An' take mah hunch.

Somebody has been talkin' to her." "Who has ?" asked her father, in his husky voice.

Ellen knew at once that he had been drinking.
"Lord only knows," replied Daggs.

"But shore it wasn't any friends of ours." "We cain't stop people's tongues," said Jorth, resignedly "Wal, I ain't so shore," continued Daggs, with his slow, cool laugh.
"Reckon I never yet heard any daid men's tongues wag." Then the musical tinkle of his spurs sounded fainter.

A moment later Ellen's father entered the cabin.