Bewildered and more touched than he cared to feel, himself, Lossing still
made a feeble stand for discipline. "I don't see how Lieders can expect
me to take him back again," he began.

"He aint expecting you, Mr. Lossing, it's ME!"

"But didn't Lieders tell you I told him I would never take him back?"

"No, sir, no, Mr. Lossing, it was not that, it was you
said it would be a cold day that you would take him back;
and it was git so cold yesterday, so I think, 'Now it would
be a cold day to-morrow and Mr. Lossing he can take Kurt back.'
And it IS the most coldest day this year!"

Lossing burst into a laugh, perhaps he was glad to have the Western
sense of humor come to the rescue of his compassion. "Well, it was
a cold day for you to come all this way for nothing," said he.
"You go home and tell Lieders to report to-morrow."

Kurt's manner of receiving the news was characteristic.
He snorted in disgust: "Well, I did think he had more sand
than to give in to a woman!" But after he heard the whole
story he chuckled: "Yes, it was that way he said, and he must
do like he said; but that was a funny way you done, Thekla.
Say, mamma, yesterday, was you look out for the cat or to find
how cold it been?"

"Never you mind, papa," said Thekla, "you remember what you promised
if I git you back?"