"
"We'll fix you up very soon. I'll get you an artificial leg from New
York. You'll be able to walk all right but you mustn't do any heavy
lifting."
"Guess I shan't have no chance to lift anything now Strout's got the
store."
"Don't worry about that, Hiram. There are towns that have two stores
in them. How's Mandy?"
[Illustration: "'JUST LIKE YOU TO COME SPYIN' ROUND. YOU ALLERS WAS A
MEDDLER.'"]
"Gettin' along all right. Mr. Pettingill, there, sends a man over to
help her, and Mrs. Crowley is as good as two any day."
"Don't worry, Hiram. You'll come out on top yet"
"If I do, 'twill be because you'll put me there, I reckon."
As they were driving back 'Zekiel asked Quincy if he knew Mrs.
Hawkins was going to sell out.
"No, why. Getting too old?"
"No, she's as spry as a cat, and she's seventy odd. That ain't the
reason. Jonas is dead."
"What was the matter?"
"Chickens."
"What--overeating?"
"No, somebody stole his chickens. So he arranged a gun with a spring
and he must have forgotten it."
"He didn't 'kalkilate' on its hitting him?"
"Guess not. Mrs. Hawkins says she's too old to marry agin, and she
can't run the house without a man she can trust."
"Let's stop and see her."
When they entered, Mrs. Hawkins threw up her hands. "Lord a Massy! I
heerd at the store all about you comin' back, but where on airth
_did_ you come from? They said you was dead an' here you are as
handsome as ever.
Pages:
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262