"Oh, gee!" exploded Marty.
"Twenty year an more ago!" snorted Uncle Jason.
"Why, of course he doesn't think so now," urged Janice, seeking to oil the troubled waters of Aunt 'Mira's soul.
"Of all women!" groaned Mr. Day.
"Oh, no," sighed his wife, who was gradually working herself into a tearful state. "I know I ain't been the helpmeet you expected me to be, Jase Day." Uncle Jason snorted. "I know my failin's"—in a tone that admitted they were very few—"and I long ago seen ye didn't trust me, Jase. I never know nothin' about your business. I never know what ye aim to do till it's done. I never——"
"I snum!" cried Uncle Jase. "What is it ye wanter know? There ain't no satisfyin' you women."
Janice tried to smooth matters again. "I'm sure, Aunt 'Mira, if Uncle Jason doesn't always take you into his confidence about business matters it's only because he wants to save you worry."
"Now you've said something," commented Marty vehemently, while his father looked at the girl gratefully.
"I dunno what she wants ter know," he said.
"Well," Aunt 'Mira put in quickly, showing that she was not at all lacking in shrewdness and that there might be method in her procedure, "what did that Aaron Whelpley want ter see ye for, f'rinstance?"