“No, sir, it ain’t fair; you just let him alone.”

“Blame it, I ain’t going to stir him much.”

“Let him alone, I tell you.”

“I won’t!”

“You shall — he’s on my side of the line.”

“Look here, Joe Harper, whose is that tick?”

“I don’t care whose tick he is — he’s on my side of the line, and you sha’n’t touch him.”

“Well, I’ll just bet I will, though.

He’s my tick and I’ll do what I blame please with him, or die!”