Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/37

 eatin and Big Liz has to lope in from the kitchen when she hears the bell tinkle and pass 'em somethin' either one of 'em could git by reachin'." He lowered his voice confidentially, " Most any meal I look fur her to hit one of 'em between the horns."

The Major stared round-eyed, breathless, like a child listening to a fairy tale which he feared would end if he interrupted.

"In the evenin' the boss puts on a kind of eatin' jacket, a sawed-off coat that makes a growed man look plumb foolish, and she comes out in silk and satin that shows considerable hide. Have you met this here Toomey?"

" Not yet; that's a pleasure still in store for me."

" Pleasure 1 " exclaimed Teeters, who took the polite phrase literally. " More like you'll want to knock his head off. Old Timer," he leaned over the saddle horn, "seein' as you're from Missoury, I'll tell you private that you'd better keep on travelin'. Company ain't wanted at the Scissor Outfit, and they'd high-tone it over you so 'twouldn't be noways enjoyable."

" There is plenty of ranches where I am welcome," re- plied the Major with dignity. " I kin make the Widder Taylor's by sundown."

"Miss Maggie plays good on the pianner," Teeters commented, expectorating violently to conceal a certain embarrassment.

"And the doughnuts the old lady keeps in that crock on the kitchen table is worth a day's ride to git to." The Major closed an eye and with the other looked quizzically at Teeters, adding, " If it wasn't for Starlight — "

" Starlight is shore some Injun," replied the cowboy, grinning understandingly.

" Now what for an outfit's that?

"The moving cloud of dust which the Major had for-