THE LETTER AND THE 'PHONE The cookies appeared on the table that evening.

Brown noticed them at once.
"When did you bake these ?" he asked.
Atkins made no reply, so the question was repeated with a variation.
"Did you bake these this afternoon ?" inquired the substitute assistant.
"Humph?
Hey?
Oh, yes, I guess so.

Why?
Anything the matter with 'em ?" "Matter with them?
No.

They're the finest things I've tasted since I came here.

New receipt, isn't it ?" "Cal'late so." "I thought it must be.