“Howdy, Ban!”
“Hello, Pete.”
“How’s the lady gettin’ on?”
“Not too well.”
“Can’t see much of anythin’, huh?”
“No: and never will again.”
“Sho! Well, I don’t figger out as I’d want to live long in that fix. How long does the doc give her, Ban?”
“Perhaps six months; perhaps a year. She isn’t afraid to die; but she’s hanging to life just as long as she can. She’s a game one, Pete.”
“And how long will you be with us, Ban?”
“Oh, I’m likely to be around quite a while yet.”