Here it is."
She tendered us a paper. Ajax stuck his hands into his pockets, and I
did the same.
She misinterpreted the action. "You ain't going to prosecute?" she
faltered.
Ajax nodded to me. Upon formal occasions he expects me, being the
elder, to speak. If I say more or less than he approves I am severely
taken to task.
"Mrs. Swiggart," I began, lamely enough, "I am sure that your husband
can cure hams----"
Ajax looked at me indignantly. With the best of motives I had given a
sore heart a grievous twist.
"We bought that ham," she said sadly, "a-purpose."
"No matter. We have decided to go into this packing business with your
husband. When--er--experience goes into partnership with ignorance,
ignorance expects to pay a premium. We have paid our premium."
She rose, and we held out our hands.
"No, gentlemen; I won't take your hands till that debt is cancelled.
The piano and the team will go some ways towards it. Good-bye, and--
thank you."
VIII
AN EXPERIMENT
My brother and I had just ridden off the range, when Uncle Jake told
us that a tramp was hanging about the corrals and wished to speak with
us.
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