TRAVERS.  Yes?  Well, did that do any good?

BOLLINGER.  On the contrary, sir, the express company says he wouldn’t be so anxious about Sam—­if Sam weren’t a friend of his’n.

Re-enter MRS. VERNON and LIZBETH.  LIZBETH to rocker.

MRS. VERNON. [Pleasantly.] Good-evening, Mr. Travers.

TRAVERS.  Good-evening, Mrs. Vernon—­Miss Elizabeth.

LIZBETH.  Good-evening.

MRS. VERNON.  Hasn’t Kate had the politeness to ask you in?

TRAVERS.  Well, it’s a little cooler out here.

KATE.  Won’t you come in?

MRS. VERNON.  Do come—­the skeeters’ll kill you out there.

TRAVERS enters.

JOE.  Don’t sit there.  I just splashed some water there, an’ it’ud spot them pants scandalous. [Down to melodeon.

MRS. VERNON.  Lizbeth, give Mr. Travers the rocker.

LIZBETH to bench.

TRAVERS.  Oh, no, I beg of you.

MRS. VERNON.  Yes, it’s the most comfortable. [Places the rocker for him.] Vernon there had to put his feet through it yesterday, fixin’ the stove pipe, and they ain’t been no furniture man along to mend it, though he ginerally comes Fridays.

TRAVERS.  Thank you. [Sits; KATE to chair at table; MRS. VERNON to cupboard, busy.

JIM. [Off.] Hello, Bollinger, can’t I shake you?

BOLLINGER.  Well, looks like you was doin’ the followin’—­ha, ha!

JOE.  Is that Jim?

BOLLINGER.  Yes—­comin’ here—­[Calls.] You ain’t got that cripple with you yit?

JIM.  Yes—­where do you think I’d leave him?

Enter JIM RADBURN from right to door, with small yellow dog in his arms.  One front paw is tied up.

JOE.  Hello, Jim, what’s that you got there?

JIM.  Er—­a—­his leg’s broke.

JOE. [Laughing.] Didn’t pull a gun on you, did he?

JIM.  The blamed fool dropped a fence-rail on him.  Good-eve’n’g, Kate.

KATE.  Good-evening, Jim.

MRS. VERNON.  ‘Tain’t one o’ Beauty’s pups, is it?

JIM.  No, ‘tain’t no dog o’ mine.  Jes’ follered me—­run after the stage—­then, when she was stuck in the mud, Bill Sarber dropped a rail he was prying with, and—­broke his poor little leg.

BOLLINGER.  Sarber’s the awkwardest cuss anyhow.

MRS. VERNON.  Always was.

BOLLINGER.  Then he laffed, and Jim made him ’pologize to everybody in the stage.

JIM. [Looking about.] What you been doin’ to the room?

JOE. [Proudly.] Took out the partition.

JIM.  I see.  Makin’ some improvements.  Looks bully, don’t it?

JOE.  Makes the dinin’-room bigger, an’ gives more space in the kitchen.  Saves steps for ma.

MRS. VERNON. [Approaching dog.] What kind of a poultice’s that? 
Flaxseed?