be
a kind of a change from the Widder Taylor's, whur I stop generally."

The cowboy combed the horse's mane with his fingers in silence. After
waiting a reasonable time for the invitation which should have been
forthcoming, the Major inquired:

"They're--sociable, ain't they?"

"They ain't never yit run out in the road and drug anybody off his
horse," replied Teeters grimly. "They charge four bits a meal to
strangers."

"What?" Surely his ears had deceived him.

Inspired by the Major's dumbfounded expression, the cowboy continued:

"They have their big meal at night and call it dinner, and they wash
their hands at the table when they git done 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!" 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," replied 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 wa'nt 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 forgotten in his keen
interest in the conversation was almost upon them. "A band of woolies, a
pack burro, one feller walkin', and another ridin'."