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Updated: June 12, 2025
Her pride in Johnnie made her miss the look of rage that settled on Buckheath's face at her announcement. The young fellow was glad when Pap Himes began to speak growlingly. "Yes, an' if she was my gal I'd talk to her with a hickory about that there business. A gal that ain't too old to carry on that-a-way ain't too old to take a whippin' for it. Huh!"
As he drew near, he noticed a huddled figure at the head of the steps, and coming up made it out to be Himes himself, sitting, elbows on knees, staring straight ahead of him. Pap had not undressed at all, but he had taken out his false teeth "to rest his jaws a spell," as he was in the habit of doing, and the result was startling.
Himes was talking to me of Shade Buckheath a-yesterday. He said Shade was wishful to wed you, Johnnie, and wanted me to give the boy my good word. I told him I wouldn't say anything and then afterward I was going to. But since I've seen this gentleman, and know that his likes are friends of your'n, well I Johnnie, the Buckheaths are a hard nation of people, and that's the truth.
Why, Johnnie Consadine, every one of them chaps is plumb crazy to work in the mill just like you was and you're workin' in the mill yourself. What makes you talk so foolish about it?" Laurella nodded an agreement, looking more than usually like a little girl playing dolls. "I reckon Mr. Himes knows best, Johnnie, honey," was her reiterated comment.
And so Pros Passmore was taken to the hospital. His bandanna full of ore remained buried at the bottom of Gideon Himes's trunk, to be fished up often by the old sinner, fingered and fondled, and laid back in hiding; while the man who had carried it down the mountains to fling it in Johnnie's lap lay with locked lips, and told neither the doctors nor Himes where the silver mine was.
You see how bad off Uncle Pros is; you must know he's bound to be better taken care of there in that fine building, and with all those folks that have learned their business to take care of him, than here in this house with only me. Besides, I couldn't even stay at home from the mill to nurse him. Somebody's got to earn the money." "I wouldn't charge you no board, Johnnie," fairly whined Himes.
There ain't scarcely a rowdy feller in Cottonville that hain't at one time or another had the notion he'd board with Pap Himes; but I've always kep' a respectable house, and I always aim to, I am a old man, and I bear a good name, and I'm the only man in this house, and I aim to stay so. Now, sir, there's my flatform; and you may take it or leave it."
"I know I never will make a fine hand like you, Johnnie," she said pathetically. "There ain't a thing in the mill that I love to do nary thing. I can tend a truck patch or raise a field o' corn to beat anybody, and nobody cain't outdo me with fowls; but the mill " She broke off and sat staring dully at the floor. Pap Himes had stumped into the room during the latter part of this conversation.
"Is Lord God, is she dead?" faltered the old man. "Ef she ain't dead now, she'll die," Mandy answered him shrilly. "They ain't no flesh on her she's run down to a pore little skeleton. That's what the factories does to women and children they jest eats 'em up, and spits out they' bones." "Well, I never aimed to skeer her that-a-way," said Himes; "but the little fool "
"I'm a-holding on," he observed gruffly at last, as the other continued to blink at him with red eyes and say nothing. "What's the matter with what I said? You told me you had room for another boarder and I named it that I was comin' to board at your house. Have you got any objections?" "Well, yes, I have," Himes opened up ponderously.
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