DAVE. [_In admiration._] Well, I'm durned. The raw gumbo is all along their track. Wouldn't cost you nothin', would it? JIM. Not if I kin get that Jonesburg slack--ha, ha! DAVE. Why, that's great! JIM. [_Drawing watch._] It's a half hour before train time. I'll jump to St. Louis with the scheme. [_Stands thinking._ DAVE. [_Going._] I got to get the leather put on this shaft--but that's great. [_Exit._ KATE _appears in outside door._ KATE. [_Coming toward_ JIM, _who is turning gumbo thoughtfully in his hands._] Jim! JIM. Why, Kate--[_Gumbo._] See here--how's this for an idea? KATE. What did you mean--by this? [_She extends letter._ JIM. Why, just that. I thought it looked like his writin',--same backhand, and no shadin' to it. KATE. How could Mr. Travers have written it? JIM. Why, no use gettin' mad, Kate. It kin look _like_ his writin', can't it? KATE. [_Going to anvil and leaning on back of it._] You don't like him, Jim, do you? JIM. [_Picks up old horse-shoe._] Well--[_Mechanically pounds gumbo with horse-shoe._ KATE. [_Pause._] Not much-- JIM. No--not a great deal, Kate. KATE. [_Displaying the letter._] Do you think he's a bad enough man to have done this? JIM. Well, a fellow who takes a risk like that--to clear another man who's been arrested in his place, ain't so bad. KATE. A train robber! JIM. Why, I don't _say_ he done it. KATE. But you think so. JIM. [_Laughing._] Oh, no, I don't--there's a ten thousand dollar reward for the right man. KATE. Then why hand this letter to me? Why imply it? JIM. Why, Kate, I'm a friend of--your pa's--I've known you ever since you was eight or ten years old. I don't know this man Travers--_you_ don't know him. He comes to your house. KATE. Well. JIM. Comes to see you, don't he? KATE. [_Getting in front of anvil._] He does--what of it? JIM. Why--I don't think I'd like a preacher of the Gospel if he was to do that. [_Pause._] I--I never meant to say anything--but when men--other men--I mean anybody gets to payin' you attention, why, I'm afraid to keep still any longer-- KATE. [_Turns away._] To keep still-- JIM. [_Advances._] Yes, I've been sheriff here, an' whenever I've had anything to do, I've said to myself, now don't--do anything--ugly--'cause Kate--[KATE _turns toward him; he qualifies tone._] some day, you know--Kate might think more of me if I hadn't done it. You know yourself that I quit drinkin' a year before the local option--on account of that essay you read, examination day--why, Kate, I care more for how you feel about anything than I do for anybody in the State of Mizzoura--that's just how it is. [_Pause._ KATE _is silent._] You kin remember yourself when you was a little girl an' I used to take a horse-shoe an' tie it on the anvil an' make a side-saddle for you--an' I reckon I was the first fellow in Bowling Green that ever called you. Miss Kate when you come back from school. KATE. [_Rather tenderly._] I didn't want you to call me Miss Kate, Jim.