He exclaimed as he let go abruptly:
"Why—she's old! I don't want her. She hasn't a single tooth left in her upper jaw. It's a fortunate thing I looked at her."
A small boy roosting on the corral snickered. The cow's guardian smiled broadly and openly and deliberately winked at Canby.
Offended, Wallie demanded:
"Am I in error as to her age?"
"Well—if a cow ever had a set of teeth in her upper jaw she'd be in a side-show. They don't have 'em. This cow is only three—a young animal."
"That's true," Canby assented.
"I declare! It seems very curious," Wallie exclaimed, astounded. He added, with all his importance punctured:
"I fear I have much to learn."
"This is a good place to learn it," observed the cow's valet.