They found Collins in the patio. He shook hands with Jim Kelton, who sat down on the wide curb of the well.
“The curse of rheumatism,” he said to Collins.
“Sure.”
“Harry tells me that you came from Marshville.”
“Well, that’s the last town I was in. I’m not from Marshville.”
“Been in the sheep business very long, Collins?”
“That,” said Collins smiling, “is a trick question. I’m supposed to understand that you know I’m in that business. Well, my friend, yo’re a long way off the mark. I eat lamb chops once in a while, and when I hit some cold weather, yuh might discover some woollen clothes on my back; but that’s about as near as I get to the sheep business. I shore seen a lot of sheep around Marshville. In fact, I was offered a job over there.”
“Herdin’ sheep?” asked Harry.
“I imagine that was it.”
“Do you know Kendall Marsh?” asked Uncle Jimmy.