ile we'd been quite considerable busy
getting things packed, ready to go out to the ranch. We had two wagons,
one full of groceries and things. They'd even put in fly screens out
there now and had rocking chairs to set around in. Old Man Wright was as
busy as a fiddler getting things pulled together. His sleeves was rolled
up, and all at once Jimmie looks at him and says:

"Colonel, if I'm not mistaken your freckles is coming back again."

The old man roars laughing at that.

"Yes," he says; "I'm almost fit to run for sher'f oncet more. Ain't it
all like the old times, Curly?" says he.

"It shore is, Colonel," says I; "and there ain't no better times than
them."

The old man he gets into the buckboard on one side and he taken the two
twins on his knees. On the seat back of him was Pa and Ma Wisner--me
riding with Old Man Wright, in the middle. She was a three-seat
buckboard, and the mules was full of oats and plunging some; but Jimmie
didn't mind--he was driving, with Bonnie Bell, on the front seat.

"All set?" says he, turning his head around; and Old Man Wright nods.

"Giddap!" says Jimmie, and turns 'em loose.

Bonnie Bell, she turns around halfway, half looking at him and half at
the twins, and says she:

"Home, James!"

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAN NEXT DOOR***

******* This file should be named 23606.txt or 23606.zip *******

This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/6/0/23606

Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
will be renamed.

Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,
set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project
Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you
do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you