"The river?"
"The Colorado. We often go there when we can get the assayer's horses, but the wagon won't hold us all, so we three stayed at home to-day."
"And had ice-cream sodas for being good," added Irene.
"We wanted to make some taffy," mourned Inez, ruefully eyeing the blackened mass which the mysterious stranger was deftly removing from the stove and floor.
"'Twas so lonesome here by ourselves," supplemented Susie apologetically, remembering that she was responsible for the candy suggestion.
"So 'while the cat's away the mice will play'," chuckled the man, beginning a vigorous scraping of the sticky kettle.
"Why, how did you know her name was Catt?" cried Irene in amazement.
"Goosie!" exclaimed Susie sarcastically.
"He didn't know. That's not what he meant. But truly, mister, I don't think Tabitha would have minded a bit if our candy had come out all right. As 'tis, we've wasted such a lot of m'lasses and sugar that I reckon she'll scold——"
"If she ever finds it out," broke in Inez.