'
"'You can bet it ain't no Siwash,' says 'Doby. 'It's clean strain,
that infant is, if I does say it.'
"'That's whatever.' says Billy. looking the infant over an'
beginnin' to feel as proud of it as 'Doby himse'f, 'that's whatever.
An' I'm yere to remark, any gent who can up an' without no talk or
boastin' have such a papoose as that, is licensed to plume himse'f
tharon, an' put on dog over it, the same without restraint. If ever
you calls the turn for the limit, pard, it's when you has this yere
child.'
"At this 'Doby an' Billy shakes hands like it's a ceremony, an' both
is grave an' dignified about it. 'Doby puts it up that usual he's
beyond flattery, but when a gent of jedgement like Billy looks over
a play that a-way, an' indorses it, you can bet he's not insensible.
Then they shakes hands ag'in, an' 'Doby says:
"'Moreover, not meanin' no compliments, nor tossin' of no boquets,
old pard, me an' Manuela names this young person "Willyum"; same as
you-all.'
"Billy comes mighty near droppin' the infant on the floor at this,
an' the small victim of his onthoughtfulness that a-way yells like a
coyote.
"'That settles it,' says Billy. 'A gent who could come down to
blastin' an' drillin'--mere menial tasks, as they shorely be--on the
heels of honor like this, is a mighty sight more sordid than Copper
Queen Billy Rudd.
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