"Young men have no business carting firearms about unless they're hunting or going to war.

Any fellow who carries a pistol as he would a lead pencil is either a coward or a lunatic." "I'm glad to hear you say that, Reade," nodded Mr.Thurston approvingly.
"Two of my staff carry pistols, but they do so under my orders.
In the first place they're grown men, not boys.

In the second place, they're working over a stretch of ground where rattlesnakes are thick.

Your coolness today served you better than a pistol would have done.

If you had had a revolver, and had drawn it, Pete would have drilled you through the head." "Drilled me through the head---with what ?" asked Tom, smiling.
"With a bullet, of course, young man," retorted Mr.Thurston.
"I don't believe he would have gone as far as that," laughed Tom.
"You see, sir, it was like this: When I found Harry so set on carrying a pistol, I went down deep in my own pocket and bought two boxes of blank cartridges to fit the forty-fives.