“Who’s thar?”
“Lance,” said the man.
“Well. I told you Number Eight was empty, Lance.”
“I ain’t goin’ to stay, Miz’ Little.”
“Aw-right,” pursued the same gruff voice, which the girls could scarcely believe was a woman’s. “I’ll let the nex’ pilgrim thet comes erlong have it.”
“I gotter see yuh,” said the cowboy. “Git up, will yuh?”
“What yuh want, Lance?”
“Come yere. Land’s sake! S’pose I’m talkin’ for pleasure?”
A couch squeaked. There was immediately a heavy footstep on the creaking plank floor. The girls were rather startled. They wondered if the savage sounding female was coming to the door just as she got out of bed?
But “Miz’ Little” had evidently been lying down dressed. When the door opened she was revealed in a shapeless dark gown. Only, her head and feet were bare.