Anybody could see that.

Ain't I a neighbor?
Ain't neighbors got a right to jump in and help each other?
There ain't no law agin--" "Not against neighbors--no." Blake uncrossed his perfectly trousered legs and crossed them the other way, after carefully avoiding any bagging tendency.

"But this syndicate--or these contestants--will try to prove that you are not a neighbor only, but a--backer of the boys in a land-grabbing scheme.

To avoid--" "Well, doggone your measly hide, Blake, I've told you fifty times I ain't!" The Old Man sat forward in his chair and shook his fist unabashed at his guest.

"Them boys cooked that all up amongst themselves, and went and filed on that land before ever I knowed a thing about it.