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"Job," said Salters, turning to his grandson, "tell Jake ter hitch up de mules, an' you stay dere an' help him. We's all gwine ter de big meetin'. Yore grandma hab set her heart on goin', an' it'll be de same as a spell ob sickness ef she don't hab a chance to show her bes' bib an' tucker. That ole gal's as proud as a peacock."
"'But you were enthusiastic about her a month ago! I exclaimed in astonishment. "'Smythe may 'ave been, he said; 'there ain't no accounting for that ninny, 'is 'ead's full of starch. Anyhow, I don't take 'er on while I'm myself. I'm too jolly fly. "'That sort o' gal's all right enough to lark with, he continued; 'but yer don't want to marry 'em. They don't do yer no good.
Without more ado, he went to the piano and plunged into the heart-breaking melody of "Yo' gal's a neat gal, but my gal's sweet Sweet-a-little, sweet-a-little, sweet, sweet, sweet! Fum de crown er her head ter de soles er her feet Feet-a-little, feet-a-little, feet, feet, feet!"
Why, Jess would have needed the whole day to make the down cruise, to say nothin' of the return trip. Well, the old gal's havin' a good rest now, nothin' much to do but eat and sleep. She deserves it; she's been a good horse for your grandma and me." He rubbed his hands before the stove and chuckled.
"I know it's poo'ty p'inted," the old man added after a short pause, "an' ye may think 'at I ain't got no business askin' it; but I have. That leetle gal's a pet o' mine, an' I'm a lookin' after her, an' expectin' to see 'at she's not bothered by nobody who's not goin' to do right by her. Marryin' is a mighty good thing, but "
Amongst these he pushed his way, making the same inquiry, sometimes, if they were strangers, pausing to give a description of Dickie and Snuff; and at last the answer came from a thin man with a very pale face, who was standing near the entrance to the tent: "Right you are, gaffer. The little gal's all serene. My missus has got her in the caravan yonder."
Once more those swift, relentless eyes focused and compelled the others. "Zip," he said in a tone that was strangely thrilling, "maybe I didn't get all you felt all you got in that tow-head of yours. That bein' so, guess I owe you amends. But I'm goin' to ast you to sure fergit that gal's letter fer awhiles.
His tone had assumed a roughness hardly in keeping with the gentle, reflective manner in which he had talked of his "flower." "Tresler," he went on, "y're good stuff, but y' ain't good 'nough to dust that gal's boots, no not by a sight. Meanin' no offense. But she needs the help o' some one as'll dig at them weeds standin'. See? Which means you.
Ef Sis ain't a caution," he said, after a while, as he moved around putting things to rights. "Ef Sis ain't a caution, you kin shoot me. They hain't no mo' tellin' wher' Sis picked up 'bout thish 'ere raid than nothin' in the worl'. Dang me ef I don't b'lieve the gal's glad when a raid's a-comin'. Wi' Sis, hit's movement, movement, day in an' day out.
"I am sorry you did not drop in, if it was for no more than to git supper," he said. "Terpy is a bad one to have against you. She's the kindest gal in the world; but she's got a temper, and when a gal's got a temper, she's worse'n a fractious leader." "I don't want her against me; but I'll be hanged if I will be driven into going anywhere that I don't want to go," asserted Keith.
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