“Live in this part o’ the country, do you?”
“No, sir, my home’s in Wichita, Kansas.”
The farmer turned for the first time and viewed Jack with a slight display of interest.
“Want to know,” he said. “Thought you weren’t quite as smug as those others.”
Jack was uncertain of the meaning of the word smug, but he decided to put a complimentary interpretation on it and so smiled pleasantly. Jack’s smile was hard to resist. The farmer saw it said “Huh” again, a little less unpleasantly and gave his attention to the horse, which was showing a tendency to bolt at the approach of a car.
“That’s a mighty pretty horse,” said Jack after quiet was restored. The farmer nodded.
“Know anything about horses?” he asked.
“Not much, sir. We used to have two or three when I was a kid, but when my father died we sold them.”
“Father’s dead, eh! Mother still with you?”
“Yes, sir.”