Phil and the boys have been busy with the horses every day, an' this new man don't count, you know." "Who is he, anyway ?" asked Reid bluntly.
"I don't know any more than that he says his name is Patches." "Funny name," grunted Jim.
"Yes, but there's a lot of funny names, Jim," the Dean answered quietly.
"I don't know as Patches is any funnier than Skinner or Foote or Hogg, or a hundred other names, when you come to think about it.

We ain't just never happened to hear it before, that's all." "Where did you pick him up ?" "He just came along an' wanted work.

He's green as they make 'em, but willin', an' he's got good sense, too." "I'd go slow 'bout takin' strangers in," said the big man bluntly.
"Shucks!" retorted the Dean.

"Some of the best men I ever had was strangers when I hired 'em.

Bein' a stranger ain't nothin' against a man.