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This, the taste of the country artist has erected on pillars, not recognisable as belonging to any known order of architecture, yet here esteemed as tasty and beautiful, and, as is his custom in the afternoon, is seated the owner of the dwelling, Silas Mavin, one of that fast declining remnant the refugees.
Think there's anythin' in the rumor that Mavin Newton's comin'?" "Hope not," said the sheriff, assuming an official look and feeling of the suspender to which was affixed his badge of office. "Don't want to have no arrestin' to do durin' Old Home Week." "Calc'late to take him in if he comes?" "Duty," said Sheriff Watts, "is duty." "When it hain't a pleasure," said Scattergood.
Bought a beef critter off'n Marvin Preston next day. So I went to Mavin and says I was goin' to arrest his old man because I'd ketched him sellin' liquor, and Mavin he begged me I shouldn't. I told him the old man would git ten year, anyhow." "What did Mavin say to that?" "He jest bowed his head and kind of leaned against the stall." "Then what?"
"Um!... Mavin Newton.... Um!... Who up and la'nched that rumor?" "Everybody's a-talkin' it up. Folks says he's sure to come, and then what in tunket'll we do?
In the darkness of the evening street Mattie Strong accosted Scattergood that evening, clinging to his arm tremulously. "Mr. Baines," she whispered, affrightedly, "he's come!" "Who's come?" "Mavin Newton he's here, in town." Scattergood frowned. "See him?" "Hain't seen him, but he's here. I kin feel him. I knowed it the minute he come." "Calc'late I've seen everybody here, and I hain't seen him."
Young Mavin sent that there money back to his father in a letter to be give to the church and the ol' man burned it. That's what he up and done. Two hunderd good dollars went up in smoke. Said they was crimes that was beyond restitution or forgiveness, and robbin' the House of God was one of 'em."
Squeaks some, I'm told, but I figger the squeaks gits kind of filtered out, and nothin' but the true meanin' of the tunes ever gits up to Him." Scattergood jerked a pudgy thumb skyward. "More 'n two hunderd dollars, it was and Mavin treasurer of the church. Old Man Newton he resigned as elder, and hain't never set foot in church from that day to this."
"Um!... Ever git a notion what young Mavin up and stole that money fer?" "Inborn cussedness, I calc'late." "Allus seemed to me like Ol' Man Newton might 'a' made restitution of that there money," said Scattergood, tentatively. "H'm!" Marvin cleared his throat and glanced up the street. "Seein's how it's you, I dunno but what I kin tell you suthin' you hain't heard, nor nobody else.
Wednesday afternoon the band was thrown into consternation, and the town into a paroxysm of excitement and speculation, when Sheriff Watts ascended the platform of the musicians and, placing a heavy hand on the shoulder of the snare drummer, said, loudly, "Mavin Newton, I arrest ye in the name of the law."
"Where?" Mattie lowered her voice farther still. "Look at the band," she said. "Nobody resembles him there," said Scattergood, after a minute. "Wait till they stop playin' and then see if they hain't somebody there that takes holt of the fingers of his right hand, one after the other, and kind of twists 'em.... Look sharp. Mavin he allus done that when he was nervous allus.
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