“And I, too,” said Joshua.

“Bah!” said the other disdainfully; “I’d as soon drink skim-milk. Good whisky or brandy for me.”

“I wish we was to your restaurant, Joe,” said Joshua. “I kinder hanker after some good baked beans. Baked beans and brown bread are scrumptious. Ever eat ’em, stranger?”

“No,” said the Pike man; “none of your Yankee truck for me.”

“I guess you don’t know what’s good,” said Mr. Bickford. “What’s your favorite vittles?”

“Bacon and hominy, hoe-cakes and whisky.”

“Well,” said Joshua, “it depends on the way a feller is brung up. I go for baked beans and brown bread, and punkin pie—that’s goloptious. Ever eat punkin pie, stranger?”

“Yes.”

“Like it?”

“I don’t lay much on it.”