He and Shorty were inseparable companions.
"Take the saddle off my horse and put 'er up," groaned Shorty.

"I'm dead beat!" "Maybe you been chasing Perris on foot," observed Lew Hervey.

Direct questions were still not in order, but often a man could be taunted into speech.
"Damn Perris and damn him black," retorted Shorty, opening his eyes with a snap and letting a glance blaze into space.

"Of all the leather-skinned, mule-muscled, wrong-headed gents I ever seen he's the outlastingest." "You sure got your vocabulary all warmed up," observed Little Joe, so-called because of two hundred pounds of iron-hard sinew and muscle.
Slim was wandering towards the door to execute his mission, but he kept his head cocked towards his prostrated friend to learn as much as possible before he left.

"Which I disremember," went on Little Joe thoughtfully, "of you ever putting so many words together without cussing.