Why, it's plumb crazy to offer a job like that to a fellow you haven't seen for as long as you have me.

And if you heard anything about me, it's a cinch it wasn't what would recommend me to any Sunday-school as a teacher of their Bible class! How did you know I wouldn't take it?
And let you in for--" "Well, you're here, and I've seen you.

The job's still waiting for you.
You can start right in, to-morrow morning." Ches got out his pipe and began to fill it as calmly and with as much attention to the small details as if he were not mentally tensed for the struggle he knew was coming; a struggle which struck much deeper than the position he was offering Ford.
Ford almost dropped his cigarette in his astonishment.

"Well, you damn' fool!" he ejaculated pityingly.
"Why?
I thought you knew enough--you punched cows for the Circle for four or five years, didn't you?
Nelson told me you were his top hand while you stayed with him, and that you ran the outfit one whole summer, when--" "That ain't the point." A hot look had crept into Ford's face--a tinge which was not a flush--and a glow into his eyes.

"I know the cow-business, far as that goes.