"This ain't any joke with me," he stated grimly.

"It's something that's going to put the Flying U out of business if it ain't stopped before it gets started.

I've been worrying my head off ever since day before yesterday; I ain't in the humor to take anything off those imitation joshers up there--I'll tell yuh that much." "Well, but how do you figure it can be stopped ?" Weary sat soberly down on the oats box and absently watched Andy's expert fingers while they knotted the heavy cotton cord through the cinch-ring.

"We can't stand 'em off with guns." Andy dropped the cinch and stood up, pushing back his hat and then pulling it forward into place with the gesture he used when he was very much in earnest.

"No, we can't.