“Yea?� Nick tapped the harmonica gently on the palm of his hand. “Maybe you figger the noise you make drinkin’ soup would turn into music then, hey?�
“Chalk up one for Nick,� Teddy grinned. Except for a small cut on his head, the boy had completely recovered from his dangerous fall.
“Notice you been practicin’ up quite a bit lately,� Jim Casey put in. “Norine say she likes to hear you play, Nick?� he questioned. Norine was Mrs. Moore’s daughter, Mrs. Moore being a widow who for five years had been the cook and housekeeper at the ranch house.
“That’s all right,� Nick returned. “Roy, tell us what Jim had on the other night when he went callin’ over to the house. Go on, tell the assembled multitude!�
“A boiled shirt,� Roy answered, with a smile. “At first I didn’t believe it was Jim, but when I went closer I heard him sing, and then I knew it was him.�
“There you are!� Nick arose and spread his arms in a wide gesture. “The gentleman goes callin’ in a boiled shirt, an’ singin’! Could anything be sweeter?�
“Yes! Crackers an’ milk!â€� Pop Burns exclaimed. “But not much sweeter. Tell you, I don’t know what this younger generation is comin’ to. Nick learns to blow tunes on a hunk o’ tin. Jim sports a boiled shirt. Gus—I don’t know what Gus does. I ain’t ketched him yet. An’ all because a silly girl knows how to make goo-goo eyes!â€�
“She ain’t a silly girl!� Explosions of indignation burst about Pop’s ears.
“She’s nice, let me tell you!�
“You bet she is! Silly girl! Huh!�