Talkin’ to hisself, that’s all he’s been doin’ lately, talkin’ to hisself. Dunno what to do ‘bout him.  Use’ to be I could count on him fer anything. Was a good partner. Now he’s all the time jus’ rumblin’ out loud, goin’ on ‘bout somethin’ er other, not taklin’ to no one in partic’lar. It’s the liquor, the liquor talkin’. He’s gonna have to dry out er he’s gonna kill hisself. I don’t pay no ‘tention to him goin’ on that-a-way. Goes in one ear ‘n out the other. It drives some guys nuts.  They won’t come ‘round him. But I’m gittin’ so’s I don’t let it bother me no more. I been kinda lookin’ after him, takin’ care a things. He ain’t so bad when he’s sober, makes sense part a the time. He goes on ‘bout the war, World War II ‘N Korea. He’s a goddamn good old soldier. Spent fifteen years in the army. Seen his share a action. Come through two wars, dodgin’ ever’thing they could throw at him, ‘n now a bottle fulla wine’s got him. I never figgered it’d git him. But hell, ya stay on these rails long enough, ‘n sooner er later it’ll git to ya.

I cain’t let him go into town no more, for fear he’ll git hisself locked up. I don’t mind him talkin’. It’s all crazy talk. I jus’ hope some fella looks after me when I git that-a-way.

48.