Twice again as he watched Lawler's grave face he gulped.

And then he eyed Lawler belligerently.
"I reckon them monitors is eastern.

I've never seen one galivantin' around these parts." "They're a lot eastern," assented Lawler.

"I've never seen one, but I've read about them in books.

And once my mother saw one--she tells me the East raises them by the hundred." "That accounts for it," declared Blackburn; "anything which comes from the East is likely to be a heap shy on hoss sense." He now squinted at Lawler, watching him keenly.
"Accordin' to report Joe Hamlin ought to go around draggin' one of them monitors." Blackburn shrewdly noted the quickening of Lawler's eyes, and the dull red that stole into his face.
"What do you mean, Blackburn ?" "Davies an' Harris hit town ag'in last night; an' comin' back they run plumb into Joe Hamlin.