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He replied, with lofty kindness, "Any time you want for to consult with me, young man, jest come right ahead." When Scattergood was gone, Mr. Spackles turned to the old lady and waggled his head. "Ellen, that there's a mighty promisin' young man. Time's comin' when he's a-goin' to amount to suthin'. I'm a-calc'latin' on guidin' him all I kin."
Spackles, and he proved himself able to keep his word. "Grandmother Penny," said Scattergood, when she arrived, "you and Mr. Spackles up and made a investment. I been a-lookin' after that investment f'r you and f'r these other dum fools in town. Best I could do f'r them others was to git their money back every cent of it. But I took keer to do a mite more f'r you and Mr. Spackles.
Spackles paused to look back grandly upon the checker players. "Sorry I can't linger to watch you, boys," he said, loftily, "but they's important matters me and Scattergood got to discuss. Seems like he's feelin' the need of sound advice." When they were gone the checker players scrutinized each other, and then with one accord scrambled to the door and stared out after Scattergood and Mr.
"That's the way to talk," said Scattergood. "Mr. Spackles'll be round f'r you bright and early. Now, if you kin spare him, I calc'late we got to talk business." When they were in the street Mr. Spackles choked and coughed, and said with some vexation: "You went and got me in f'r it that time." "How so, Mr. Spackles? Don't you want to take Mis' Penny to the circus?"
If ever you're lookin' for level-headedness, and f'r a man you kin depend on, jest send a call for Mr. Spackles. G'-by, ma'am. G'-by, Mr. Spackles, and much 'bleeged to you." Mr. Spackles was a little bewildered, for he had not the least idea upon what subject he had advised Scattergood, but he was of an acuteness not to pass by any of the advantage that accrued from the situation.
Spackles. "I swanny!" said Old Man Bogle. "What d'you figger Scattergood wanted of that ol' coot?" demanded Old Man Peterson. "Somethin' deep," hazarded Old Man Bogle. "I always did hold Spackles was a brainy cuss. Hain't he 'most as good a checker player as I be? What gits me, though, is how Scattergood come to pick him instid of me."
"Ever think of marryin', yourself, Mr. Spackles?" "Figgered some. Figgered some. But knowed they wasn't no use. Son and daughter wouldn't hear to it. Couldn't support a wife, nohow. Son and daughter calc'lates to be mighty kind to me, Scattergood, and gives me dum near all I kin ask, but both of 'em says I got to the time of life where it hain't becomin' in 'em to allow me to work."
Two days later Pliny Pickett stopped to speak to Scattergood in front of the hardware store. Pliny supplemented and amplified the weekly newspaper, and so was very useful to Baines. "Hear tell Ol' Man Spackles is sparkin' Grandmother Penny," Pliny said, with a grin. "Don't figger nothin' 'll come of it, though. Their childern won't allow it." "Won't allow it, eh? What's the reason?
Finish the business in no time, bein' spry like you be, and then you and her kin take in the circus and the side show, and stay f'r the concert. How's that?" Mr. Spackles was suddenly red and embarrassed, but Grandmother Penny beamed. "Why," says she, "makes me feel like a young girl ag'in. To be sure I'll go. Daughter'll make a fuss, but I jest don't care if she does. I'm a-goin'."
With inward satisfaction Scattergood noticed how the old lady turned a pert, sharp look upon Mr. Spackles, regarding him with awakened interest.
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