p discussin' an' considerin'. The more we
talks the better we likes that Annalinda idee.

"At sun-up, b'arin' the best wishes of all, Texas cinches a hull into
his quickest pony, an' hits the trail for Tucson to take the railroad
kyars for Laredo.

"'Which, onless they gives me more of a battle than I anticipates,' he
remarks, as he pushes his feet into the stirrup, 'I'll be back by ten
days.'

"'An', Texas,' says Boggs, detainin' him by the bridle rein, 'you-all
beat it into that baby that I'm her Uncle Dan. It'll give you
something to do comin' back.'

"'Which, jedgin' from what I goes through that day in Prescott,'
remarks Moore, mighty cynical, 'Texas'll have plenty to do.'

"Texas don't meet up with no partic'lar Laredo opposition, them
relatives appearin' almost eager to give him Annalinda. One of 'em
even goes the insultin' len'th of offerin' to split the expense, but
withdraws his bluff when Texas threatens to brain him with a
six-shooter.

"Boggs, hearin' of this Laredo willin'ness, can't onderstand it no
how.

"'It's too many for me,' he says. 'If it's me, now, I'd have clung to
that blessed baby till the cows come home. They must shore be
deeficient in taste, them Laredo yahoos!'

"As exhibitin' how soon bein' moved into cel'bration as a uncle begins
to tell on Texas he ups an' in the fullness of his vanity deecides,
even before he arrives at Laredo, ag'inst the scheme which the camp's
half laid out about the Frenches an' Annalinda, an' arranges to have
a 'doby of his own. It's a blow to the Frenches, too, for since we
notifies 'em, they has set their hearts on the racket.

"But Texas is immov'ble.

"'Ed's dyin',' says he, 'an' namin' me to be reespons'ble for
Annalinda, creates a sityooation best met by me havin' a wickeyup of
my own. I'm sorry to disapp'int, but after matoore reeflection, that
a-way, I've conclooded to play a lone hand.'

"While he's away Texas goes projectin' 'round an' cuts out a couple of
old black mammies from a day nursery over in Dallas, an' brings 'em
along. They an' Annalinda rides over from Tucson in the stage; but,
bein' more familiar with the saddle, an' because he's better able
tharfrom to soopervise an' go dictatin' terms to Monte, he himse'f
comes on his pony.

"'An', gents,' whines Monte, as, throwin' down the reins, he heads for
the Red Light bar, 'between us he ain't the same Texas. That
Annalinda child has shore changed him turrible. All the way from
Tucs