“Aw, I know, an’ I did. But I gotta tell you—get this off my chest or bust.”
“Hogue, I’m your pard or your brother—anyone you need. Go ahead. Spill it.”
“Tex, I’ve made a turrible fool of myself. But I couldn’t help it.… Thet day Rona looked at me—you remember—an’ told her Dad I was won—der—ful.… Wal, I fell awful in love with her an’ it’s grown wuss ever since.”
“Is that all, Hogue?”
“All! . . . It was bad enough, but it’ll kill me now.… I seen Rona with him. She was laughin’ an’ cuttin’ up—the little flirt!”
“Hogue, she’s an innocent kid.”
“Shore. Innocent of anythin’ bad, thank Gawd!—But not of makin’ fellows fall in love with her.”
“Yes, of that too. Rona is gay, bright, full of fun. She’d get a lot out of some nice boy calling on her. It’ll do her good. Poor lonely child! You o
