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Mulligan left him lying on the floor of the tackle-room, and though he was in somewhat of a hurry to be gone he found time to say a few words to old Gabe, who was sunning himself at the end of the barn. "And I don't know what you can do about it," concluded the jockey, "but anyway I've put you wise. If they ask you, just say that you don't know which way I went."
When they reached home a man was standing at the gate. Jasper inquired who it was, for in the dark he could not distinguish his visitor, and a voice replied: "It's me, Gabe Wells hollered helloa, and you wanted me to fetch you a newsparer an' a can of cove oysters an' about a straw hat full of crackers." "Why, yes, Gabe, come in. Wondered why you hadn't fotch them oysters over.
Hit's all the wus fer ye thet ye air in sech doin's. I tell ye, Rome " A faint cry rose above the drone of the millstones, and old Gabe stopped with open lips to listen. The boy's face was pressed close to the logs. A wet paddle had flashed into the sunlight from out the bushes across the river.
There was the launch, with Parker and his three 'friends' in it, headin' two-forty for blue water. "'Let 'em go, says old Gabe, contented. 'I wouldn't arrest 'em if I could. This is no police-station job. "It come out afterwards that Parker was a young chap just from law school, who had gone to work for the firm of shysters who was attendin' to the Gordon interests.
"Well, Gabe you know Gabe. I'm borrowed clear to the limit there, now. And John you know John, Molly and the muss, the disagreeable muss, the row, in point of fact, we had over that last seventy-five dollars settling up the College Heights business you remember? Well, I just can't go to John.
Bearse grew impatient. "Have you heard the news about Cap'n Sam?" he repeated. "Say, Shavin's, have you?" The painting went serenely on, but the painter answered. "Well, Gab," he drawled, "I " "Don't call me Gab, I tell you. 'Tain't my name." "Sho! Ain't it?" "You know well enough 'tain't. My name's Gabriel. Call me that or Gabe. I don't like to be called out of my name. But say, Shavin's "
Possession of the little knowledge which had been given him, or, rather, had been thrust upon him, and which Gabe Bearse would have considered a gossip treasure trove, a promise of greater treasures to be diligently mined, to Jed was a miserable, culpable thing, like the custody of stolen property. He felt wicked and mean, as if he had been caught peeping under a window shade.
"Gabe," he drawled, "did you ever hear about the feller that was born stone deef and the Doxology?" "Eh? What No, I never heard it." The eyes turned back to the wooden sailor and Mr. Winslow chose another brush. "Neither did he," he observed, and began to whistle what sounded like a dirge. Mr. Bearse stared at him for at least a minute. Then he shook his head. "Well, by Judas!" he exclaimed.
What's your name?" "Gabe Brimster." "Well, Gabe, go down to the branch and git some more water, quick as you kin move them stumps o' your'n. Give the men all they want to drink, and then pour some on their wounds. Then go there and cut some o' them pawpaws, and peel their bark, to make a litter to carry your pardner back to the mill. Boys, look around for guns.
"'Well, says he, 'I diagnosed that men's club as sufferin' from acute politics. I've been doctorin' that disease for a long time. The trouble with you reformers, he adds, solemn, 'is that, when it comes to political doin's, you ain't practical. "As for Stingy Gabe, he shut up his fine house and moved to New York. Said he was through with helpin' the moral tone.
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