Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 5, 2025
"But suppose you have a chance to sell it to somebody at Rawlett's?" continued Harkutt, with a precaution that seemed ironical. "I don't think there's much chance of that." He remained quiet, looking at Harkutt with an odd expression as he rubbed the edge of the coin that he held between his fingers abstractedly on the counter.
"No," said Phemie, "unless something possesses that sappy little Parmlee to make one of his visitations. John Milton says that out on the road it blows so you can't stand up. It's just like that idiot Parmlee to be blown in here, and not have strength of mind enough to get away again." Mr. Harkutt smiled.
Not me, indeed! He's conceited enough already," she returned, saucily. Mr. Harkutt again smiled his approbation, then deliberately closed his eyes and threw his head back in comfortable anticipation of the coming strains. It is to be regretted that in brilliancy, finish, and even cheerfulness of quality they were not up to the suggestions of the keys and keyboard.
At which the young girl, in some new sense of decorum, drew in her pretty head, glanced around the room quickly, reset the tidy on her father's chair, placed the resplendent accordion like an ornament in the exact centre of the table, and then vanished into the hall as Mr. Harkutt entered with the strangers.
"And on account of the women folks, you know, and the strangers here, I'll say nothin' about it to-night," added Harkutt. Peters nodded his head, and taking up the hat of the unfortunate Elijah with a certain hesitation, as if he feared it had already lost its dramatic intensity as a witness, disappeared into the storm and darkness again.
Whether it gave him more confidence, or his attention was no longer diverted, he went on more collectedly and cheerfully, and with no trace of his previous desperation in his manner. "Come, Harkutt, buy my place. It's a bargain, I tell you. I'll sell it cheap. I only want enough to get away with. Give me twenty-five dollars and it's yours.
"Look here, 'Lige," said Harkutt, not unkindly. "It's too late to do anythin' tonight. You come in to-morrow." He would have added "when you're sober," but for a trader's sense of politeness to a possible customer, and probably some doubt of the man's actual condition. "God knows where or what I may be tomorrow!
Harkutt had already drawn the lower bolt, and a man stumbled from the outer obscurity into the darker room. The inmates drew away as he leaned back for a moment against the door that closed behind him.
"It's too dark to read anything now, 'Lige," said Harkutt, with evasive good humor, "and I ain't lightin' up to-night." "But I can tell you the substance of it," said the man, with a faintness that however had all the distinctness of a whisper, "if you'll just step inside a minute. It's a matter of importance and a bargain"
And," he added hurriedly, as approaching a climax, "look ye, what I nat'rally took for wet from the rain inside that hat was blood!" "Nonsense!" said Harkutt, putting the hat aside with a new fastidiousness. "You don't think" "I think," said Peters, lowering his voice, "I think, by God! "No!" "Sure!
Word Of The Day
Others Looking