"How she feels about the proposition. She had you kicked out of the house. That looks kinder as if your show was slim. She did send over right often to see how you was getting along, but I reckon she didn't want to feel responsible for your turning up your toes. Women are that way, even when they hate a man real thorough."
"You're quite an expert. I wonder you know so much about them, and you never married."
To this sarcastic reminder Steve made philosophic reply. "Mebbe it was because I knew so much about them I never married."
"You're surely a wise old rooster. You think she hates me, then?"
Davis covered a grin. He knew from his friend's tone that the barb had pierced the skin.
"Well, looking at it like a reasonable man, there ain't any question about it. Soon as you begin to mend she quits taking any interest in you; don't know you're on the earth any more. A reasonable man——"
"A reasonable goat!" Dick reined up till the other horse was abreast of his, then dived into his pocket and handed Steve a letter. "She's quit taking any interest in me, has she? Don't know I'm on the earth, you old owl? Looks like it, and her sending me a letter this very day."
Steve turned the square envelope around and weighed it in his hand.
"Am I to read this here billy doo?" he wanted to know.
"Yes, sir."