The boy was trembling as he laid his hand on Kelley's arm. "Ed, I feel like a coyote. It's a dang shame to fool your old mother like this."
"Better to fool her than to disappoint her," answered Tall Ed. "Stiffen up, boy! Carry it through."
The little train drew up to the station and disgorged a crowd of Italian workmen from the smoker and a throng of tourists from the observation-car, and among these gay "trippers" Kelley saw a small, plain little woman in black and a keen-eyed, laughing girl who waved her hand to Fred. "Why, she's a queen!" thought Kelley.
Mrs. Morse embraced her son with a few murmured words of endearment, but the girl held her brother off and looked at him. "Well, you do look the part," she said. "What a glorious sunburn—and the boots—and the hat, and all! Why, Fred, you resemble a man."
"I may resemble one," he said, "but here's the real thing. Here's my partner, Tall Ed Kelley." He pulled Kelley by the arm. "Ed, this is my mother—"
"Howdy, ma'am," said Kelley, extending a timid hand.
"And this is my sister Florence."
"Howdy, miss," repeated Kelley.
Florence laughed as she shook hands. "He says 'Howdy' just like the books."
Kelley stiffened a bit. "What should a feller say? Howdy's the word."