"Sure thing."
"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."
"That's good. Don't forget."
"Oh, I'll not fergit, not on ye'r life."
"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."