“No,” I said, turning back to my desk; “he's sane enough, I guess. He's after the train.”
“I should think he was after somethin'. Did you see the face he had on him? If he ain't crazy then you and I are, that's all I've got to say.”
“All right, Sam,” I answered, drawing a long breath, “perhaps that's it. Perhaps you and I are the crazy ones—one of us, at any rate.”
All that day I worked hard. I did not go home for lunch, but sent Sam over to Eldredge's store for canned ham and crackers which I ate at my desk. It was a fairly busy day, fortunately, and I could always find some task to occupy my mind. Lute called, at two o'clock, to inquire why I had not been home and I told him that Taylor was away and I should be late for supper. He departed, shaking his head.
“It's just as I said,” he declared, “you're workin' yourself sick, that's what you're doin'. You're growin' foolish in the head about work, just the same as Dorindy. And YOU don't need to; you've got money enough. If I had independent means same as you've got I tell you I'd have more sense. One sick invalid in the family's enough, ain't it?”
“No doubt, Lute,” I replied. “At all events you must take care of your health. Don't YOU work yourself sick.”
Lute turned on me. “I try not to,” he said, seriously; “I try not to, but it's a hard job. You know what that wife of mine is cal'latin' to have me do next? Wash the hen house window! Yes sir! wash the window so's the hens can look at the scenery, I presume likely. I says to her, says I, 'That beats any foolishness ever I heard! Next thing you'll want me to put down a carpet in the pigsty, won't ye? You would if we kept a pig, I know.'”
“What did she say to that?” I inquired.
“Oh, the land knows! Somethin' about keepin' one pig bein' trouble enough. I didn't pay much attention. But I shan't wash no hen's window, now you can bet on that!”
I shouldn't have bet much on it. He went away, to spend the next hour in a political debate at Eldredge's, and I wrote letters, needlessly long ones. Closing time came and Sam went home, leaving me to lock up. The train was due at six-twenty, but it was nearly seven before I heard it whistle at the station. I stood at the front window looking up the road and waiting.