And you licked him to a fare-you-well and had him crying real tears before I or anybody else could stop you." "What'd I lick him for ?" Ford inquired in a tone of deep discouragement.
Sandy's indeterminate, blue-gray eyes rounded with puzzlement.
"Search me," he repeated automatically.

But later he inadvertently shed enlightenment.

He laughed, bending double, and slapping his thigh at the irresistible urge of a mental picture.
"Thought I'd die," he gasped.

"Me and Sam was watching from the door.
You had the preacher by the collar, shakin' him, and once in awhile liftin' him clean off the ground on the toe of your boot; and you kept saying: 'A sober man, and a preacher--and you'd marry that girl to a fellow like me!' And then biff! And he'd let out a squawk.

'A drinkin', fightin', gamblin' son-of-a-gun like me, you swine!' you'd tell him.