Evening star., 1921-10-23

higher now Calc'late 1t 'u'd take nigh
dollar m a half to get on comfort
''Figger fifty dollars a month 'u'd do
| It? Think that 'u'd be enough?"
"Scattergood, you listen here to me-
I hain't never earned as much as fifty
dollar month reg'lar in my whole life
-and l got consid'able pleasure out OF
! They had walked up the street until
| they We're passing the Penny residence
! Grandmother Penny was sitting on the
porch. knitting as usual. She looked
in her white lace cap and her lavender
dress.
"Fine-lookin' old lady" said Scat
, tergood.
Penny and nodded with the air of a
| connoisseur. 'Dum'd If she hain't."
He lifted his hat and yelled across
| the road. ''Mornin'. Ellen
| "Mornin'. James," replied Grand
mother Penny, and bobbed her head.
! Wont you folks stop and set? Suns
a-comin' down powerful hot"
| Don't mind If we do." said Scatter
! good. He seated himself. and mopped
! his brow. and famed himself with
his broad straw hat, whose tapping
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 of and
on. But I dunno what I'd do without
! Mr.. Spackles. here, to advise me once
the benefit Of his thinkin' this
mornin'."
with inward satisfaction Scatter
| good noticed how the old lady turned
a pert, sharp look upon Mr.. Spackles.
! regarding him with awakened inter-
| est. To be considered a man of wis.,
| dom by Scattergood Baines was a
distinction in Cold River even In those
! days. and for a man actually to be
(, consulted and asked for advice by the
ample hardware merchant was to
lift him into an Intellectual class to
! which few could aspire.
! Il hope he gin you good ad-
! vice. scattergood." said Grandmother
! Penny
| you kin depend on. jest send call
i for Mr. Spackles. G'by. ma'am. B'by,
! Mr.. Spackles, and much 'bleeged to
/ YOU"
Mr. spackles was little bewildered.
! for he had not the least idea upon
| good, but he was of an acuteness not
I, to pass by any of the advantage that
ACCRUED from the situation. He re-
! piled, with lofty kindness. Amy time
; young man. Jest come right ahead"
| When Scattergood was gone, Mr..
f, Spackles turned to the old lady and
| waggled his head.
Ellen, that there's a mighty prom
| isin' young man. Times comm when
he's a-goin' to amount to suthin.' I'm
| a-calclatin' on guidin' him all I kim"
! Il want to know" said Grandmother
Penny, almost breathless at this new
| Importance of Mr.. Spackles. and Mr..
Spackles basked in her admiration,
and added to it by apochryphal mar
| ratives of his relations with Scatter
good.
FOR week scattergood let matters
rest. He was cantent. for more
than once he saw Mr.. Spackles' fad
ed overalls and ragged hat on the
Penny premises. and watched the old
gentleman in animated conversation
with Grandmother Penny. who SEEM
ed to be perter and brighter and
handsomer than she had ever seemed
before.
On one such day scattergood crossed
| the street and entered the gate.
"Howdy, folks?" he said. wonder
| If can speak with Mr.. Spackles
without interferin'?"
Certainly you KIM" said Grand
mother Penny, cordially.
Got a important bankin' matter
over to the county seat. Mr.. Spack-
| figger on your help?'
ITO be sure you kin. scattergood.
To be sure"
Got to have brainy men over there
day after tomorrow: Bling! that's
till this minnit. Wonder II you'd
drive my horse and buggy over and
| fix up deal with the president Of
| the bank?"
Glad to 'bleege." said the hattered
Circus day." Scattergood repeated.
! Been to a circus lately, Mis- Penny?'
! "Hain't seen one for years"
j "No?-.Mr. spackles. what be you
kin bundle this Mis- Penny into the
buggy and take her along with you!
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
Why" says she. makes mo feel
m hs y91ay sel make fass es spus pns
jest don't care If she does. I'm
a'goin'."
That's the way to talk" said
Scattergood. Mr.. Spacklesll be
round f'r you bright and early. Now.
F, il you kin spare him, I calc'late we
got to talk business"
! When they were in the street Mr.
Spackles checked and caughed, and
said with some vexation:
| You went and got me in fr 1t that
time"
How so. Mr.. spackles? Don't you
! want to take Mis- Penny to the cir
cus?"
course I do. but circuses cost
money. 1 hain't got more'n a quarter
\ to my name"
HIN! Didn't carlate I was askin'
you to take a day of your time for
nothin'. did you? FIR a trip like this
here. with a lot hangin' on to it, I'd
say ten dollars was about the httin'
pay. What say?"
Mr.. Spackles' beaming face was an
swer enough.
Grandmother Penny and Mr.. Spack-
les went to the circus in a more or
less surreptitious manner. 1t was a
such a day as neither Of them had
expected ever to see again. and when
\ they drove home through the moon
! light, across the mountains, their
/ souls were no longer the souls of
threescore and ten, but of two-score
GREAT day. want 1t, Ellen?" said
Mr. Spackles, softly.
Don't call to mind nothin' ap-
proachin' 1t, James"
you be powerful good company.
Ellen
$50 be you, James"
! 'I calclate to come and set with
you, often" said James. difndently.
"Whenever the notion strikes you,
! James" replied Grandmother Penny,