

It's that opal pin wherewith he decks himse'f recent while he's relaxin' with nosepaint in Tucson.