"
"This Mister Hicks tried to explain a few things about his
automobile to me and the doctor, but Ward kept running his big
mouth. Then the crowd started gathering. After that, Hicks
couldn't explain nothing."
"That's when I got there, wasn't it, Papa?"
"Yes, Wiley. And Old Man Hawk drove up about that time too.
Mister Hansen was obliged to stop the gin, and Hal shut down the
grist mill, 'cause every man and boy at both places had come
rushing up the hill. They swarmed around that automobile like
bees! Wes Bailey and his boys was the worst ones for questions.
Then, soon as the man and Ward left, all three boys set in
hounding Wes about getting a automobile himself!"
"What'd Wes say?" Grandpa asked.
"Wes just laughed. Finally he said, 'Well, boys, I got plenty
of money and no poor kin! And I'm aiming to keep it that way.'"
Papa stopped talking long enough to pass the fried ham to
Grandpa. Mama wanted me to eat some more, but I was too stuffed.
"Before everybody left the store I found out one thing I'd
been suspecting all summer.
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