sorry, Al."

"No, it ain't thet. Never was sick in my life. I'm just
played out, like a hoss thet had been strong an' willin',
an' did too much. . . . Wal, you don't look a day older,
Milt. Livin' in the woods rolls over a man's head."

"Yes, I'm feelin' fine, an' time never bothers me."

"Wal, mebbe you ain't such a fool, after all. I've wondered
lately -- since I had time to think. . . . But, Milt, you
don't git no richer."

"Al, I have all I want an' need."

"Wal, then, you don't support anybody; you don't do any good
in the world."

"We don't agree, Al," replied Dale, with his slow smile.

"Reckon we never did. . . . An' you jest come over to pay
your respects to me, eh?"

"Not altogether," answered Dale, ponderingly. "First off,
I'd like to say I'll pay back them sheep you always claimed
my tame cougar killed."

"You will! An' how'd you go about that?"

"Wasn't very many sheep, was there?