Peter B. Kyne > Quotes

“Any desert land that will grow big sage will produce more fortunes thatn most gold mines -- if you can only get the water.”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Long Chance

“If I can do it, I'll do it better than it was ever done before, and if I can't do that I'll quit to save you the embarrassment of firing me.”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Go-Getter

“Cut out the crooked work, son. Nobody has anythin' on you yet—start straight an' raise this boy straight, an' if ever you spot him showin' signs o' breakin' away from the reservation, just you remind him that a woman an' two men died to make a man outer him. That's all. I ain't goin' to try to talk no more.”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Three Godfathers

“Here, I ain't carryin' an ounce o' weight," he expostulated. "Bill's carryin' th' water an' the airtight milk an' the feedin' bottle an' the camp kettle and our grub, an' you're carryin' the baby an' a bundle of extra clothes. Lemme spell you a few miles, Bill. You're in bad shape with that sore shoulder, an' you're goin' to wear yourself out too soon.”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Three Godfathers

“So he stuck in his stick o' dynamite an' it's only a fool's luck he didn't blow himself up doin' it. I wisht he had; but he didn't. He just put Terrapin Tanks out o' business forever—cracked the granite floor o' that sump-hole an' busted down the sides, an' the water's run out into the sand an' the tanks run dry. They'll stay dry. We can have cloudbursts in this country from now until I get religion, but them tanks'll never hold another drop o' water. That fool tenderfoot's dead, I guess; but he's goin' to keep right on killin' people just the same. Men'll keep comin' here, bankin' on water—an' in five years there'll be a dozen skeletons round that busted tank.”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Three Godfathers

“The four galloping horsemen were abreast The Three Deuces when the cry of "Robbers!" aroused all Wickenburg. It awoke the man in the chair; and he came to his feet with the suddenness of a ferocious old dog, filled both hands and cut loose at one of the four horsemen. There was a reason for this. The elderly citizen had a deposit of three dollars and seventeen cents in the Wickenburg National.”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Three Godfathers

“Well, that's up to the last of the godfathers," said The Wounded Bad Man. "Mind you learn him hoss-sense, Bob. Don't let him grow up to wear eyeglasses before he's twenty-one years old, an' make him say 'sir' when he speaks to you. Teach him hoss-sense and respect, Bob. Them's the two great requirements to a man's education”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Three Godfathers

“Death is a terrible thing, Tom," he sobbed. "Life's worse," said The Wounded Bad Man gently. He was seated apart, with the baby in his arms, shielding it from the sun with his broad sombrero. "Death can only get you once, but Life is a ghost dance. I wonder what it has in store for you, kidlets. I wonder.”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Three Godfathers

“I've done a heap o' ornery things in my day," he growled, "but I ain't stealin' the water that belongs to my godson. Don't you insult me no more, Tom Gibbons.”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Three Godfathers

“What is your name?" she asked wearily. "Tom Gibbons." "And yours?" turning to The Wounded Bad Man. "Bill Kearny." She glanced inquiringly at The Youngest Bad Man. "Bob Sangster," he replied. "Will you save my baby?" Slowly, searchingly, the wonderful eyes confronted each Bad Man in turn.”
― Peter B. Kyne, The Three Godfathers