Roy Norton

“ There are very few men such as Uncle Bill in this world. He believes, honestly and completely, that the Lord God Almighty is his partner. I'm not certain but that it's true. I can't let a faith like that die for lack of help or attention.”
It was in the fall season when Heald reluctantly went away, annoyed because some of his numerous projects demanded his personal attention; and to Goliath, who accompanied him to the main road where he could get conveyance, he voiced his regret. ”

“ YES, sir, I reckon there never was a finer man borned in this whole world than Mister Heald,” declared Old Harmless to the partners, David and Goliath, when feeling that they had neglected him for four weeks they made a visit to his cabin. ”

“ His irresistible faith healed his fatigue, and, after a time, he got to his feet and staggered onward, contented in the thought that now he could continue forever, and that his feet were endowed with a Mercury's wings. ”

“ Goliath and me come a day sooner than usual, and when we got to Uncle Bill's cabin, along in the evening, we finds a note. Stuck on the door it was. That's it—there in your hand. And we couldn't make her out at first, then we saw the trails, and Goliath says, 'Pardner, I reckon it's up to us to join in, ain't it?' and I says, 'Sure. Uncle Bill may git himself in a pretty tough fix.' So we hit the trail. ”

“ And to-morrer's the day I got ter go over ter the main road and look in the mail box ter see if that young feller Heald has wrote me anything. Said in his last letter he sort of hoped ter be out this way this month. Humph! He ain't goin' ter find no deer on this side of the Divide if he does come, and I don't give a cuss neither; because I don't like ter have folks shootin' of 'em. Purty little fellers that never does no harm ter nobody unless it's one of them dam ranchers. Ranchers ain't no good nohow by my way of thinkin'! ”

“ Inside, also were more books than Uncle Bill had ever before seen outside a bookshop—whole shelves of them. “Clar' ter goodness,” he said. 'Don't see how a man can find time ter read all them. Me? I've got along with my old Bible for more'n fifty years, an—damn it, they ain't nobody called me a fool yet and got away with it! No, siree! And look at them fancy rifles and guns of hisn. I've seen him cuddle 'em and nuss 'em, as if they was his own flesh and blood. Thinks the world of 'em, I reckon—maybe more'n he does of his books.” ”

“ Goliath recalled this when the first snowflakes fell and told Old Harmless; but the patriarch of the hills shook his head.
“Nope, I shan't have that young feller with me ag'in before summer. I reckon he's an awful busy man when he's on ter his job. ”