"Been tradin'?" asked Stephen.
"Wal, yes, I have," answered the other, with that lingering intonation that seems to modify even the most unconditional assent.
"Got a good bargain?"
"Wal, so-so."
"Many folks down to the store this evenin'?"
"Wal, considerable."
"Ain't any news?"
Stephen nodded his acceptance of this state of things. The other nodded, too. There was a pause.
"G'long," said the trader, as if he would have said it before if he had thought of it. But the horse had taken but a few steps when another voice greeted him.