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Spackles, who communicated it to Grandmother Penny in the course of a clandestine meeting. The old folks discussed it, and hope made it seem more and more plausible to them. Realizing the fewness of the days remaining to them, they were anxious to utilize every moment. It was Grandmother Penny who was the daring spirit.
What business is 't of theirn?" "Have to support 'em. The ol' folks hain't got no money. Spackles 's got two-three hunderd laid by for to bury him, and so's Grandmother Penny. Seems like ol' folks allus lays by for the funeral, but that's every red cent they got. I hear tell Mis' Penny's son has forbid Spackles's comin' around the house."
"Huh!..." grunted Old Man Peterson, and they resumed their game. Scattergood walked along in silence for a few paces; then he regarded Mr. Spackles appraisingly. "Mr. Spackles," said he, deferentially, "I dunno when I come acrost a man that holds his years like you do. Mind if I ask you jest how old you be?" "Sixty-six year," said Spackles. "Wouldn't never 'a' b'lieved it," marveled Scattergood.
He went directly to his store, which had been left in charge of Mr. Spackles. Three men were waiting there for him. They handed him a leather bag and he satisfied himself that it contained fifteen thousand dollars. "Much 'bleeged, boys," he said. "Do as much f'r you, some day. G'-by." "Mr. Spackles," he said, "kin you fetch Grandmother Penny over here right now?" "Calculate I kin," said Mr.
"I'm going to see the view if I fall out of every tree I climb," Sarah said, hotly. "Don't object if I find you a boardin' house?" "I'm going to board with Grandma Penny that was Mrs. Spackles." Scattergood nodded. "G'-by, Sairy.... G'-by, Nahum."
This proved to be the fact, as Scattergood learned from no less an authority than Mr. Spackles himself. "Felt like strikin' him right there 'n' then," said Mr. Spackles, heatedly, "but I seen 'twouldn't do to abuse one of Ellen's childern." "Um!... Was you and Grandmother Penny figgerin' on hitchin' up?" Scattergood asked. "I put the question," said Mr.
Jest mog along and marry this old coot, and git what joy you kin out of livin'." Mr. Spackles was inquisitive in addition to being grateful. "What I want to know," he demanded, "is how you managed it?" "Oh," said Scattergood, "jest made use of the sayin' about curin' with the hair of the dog that bit you.
Spackles went to the circus in a more or less surreptitious manner. It was a wonderful day, a successful day, such a day as neither of them had expected ever to see again, and when they drove home through the moonlight, across the mountains, their souls were no longer the souls of threescore and ten, but of twoscore and one. "Great day, wa'n't it, Ellen?" said Mr. Spackles, softly.
"I want to know," said Grandmother Penny, almost breathless at this new importance of Mr. Spackles's, and Mr. Spackles basked in her admiration, and added to it by apochryphal narratives of his relations with Scattergood. For a week Scattergood let matters rest. He was content, for more than once he saw Mr.
He seated himself, and mopped his brow, and fanned himself with his broad straw hat, whose flapping brim was beginning to ravel about the edges. Presently he stood up. "Got to be movin' along, Mis' Penny. Seems like I'm mighty busy off and on. But I dunno what I'd do without Mr. Spackles, here, to advise with once in a while. He's jest been givin' me the benefit of his thinkin' this mornin'."
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