"An' now yu get scarce or Billy will shore straddle yore nerves.

He said as how he was goin' to get square on yu to-night." "I didn't, neither, Hoppy!" earnestly contradicted Billy, who bad visions of a night spent in torment as a reprisal for such a threat.
"Honest I didn't, did I, Johnny ?" He asked appealingly.
"Yu shore did," lied Johnny, winking at Red, who had just ridden up.
"I don't know what yore talkin' about, but yu shore did," replied Red.
"If yu did," grinned Hopalong, "I'll shore make yu hard to find.

Come on, fellows," he said; "grub's ready.

Where's Frenchy ?" "Over chewin' th' rag with Waffles about his hat--he's lost it again," answered Red.

"He needs a guardian fer that bonnet.