Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/74

 CHAPTER VI

THE WOLF SCRATCHES

Mormon Joe had underestimated Jasper Toomey's capacity for extravagance and mismanagement when he had given him five years to " go broke " in, as he had accomplished it in four most effectively — so completely, in fact, that they had moved into town with only enough furniture to furnish a small house, which they spoke of as having " rented," though as yet the owner had had nothing but promises to compensate him for their occupancy.

It was close to a year after their advent in Prouty that Mrs. Toomey awakened in the small hours, listened a moment, then prodded her husband sharply :

" The wind's coming up, Jap, and I left out my washing. "

"Never mind — I'll borrow a saddle horse in the morning and go after it."

"Everything will be whipped to ribbons," she declared plaintively.

" I'm not going out this time of night to collect laundry; besides, the exercise would make me hungrier."

" Are you hungry, Jap? "

"Hungry! I've been lying here thinking of every- thing I ever left on my plate since I was a baby ! "

Mrs. Toomey sighed deeply.

" Wouldn't a fat club sandwich with chicken, lettuce, thin bacon and mayonnaise dressing — "

" Hush ! " Toomey exploded savagely. " If you say that again I'll dress and go out and rob a hen roost ! "

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