“Perhaps—maybe so. We’ll drop it, then. Le’s go to bed. It’s pretty near eleven—three hours later’n my bedtime.”
CHAPTER XI
THE PINK NECKTIE
MR. PHINEHAS DAISY was filling his tank wagon at Squawtooth’s artesian well and keeping an eye on the kitchen door of the old adobe ranch house. It was morning, and his first trip of the day. The heart of Mr. Daisy was hopeful, and to the accompaniment of the rushing water he sang:
“Rattlesnake bit-a me nose and knees;
Scorpion stung me, also bees—
Tarantulas an’ centipedes an’ Frisco fleas,
But they all died a-shakin’ with the dread D. T.’s!
On a pay day—for me ba-bay!
On a pay day with the dread D. T.’s!”
Then Manzanita came from the kitchen door, dressed for the saddle, and approached him. Mr. Daisy promptly swept off his disreputable cap to her.