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           "Igottogetsomeporka-boilin’an’somebreadmade.Thattakestime."

           "Sure,"Tomagreed."Weain’tgonnamakethistripinonejump.Might’swellstretchourselves."

           OklahomaCitytoBethanyisfourteenmiles.

           Tomsaid,"Ithinkwebetterstop’forethesungoesdown.Algottobuildthatthingonthetop.Sun’llkillthefolksupthere."

           Mahadbeendozingagain.Herheadjerkedupright."Gottogetsomesuppera-cookin’,"shesaid.Andshesaid,"Tom,yourpatol’meaboutyoucrossin’theStateline—"

           Hewasalongtimeanswering."Yeah?Whataboutit,Ma?"

           "Well,I’mscairtaboutit.It’llmakeyoukindarunnin’away.Maybethey’llcatchya."

           Tomheldhishandoverhiseyestoprotecthimselffromtheloweringsun."Don’tyouworry,"hesaid."Ifiggeredherout.They’slotsafellasoutonparolean’they’smoregoin’inallthetime.IfIgetcaughtforanythingelseoutwest,well,thentheygotmypitcheran’myprintsinWashington.They’llsen’meback.ButifIdon’tdonocrimes,theywon’tgiveadamn."

           "Well,I’ma-scairtaboutit.Sometimesyoudoacrime,an’youdon’tevenknowit’sbad.MaybetheygotcrimesinCaliforniawedon’tevenknowabout.Maybeyougonnadosomepinan’it’sallright,an’inCaliforniaitain’tallright."

           "Bejus’thesameifIwasn’tonparole,"hesaid."On’yifIgetcaughtIgetabiggerjolt’notherfolks.Nowyouquita-worryin’,"hesaid.