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           ButPaneverdidwritenoletters.Healwayssayswhathecouldn’tellafellawithhismouthwasn’tworthleanin’onnopencilabout."

           "Beenouttravelin’around?"Casyasked.Joadregardedhimsuspiciously."Didn’tyouhearaboutme?Iwasinallthepapers."

           "No—Inever.What?"Hejerkedonelegovertheotherandsettledloweragainstthetree.Theafternoonwasadvancingrapidly,andarichertonewasgrowingonthesun.

           Joadsaidpleasantly,"Might’swelltellyounowan’getitoverwith.Butifyouwasstillpreachin’Iwouldn’ttell,fearyougetprayin’overme."Hedrainedthelastofthepintandflungitfromhim,andtheflatbrownbottleskiddedlightlyoverthedust."IbeeninMcAlesterthemfouryears."

           Casyswungaroundtohim,andhisbrowsloweredsothathistallforeheadseemedeventaller."Ain’twantin’totalkaboutit,huh?Iwon’taskyounoquestions,ifyoudonesomethingbad—"

           "I’ddowhatIdone—again,"saidJoad."Ikilledaguyinafight.Wewasdrunkatadance.Hegotaknifeinme,an’Ikilledhimwithashovelthatwaslayin’there.Knockedhisheadplumbtosquash."

           Casy’seyebrowsresumedtheirnormallevel."Youain’tashamedofnothin’then?"

           "No,"saidJoad,"Iain’t.Igotsevenyears,accountofhehadaknifeinme.Gotoutinfour—parole."

           "Thenyouain’theardnothin’aboutyourfolksforfouryears?"

           "Oh,Iheard.Masentmeacardtwoyearsago,an’las’Christmas.

           Granmasentacard.