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Well, when Mert heard about that ten-cent mistake he said it was about time there were a few business changes in Green Valley, that a few business funerals would help a lot and freshen up things; that Uncle Tony was no business man, and a lot of that sort of stuff. And of course Hughey Mason, being a smart Aleck, pipes up and says, 'That's so, Uncle Tony is no business man.
"It's your business to see that we aren't stalled," Mert snapped at him viciously. "You've got to make the thing go. You've got to!" "Well, I ain't the Almighty," Bud retorted acidly. "I can't perform miracles while yuh wait." "Starting a cranky car doesn't take a miracle," whined Mert. "Anybody that knows cars " "She's no business to be a cranky car," Foster interposed pacifically.
"Oh, I guess everybody is," agreed Fanny with that joyous, bubbling, luxurious note that Grandma knew so well. "I saw Mary Hagley polishing her very knuckles off on that second-hand stove Mert bought from that watery-eyed man from Spring Road who drives through here with the lame buckskin horse and pieced-out harness. Lutie Barlow's got her fall tinting and painting all done.
He sauntered down the deserted street, pausing before the establishment of Selby Brothers. From the door of this emerged one Elmer Huff, clerk at the City Drug Store. Elmer had purchased a package of cigarettes and now offered one to Merton. "'Lo, Mert! Have a little pill?" "No, thanks," replied Merton firmly.
Then he glanced at the rumpled newspaper and added carelessly, "Anything new in the paper?" "No!" Mert spoke up sharply. "Go on. You're doing all right so far don't spoil it by laying down on your job!" "Sure, go on!" Foster urged. "We'll stop when we get away from this darn burg, and you can rest your legs a little while we eat."
Most generally I collect half in advance, on a long trip like this." Foster's eyes opened, but he reached obediently inside his coat. Mert growled inaudible comments upon Bud's nerve. "Oh, we can't kick, Mert," Foster smoothed him down diplomatically. "He's delivered the goods, so far. And he certainly does know how to put a car over the road. He don't know us, remember!"
"Billy Evans' wife promised to see to it that Billy painted the livery barn and there's a delegation of ladies appointed to wait on Mert Hagley and see if we can't get him to mend his sheds. They're so lopsided and rickety that Mrs. Brownlee says they're an eyesore and a menace to public safety.
And he knew as well as he knew his own name that Mary was talking to Mert about a new heater, begging him to buy a nice new hard-coal heater instead of the second-hand hot blast stove he was thinking of buying from some man in Spring Road. John Henderson had another one of his bad headaches for Joe saw him lying on the dining-room couch.
"This is safe enough," he announced, "and my muscles are kinda crampy. I'll tell the world that's been quite some spell of straight driving." Mert grunted, but Foster was inclined to cheerfulness. "You're some driver, Bud. I've got to hand it to you." Bud grinned. "All right, I'll take it half of it, anyway, if you don't mind. You must remember I don't know you fellows.
"What yuh going to tell 'em?" Mert demanded suspiciously. Bud permitted a surprised glance to slant back at Mert. "Why, whatever you fellows fake up for me to tell," he said naively. "I know the truth ain't popular on this trip, so get together and dope out something. And hand me over my suit case, will yuh? I want some dry socks to put on when I get there."
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