Part 4 (2/2)
The stranger took his cigar from his mouth and smiled placidly. No more imperturbable countenance could be imagined.
”Six twenty-six!” he said gently.
”Take the ole house an' be derned to you!” cried Big Medicine, looking furiously at his antagonist. ”Take the blamed ole shacke-merack an' all the cussed blue-birds an' peer-weers to boot, for all I keer!”
Everybody laughed, and the auctioneer continued:
”Agoing for six twenty-six! Who says seven hundred? Bid up lively!
Agoing once, agoing twice--once, twice, three-e-e-e-e times! Sold to Abner Golding for six hundred and twenty-six dollars, and as cheap as dirt itself!”
”Hooray for the man who hed the most money!” shouted the tallow-faced boy.
The sale was at an end. The auctioneer came down from his box and wiped his face with a red handkerchief. The crowd, as if blown apart by a puff of wind, scattered this way and that, drifting into small, grotesque groups to converse together on whatever topic might happen to suggest itself. Big Medicine seemed inclined to be alone, but the irrepressible youth of the saffron skin ambled up to him and said, in a tone intended for comic:
”Golly, doctor, but didn't that 'ere gal projuce a orful demand for the ole house! Didn't she set the ole trap off when she peeked out'n the winder!”
Big Medicine looked down at the strapping boy, much as a lion might look at a field rat or a weasel, then he doubled his hand into an enormous fist and held it under the youth's nose, saying in a sort of growl as he did so:
”You see this 'ere bundle o' bones, don't ye?”
”Guess so,” replied the youth.
”Well, would you like a small mess of it?”
”Not as anybody knows of.”
”Well, then, keep yer derned mouth shet!”
Which, accordingly, the boy proceeded to do, ambling off as quickly as possible.
About this time, the stranger, having put the green spectacles back upon his nose, walked in the direction of 'Squire Tadmore's office, accompanied by the young woman who had looked from the window. When Big Medicine saw them he picked up a stick and began furiously to whittle it with his jack-knife. His face wore a comically mingled look of chagrin, wonder, and something like a new and thrilling delight. He puffed out great volumes of smoke, making his pipe wheeze audibly under the vigor of his draughts. He was certainly excited.
”Orful joke the boys 'll have on me arter this,” he muttered to himself.
”Wonder if the 'oman's the feller's wife? Monstrous poorty, sh.o.r.e's yer born!”
He soon whittled up one stick. He immediately dived for another, this time getting hold of a walnut knot. A tough thing to whittle, but he attacked it as if it had been a bit of white pine. Soon after this 'Squire Tadmore's little boy came running down from his father's office to where Big Medicine stood.
”Mr. Big Medicine,” cried he, all out of breath, ”that 'ere man what bought the ole house wants to see you partic'ler!”
”Mischief he does! Tell 'im to go to----; no, wait a bit. Guess I'll go tell 'im myself.”
And, so saying, he moved at a slas.h.i.+ng pace down to the door of the 'Squire's office. He thrust his great hirsute head inside the room, and glaring at the mild mannered stranger, said:
”D'ye want to see me?”
Mr. Golding got up from his seat and coming out took Big Medicine familiarly by the arm, meanwhile smiling in the most friendly way.
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