Mr. Jones seemed much surprised and hurt at the question.
“An oath never passed these lips,” replied the truthful gentleman.
“Can you churn?”
“Churn—churn?” with a reminiscent smile, “I can churn like a top.”
Jimmy was dying of curiosity but the gate was too far away for him to do more than catch a word now and then. It was also out of Sarah Jane's visual line, so she knew nothing of the stranger's advent.
“And you're here all by yourself?” insinuated Billy's new friend. “And the folks next door, where are they?”
“Mrs. Garner's at the Aid an' Mr. Garner's gone to Memphis. That is they little boy a-settin' in they yard on they grass,” answered the child.
“I've come to fix your Aunt Minerva's water pipe,” said truth-loving Mr. Jones. “Come, show me the way; I'm the plumber.”
“In the bath-room?” asked the child. “I did n' know it needed no fixin'.”
He led the agreeable plumber through the hall, down the long back-porch to the bathroom, remarking “I'll jes' watch you work.” And he seated himself in the only chair.