If I had a little time Id make a little
rhyme.
He spoke of old age often,and he wept in his
tirades now because of his stiffened hand. These climaxes usually came on theheels
of a roaring spree.
If youre waking call meearly, call me early, mother
dear.
That pure look they have, at the end, when he
kisses her, musedEugene. He had the moment oftriumph all men have when they hear
some one has died. They take your hard-earned m-m-money here and skin
you.
I had a doctor and twotrained nurses by her all the
time. Currant jelly where a face was, the chin shot off.
The boyspluttered idiotically with
laughter.
Finally, he said:Hows this one,
Elizabeth?
She worked in a bawdy-house but her heart was
clean.
The face of Bad Bill and the two Mexicans hadturned
a dirty gray. Its been a long time, Elizabeth, he said.
Aneighth of a second faster on the draw than any
one else.
He licked his thumb, smiling lewdly to himself.
Tarkinton chanted softly, swaying her wide hipsrhythmically. Girls from good
families, some of them, I suppose, Gant thought. Gant had piously contributed his
vote for purity. Thoughtfully he pondered on loves mystery. The doctor gave up
entiremornings to the treatment of Gants disease.