“'Oh, he's out in his car,' he says. 'Huntin' for Loveland again, maybe.'
“'HIS car? You mean yours.'
“'No, I mean his. I sold my car to him yesterday mornin' for twenty-five hundred dollars cash.'
“I set up in bed. 'Go 'long!' I sings out. 'You didn't nuther!'
“'Yes, I did. Sure thing. After that ride, you couldn't have separated him from that machine with blastin' powder. He paid over the money like a little man.'
“I laid down again. Jonadab Wixon payin' twenty-five hundred dollars for a plaything! Not promisin', but actually PAYIN' it!
“'Has—has the widow gone with him?' I asked, soon's I could get my breath.
“He laughed sort of queer. 'No,' he says, 'she's gone out of town for a few days. Ha, ha! Well, between you and me, Wingate, I doubt if she comes back again. She and I have made all we're likely to in this neighborhood, and she's too good a business woman to waste her time. Good-by; glad to have met you.'
“But I smelt rat strong and wouldn't let him go without seein' the critter.
“'Hold on!' I says. 'There's somethin' underneath all this. Out with it. I won't let on to the Cap'n if you don't want me to.'