"Wot's this yer I'm hearin' of your doin's over at Red Pete's? Honey-foglin' with a horse-thief, eh?" said Mr. Clay two days later at breakfast.
"I reckon you heard about the straight thing, then," said Salomy Jane unconcernedly, without looking round.
"What do you kalkilate Rube will say to it? What are you goin' to tell him?" said Mr. Clay sarcastically.
"Rube," or Reuben Waters, was a swain supposed to be favored particularly by Mr. Clay. Salomy Jane looked up.
"I'll tell him that when he's on his way to be hung, I'll kiss him,—not till then," said the young lady brightly.
This delightful witticism suited the paternal humor, and Mr. Clay smiled; but, nevertheless, he frowned a moment afterwards.
"But this yer hoss-thief got away arter all, and that's a hoss of a different color,"
