"Know'd him et Saint Louee; used ter drop in ter my place.

He an' Kirby hed a row, an' I reckon thet's whut started him drinkin'." "A row; a quarrel, you mean ?" forgetting myself in surprise.

"Who's Kirby ?" "Joe Kirby; yer sure must know him, if yer a river man.

Slim sorter feller, with a smooth face; slickest gambler ever wus, I reckon." "Why, of course," getting control of myself once more.

"We picked him up, 'long with Tim, down river.