Rawlins shook the proffered hand with eager spontaneousness, and the girl resumed: "He's about ez good ez they make 'em--you bet.

Well, you know Ned has put all his money, and all his strength, and all his sabe, and--" "His good looks," added Clinch mischievously.
"Into that Ditch," continued Zenobia, ignoring the interruption.

"It's his mother, it's his sweetheart, it's his everything! When other chaps of his age was cavortin' round Frisco, and havin' high jinks, Ned was in his Ditch.

'Wait till the Ditch is done,' he used to say.

'Wait till she begins to boom, and then you just stand round.' Mor'n that, he got all the boys to put in their last cent--for they loved Ned, and love him now, like ez ef he wos a woman." "That's so," said Clinch and Rawlins simultaneously, "and he's worth it." "Well," continued Zenobia, "the Ditch didn't boom ez soon ez they kalkilated.