He gave the Little Woman a quick, unwinking stare, looked away from her shamedly, reached for his plug of tobacco, took away his hand, swallowed twice, shuffled his feet and then grunted--I can use no other word for it: "Aw, I guess I c'n stand it if you can!" He made a motion then to rise up and go to his own camp where he would undoubtedly think of many tender, witty things that he would like to have spoken to the Little Woman.

But she was watching him.

She saw him move and stopped him with a question.
"Casey Ryan, tell me the truth about that tunnel.

Do you think it's ever going to strike the ore body at all ?" Start Casey off on the subject of mining and you have him anchored and interested for an hour, at least.

The Little Woman had brains, you must see that.
"Well, I don't want to discourage you, ma'am," Casey said reluctantly, the truth crowding against his teeth.