Abner at once obeyed, and after Zeb had driven in two nails, he straightened himself up, and looked at his companion.
"You never intended to give a thousand to that Home, did ye?" he asked.
"Sure. What de ye think I am? A fool?"
"Not altogether, but next door to one, I should say."
"Ye've got a darn lot of gall," Abner retorted. "Ye must have inherited it from one of the Lost Tribes, didn't ye?"
"Never mind the Lost Tribes now, Abner. You know what I say is true. You're no more able to give a thousand dollars to that Home than I am to buy out the whole of Glucom. How in the world de ye expect to git out of the scrape, anyway? Ye'll be the laughin'-stock of everyone."
"Never you mind, Zeb, how I'll git out of it. I'll square up all right, so ye needn't bust any button off about it. I know a wrinkle or two."
"Ye'll have to git a hustle on, then, if them Denton kids are to be helped."
Abner took three or four steps across the room, and then stopped and looked out of the door. Presently he turned and watched Zebedee for a few seconds.
"How much de ye expect to git fer that job?" he suddenly asked.