Emblazoned on the front page of the Omaha paper upon which Mr. Pantin relied to keep him abreast of the times was the announcement that both mutton and wool had touched highwater mark in the history of the sheep-raising industry.
Mr. Pantin moved into the bow window where the light was better and read the article carefully. The Australian embargo, dust-storms in the steppes of Russia, rumors of war, all had contributed to send prices soaring. When he had concluded, he took the stub of a pencil from his waistcoat pocket and made a computation in neat figures upon the margin. As he eyed the total his mouth puckered in a whistle which changed gradually to a grin of satisfaction.
"You can't keep a squirrel down in a timbered country," Mr. Pantin chuckled aloud, ambiguously.
A pleased smile still rested upon his face when Mrs. Pantin entered.
"Priscilla, will you do me a favor?"
"Abram," reproachfully, "have I ever failed you? What is it?"
"The next time you have something going on here I want you to invite Kate Prentice."
Mrs. Pantin recoiled.
"What!"
"Don't squawk like that!" said Mr. Pantin, irritably. "You do it often, and it's an annoying mannerism."
"Do you quite realize what you are asking?" his wife demanded.
"Perfectly," replied Mr. Pantin, calmly. "I've passed the stage when I talk to make conversation."
"But think how she's been criticised!"
Mr. Pantin got up impatiently.
"Oh, you virtuous dames--"
Mrs. Pantin's thin lips went shut like a rat-trap.
"Abram, are you twitting me?"
Mr. Pantin ignored the accusation, and observed astutely: "I presume you've done your share of talking, and that's why--"
"She is impossible, and what you ask is impossible," Mrs. Pantin declared firmly.
"It's not often that I ask a favor of you, Prissy." His tone was conciliatory.
Mrs. Pantin met him half way and her voice was softer as she answered: "I appreciate that, Abram, but there are a few of us who must keep up the bars against such persons. Society--"
"Rats!" ejaculated Mr. Pantin coarsely.
The hand which she had laid tenderly upon his shoulder was withdrawn as if it harbored a hornet.
"I don't understand this at all--not at all," she said, icily. "However," very distinctly, "it is not necessary that I should, for I shall not do it." She folded her arms as she confronted him.
Mr. Pantin was silent so long that she thought the battle was over, and purred at him: "You can realize how I feel about it, can't you, darling?"
"No, by George, I can't! And I'm not going to either." He slapped the table with Henry Van Dyke in ooze leather for emphasis. "I want Kate Prentice invited here the next time she's in town. If you don't do as I ask, Priscilla, you shan't go a step--not a step--to Keokuk this winter."