Their visitor from town sat down. They offered him a cup of coffee, but after a brief sip and nearly imperceptible grimace, he set the cup aside. “So, those two girls of yours are gone, eh?” he said. “Yeah, and it’s too quiet around here!” laughed Templeton. Behind them the door opened. They glanced up to see Josepha walk in, followed by Henry. “Are we glad to see you!” said Templeton. “We need a fresh pot of coffee. We’ve been drinking what’s left from breakfast and it’s not too good.” “Hello, Henry,” said Mr. Watson. “You didn’t gib Mr. Watson my ol’ stale cold coffee,” asked Josepha, glancing at the cup in front of their guest as she walked toward the cook stove. Ward nodded. “It was all we had.” “Well, you jes’ wait a minute or two till I put on a new pot.—You din’t by chance bring no mail from town fo us from dem two girls?”
