es.

"Ef Sary Dodd knew Ah had money saved! Phew! She'd get at it whar Ah hid
it in a hole under the barn-rafters, then she'd hold it out to tempt me,
like-es-how yuh lead a balky cow to be milked. But that is one thing
Sary _don't_ know!"

John laughed loud and long at the picture Jeb graphically sketched of
Sary and himself, but the orator cared nothing for John's laughing. He
was too concerned over his freedom.

"Sary's got some good points--yuh've got to hand it to her, even ef she
hain't got a figger like Miss Anne's, and hair like Miss Polly's. But
she can cook! Gosh, _cain't_ she cook and clean. So ef it w'ar a
housekeeper er a business partner Ah wanted, Ah coulden pick a better
one than Sary Dodd.

"But yuh unnerstand me, John, don't yuh, when Ah says Ah wants something
pritty sittin' afore the pianner to sing to me, or dressin' up in finery
like Miss Bob's and playin' a lady? Ah've ben a hired man and worked on
a ranch all mah life, but now Ah've got a bit saved up Ah kin go to the
city and pick th' gal Ah wants.

"And lem'me tell yuh, John! In the Movies them gals what looks so pritty
make _fine_ farm-wives. Gosh, but one city gal with yaller curls hadn't
a cent to live on when she met a feller what owned a little ranch in
Arizony. They hooked up and she was that happy on the farm! She churned
the butter and fed chickens and did all the chores. And he looked after
the stock. Evenin's she played and sang fer him and he sat in a big
arm-chair and smiled at her.

"That's the kind of wife Ah wants, John--and how kin Ah sit and listen
to Sary sing? Mebbe she kin _churn_ better'n that one I saw in the
Movies, but Ah bet a plugged penny that she cain't play a pianner!"

Jeb's tone was so emphatic at the last accusation of Sary's
short-comings, that John almost rolled from his horse with laughter.

Now Jeb had said all that he had to say, so he waited patiently for John
to get over his spasm of laughter. Then he looked at him as if to ask
what had he to say about such positive evidence as he had brought forth,
regarding the Movie girl making the best kind of a rancher's wife?

"Oh, Jeb! How I love your innocence!" gasped John, wiping his eyes on
the back of his hand. "I shall certainly sue the Movies for betraying
your trust and faith in womankind. For they sure did more than amuse you
for your dime. You took for a solid fact, all the silly mush you saw on
the screen as real life. But, it was _reel_ life, J