"Ed went nosin' around Hereford this mo'nin'. He got eight men—their names is inside the envelope—Creel one of 'em—to admit they'd bought some shares. Mighty glad they was to have 'em. Ed didn't tell 'em anything different, but he come scootin' home at noon an' I borrowed Hen's certificut, seein' he was asleep. An' here it is."
"Mirandy," said Sandy, "I'll let Mormon tell you what we all think of you. You've sure dealt me an ace. Mormon, help Sam ride herd on the secretary. I'll be callin' you in after a bit. You'll stay, Mirandy?"
"I'll go visit with Kate Nicholson. I'm beginnin' to like her real well. Molly away?"
Sandy left Mormon to tell her and returned to the office. Keith eyed the envelope.
"Blake coming?" he asked.
"Not yet. When do we get another dividend from the Molly, Keith?"
"You're as bad as all the others," he said. "Sell a man stock, give him a dividend and he's like a girl eating candy. You had one just fourteen weeks ago."
Sandy nodded.
"I was askin' you about the next," he said, his voice still drawling but with a finer edge to it.