"I mean, what made 'em change now?" went on Abbie. "They knew this long time that Jakie Barsinger was dumb."
"I don't know, an' I don't care. I only know that I'm goin' to drive the President. I heard Lincoln make his speech in '63, an' I drove Everett an' Sickles an' Howard an' Curtin, and this President's father, an' then"—Billy's voice shook—"then they said I was gettin' old, an' Jakie Barsinger an' all the chaps get down at the station an' yell an' howl like Piute Indians, an' they get the custom, an' the hotels tell the people I had an accident with an automobile. Automobiles be danged!"
Mrs. Gude laid a tender hand on his shoulder.
"Don't you cry," she said.
Billy dashed the tears from his eyes.
"I ain't cryin'. You go on with your errand."
Mrs. Gude put on her sunbonnet again. She had no errand, but it would not do to admit it.
"Not if you're goin' to hop round like a loony."
"I'm safe for to-day, I guess. Besides, my legs is give out."
Left alone, Billy rubbed one leg, then the other.