like to waste my wisdom, Starbuck. Look, here, don't you know
the right to ruin you has come down to me from my folks, like er old
spinnin' wheel? It's a fact, and you know it. But I don't want to do it
if I can help it. I know I would make yo' daughter a good husband, but
frum what I kin gether she wouldn't wipe her feet on me."

"Oh, yes, Peters, she mout if she had been walkin' in the mud."

"Yes, ah, hah. So I've got another plan."

"Oh, I don't reckon you're slow, Lije, when it comes to gittin' up
plans."

"That's true. An' I'm jest a little slow about askin' favors, but I want
to borry a thousand dollars, an' I don't want no time sot when it must
be paid back, nuther. I want that understood."

"Why, that's what they call blackmail, ain't it?"

"Oh, I don't care whut they call it, but I want you to git it fur me.
That p'int is settled. You've got to git it, an' git it quick."

"Why, Peters, I'd have to sell my land."

"Better do that than to throw away yo' liberty. You know that it means
ruin for you an' yo' wife an' a broken heart fur yo' girl. All I've got
to do is to act, an' you go to the penitentiary."

Upon Starbuck's face there was an expression of keen suffering.
Pleadingly he put up his hands, looking toward the door leading into the
kitchen and exclaimed. "Hold on. Somebody mout hear you."

"Oh, got you to thinkin', have I?"

"Yes, an' a man thinks better when he's by hisse'f."

Peters moved off toward the door and halting, remarked: "Yes, may think
better when he's by hisse'f, but not as fast. When he's got thinkin' to
do that he don't want to do he mout shirk it if left by hisse'f. Well,
I'll give you a leetle mo' time, but not much. My plan is that when
you've got a bad piece of work on hand, git through with it as soon as
possible. I'm goin' down the road a piece an' will drap in on my way
back," and as he passed out he looked back and added: "Thinkin' ought to
make a man wise."

The old man stood looking through the window, at Peters as he ambled
along the road, and turning away he muttered, "Shot fo' an' stobbed
three," his mind flying back to the story paper.

Mrs. Mayfield, followed by Jim, came in from the kitchen, remarking, "we
have been helping your wife but she has expelled us."

"I don't reckon thar was very much help needed." He waited until she had
sat down, and then coming slowly toward her he inquired: "Ma'm, air all
the deputy marshals in the state under yo' brother, t