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Alabama - River Drifter 3
He built it fer a purpose, but when th' law got too nosey, he built hisself
a place over in Shelby County crost th' river. They ain't no Tom Burkes
a-sheriffin' over thar.

"I was right up thar at th' shack with Sam when he met up with Tom Burke.
They's a sayin' that no matter how bad a man is, they's a man some'rs that's
badder'n him. Well, this was durin' Chris'mus week, an' me an' Sam an' Ol'
Man Bud Rylant was sittin' at th' table havin' a few drinks. Atter awhile
we heard a automobile comin', an' Sam got hot an' bothered. He'd heard that
Burke had a eye on him, an' he was purty mad about it.

"We heerd th' automobile, an' Sam got up from th' table an' went an' got
his pistol. He was gittin' full, so me an' Bud knowed they might be hell to
pay, an' that we'd be mixed up in it. We axed him to put th' gun down--that
it was a good way to git in trouble; but he got mad at us an' told us to mind
our own damned business. He says, 'If that bastard comes pokin' 'round hyar,
I mean to kill him. They ain't nobody go'nter tell me what I can do 'round
my own house.'

"Now, Sam ain't nobody to monkey with when he's dead sober, an' he's worse'n
ever when he's had a few. He went to th' door an' stood thar spraddle-legged,
like he was go'nter keep anybody from comin' in. Me an' Bud jes' sot thar
quiet, fer they wasn't no use foolin' with Sam. He jes' as soon shoot his
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