He offered Fanny’s child a horny paw, gave her fingers one pump-like jerk.
“Time you come home,” he observed. “I guess you want your caaf money, don’t you?”
“Not if you need it,” she replied tranquilly. “Is the farm doing well, Dad?”
Mazie said, laughingly: “He’s only foolin’. He’s making more money than he can spend, Eris. You take your heifer-money when you’re good and ready. It’s down to the bank and all safe and snug.”
Eris smiled at them both: “Where’s that blue checked gingham dress of mine?” she inquired. “If it’s clean I want to milk.”
“I guess you’ve kinda forgotten how,” drawled Elmer. “You jest better set and rock and read into them novels you allus liked——”
“I want to milk,” she repeated with a humorous glance at Mazie.
“Come right up to your room then, Eris. I’ll show you where I put that gingham.” And, to Elmer: “You hush your face, Pa. Eris can milk any cow she’s a mind to. Come along, Eris——”
But the girl lingered on the stairs: “What is the herd-bull’s name, Dad?” she asked curiously.
“We got White Cloud now. Lemme see,—was it Whitewater Chieftain when you was here——”