They lived together, principally on her fust husband's insurance money, I cal'late, until a year or so ago.

Then the insurance money give out, and Mr.
Higgins he says: 'Old woman,' he says--I'D never let a husband of mine call me 'old woman,' but Desire didn't seem to mind--'Old woman,' he says, 'I'm goin' over to Phoenix'-- that's another city in Arizona--'to look for a job.' And he went, and she ain't heard hide--I mean seen hide nor heard hair--What DOES ail me?
She ain't seen nor heard of him since.
And she advertised in the weekly paper, and I don't know what all.

She thinks he was murdered, you know; that's what makes it so sort of creepy and interestin'.

Everybody was awful kind to her, and we got to be real good friends.

Why, I--" This was but the beginning.