United States or Mongolia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I No, nothing." Her courage had failed her, and she moved toward the door. "Mattie!" She stopped. "Jest a minute," said Scattergood. "Never walk off with suthin' on your mind. Apt to give ye mental cramps. What was that there tack hammer an excuse for comin' here fer?" "Is it true that he's coming back, like the talk's goin' around?" "I calc'late ye mean Mavin. Mean Mavin Newton?"
"Hain't interviewed Mattie Strong as ree-gards her feelin's, have ye?" "I wonder," said Pliny, with intense interest, "if Mattie's ever heard from him? But she's that close-mouthed." "'Tain't a common failin' hereabouts," said Scattergood. "How long since Mavin run off?" "Eight year come November." "The night before him and Mattie was goin' to be married." "Uh-huh!
"It stands to reason," said he to himself, "that ever'body has a reason for ever'thing, except lunatics, and lunatics think they got a reason. Now, Mavin he wa'n't no lunatic. He wouldn't have stole church money and run off the night before his weddin' jest to exercise his feet. They hain't no reason, as I recall it, why he needed two hunderd dollars.
He should have let sleeping dogs lie.... And when it heard that Sheriff Watts had carried a subpoena to Mavin Newton's father, compelling his presence as a witness against his own son, there arose a wind of disapproval which quite swept Scattergood from the esteem of the community. But the town came to the hearing. In the beginning it was a cut-and-dried affair.
But nothin' hain't happened yit, and folks is dependin' on you, Pliny, to see 't nothin' mars the party." "It'll rain on to the pe-rade, and the ball game'll bust up in a fight, and pickpockets'll most likely git wind of sich a big gatherin' and come swarmin' in.... Scattergood," he lowered his voice impressively, "it's rumored Mavin Newton's a-comin' back for this here Old Home Week."
"Um!... Now, Marvin, I'd be mighty curious to learn if the ol' man got that information from God himself or if it come out of his own head.... No matter, I calc'late. 'Twan't credit with the church young Mavin was after when he sent back the money, and the Lord he knows the money come, if the organ fund never did find it out." "Guess I'll take a walk down to Spackles's and look over the steer.
"In the state penitentiary," said Avery, seeking to hide his face. "Do you know Mavin Newton?" "Yes." "When did you last see him?" "It was the night of June twelfth, eight year ago." "Where?" "In his father's barn." "What was he doing?" "Milkin'," said Avery. "You went to see him?" "Yes." "Why?" "To git some money out of him." "Did he owe you money?" "No." "How much money did you go to get?"
It was an hour before Elder Newton descended, his son on one side and Mattie Strong on the other.... The band, with a volunteer drummer, lifted its joyous voice, and, looking up, the trio faced a banner upon which Scattergood had caused to be painted, "Welcome Home, Mavin Newton." Coldriver had taken judicial action and thus voiced its decision.
"You hain't thinkin' he was accused of suthin' he didn't do?" "He told me he took the money. He came to see me before he ran away." "Do tell!" This was news to Scattergood. Neither he nor any other was aware that Mavin Newton had seen or been seen by a soul after the commission of his crime. "He told me," she repeated, "and he said good-by.... But he never told me why.
"He's here, jest the same. I'm a-lookin' fer him. Whatever name he come under, or however he looks, I'll know him. I couldn't make no mistake about Mavin." "Mattie, I hope 'tain't so.... I hope you're mistook." "I I don't know whether I hope so or not. I Oh, Mr. Baines, I'd rather be with him, a-comfortin' him and standin' by him, no matter what he done " Scattergood patted her arm.
Word Of The Day