"Well, that’s interesting. I believe you’re just the man I want. I suppose he’d buy a car if you advised him to do so?"
"That’s great. Now, look here, if you’ll speak a good word for me, I’ll make it worth your while. And, say, here’s something on account to prove that I mean business."
The young man thrust his hand into his pocket and brought forth a crisp bill, and handed it to Abner. "Don’t say a word about this little transaction," he warned. "And you’ll let me know when your boss is ready to buy, won’t you?"
"Sure, sure; I’ll let ye know. I’ll put ye next to the old feller."
"Well, so long," and the salesman held out his hand. "It’s a bargain, remember, and more to come when the car is bought."
As the young man started to leave, Jess came around the corner of the house carrying a rug, which she placed upon the clothes-line. At first she did not notice the two men, but stood for a few seconds looking down over the fields out upon the river. As she turned to re-enter the house by the back door, she espied the men, especially the stranger. In her brief glance she noted what a wretched object her father presented, with his old lime-bespattered clothes, by the side of the immaculately dressed young man. The latter noted the flush which mantled her face, and attributed it to shyness.
"Gee whiz!" he exclaimed, after Jess had entered the house. "Where did she drop from?"
"S-sh," Abner warned. "She’s the old man’s daughter; a chip of the same block."
"Yes, she’s a trim craft, poor gal!" Here he heaved a deep sigh, which the stranger was not slow to notice.
"Why, what’s wrong with her?" the young man enquired.
"Touched here, like her dad," and Abner placed the forefinger of his right hand to his head.
"You don’t say so! My, my, that’s too bad! Inherited, I suppose?"
"Partly. She’s got Social Service on the brain, ye see. But, there, ye’d better go now. She was quite excited when she spotted you, an’ if ye stay too long she might have a fit. Doesn’t take much to set her off, poor thing."
Abner watched the salesman as he walked out of the yard, boarded his car, and set off down the road. Then his solemn face relaxed, and the sad expression fled from his eyes. The skin on his cheeks and under his eyes became suddenly corrugated, and his mouth expanded to a dangerous degree. His body shook, and he emitted a series of half-suppressed chuckles of merriment. He next unfolded the bill he was still holding in his hand, and looked at it.