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"Wal, I declare!" chuckled the man, but with a queer little side glance at the serious face of the girl. "Think I'm a trouble-breeder, do ye?" "You just ask yourself that, sir," said Janice, firmly. "You know you're just delighted if you can say something to start things going, as you call it. And it isn't worthy of you " "Whether I'm 'Talkworthy', or 'Walkworthy', eh?" he broke in, laughing.
Janice and Marty exchanged glances as the expressman came in and took a chair that creaked under his weight. The girl, remembering what her cousin had said about the visitor, wondered if it were possible that Walky had been drinking and now showed the effects of it. It was true, as Janice had once said the expressman should have been named "Talkworthy" rather than "Walkworthy" Dexter.
"I was thinking I'd walk to the Hammetts'; but it's turned so hot and dusty " "And the Hammett gals live two good mile ahead o' ye." "Oh! as far as that?" "Surest thing ye know. Better hop in an' jog along back 'ith me," said Walkworthy Dexter, cordially. "Can I, Mr. Dexter?" "You air jest as welcome as the flowers in May," he assured her. "Whoa, Josephus. Stand still, Kate!
"Them old shagbarks ain't been e-lected themselves for next year, yet. They air takin' too blamed much for granted, that's what's the matter with them. July school meetin' is purty near; but mebbe we kin put a spoke in their wheel." Forthwith Walkworthy Dexter began to earn his right to the nickname Janice had once given him. He became "Talky" Dexter, and he talked to some purpose.
And then at a corner of a cross-lane above her uncle's house, Janice came upon the only other person in Poketown astir as early as herself Walkworthy Dexter, who led Josephus, the heavy harness clanking about the horse's ribs. "Ah-ha! I see there's a new day," chuckled Mr. Dexter, his pale blue eyes twinkling. "And how do you find your Uncle Jase? Not what you'd call a fidgety man, eh?
She wondered if her uncle's townsfolks all held Walkworthy Dexter's opinion of the Day family? It hurt her pride to be classed with people who were so shiftless that they were a byword in the community. She went back to the house when she saw the smoke curling out of the chimney below her. Aunt 'Mira was shuffling around the kitchen in slow preparation for the morning meal. Mr.
Soft jobs?" demanded Walkworthy, with some indignation. "Ye oughter try liftin' some o' them drummers' sample-cases that I hatter wrastle with. Wal!" Then his face began to broaden and his eyes to twinkle. "Arter all, it was a soft job that I airned my hardest dollar by, for a fac'." "Let's have it, Walky," urged Marty. "Get it out of your system. You'll feel better for it."
"It is nothing to laugh at," Janice said severely. "Nor nothin' ter cry over," promptly returned Walkworthy Dexter. "What's a drink or two? It ain't never hurt me. Why should it Hopewell?" "Don't argue with me, Walky Dexter!" Janice exclaimed, much exasperated. "I I hate it all this drinking. I never thought of it much before. Polktown has been free of that curse until lately.
I don't suppose there's a man there that don't own his own house. There's Mel Parraday, who owns the ho-tel; and Lem Pinney that owns stock in this very steamboat comp'ny; and Walkworthy Dexter Walky's done expressin' and stage-drivin' since before my 'Rill come here to Poketown to teach." "But but they look so ragged and unshaven," gasped Janice.
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