“And let the old Skin-flint Abe wait for his money.”
“Ye-ah.”
“But how about the orders?”
“That’s it. I need the darn wheel.”
Both stopped and fell into deep consideration. It all seemed so simple a matter, but to country folks these simple things are momentous.
“If you was to tell me who you got that from, I might see my way clear to advance you the money on next week’s pay,” suggested Sam, with marked caution.
“I can’t tell you, Sam. I promised not to.” Tom’s blue eyes now went gray as his mother’s. He declined Sam’s confidence reluctantly.
“Well, that’s the best I can do,” said Sam. “But take my advice and put a crick in old Abe Nash’s sour tongue before he meets up with Nancy.”
“All right,” said Tom. And on the way home he wondered how he would manage to put that crick in, wisely and effectively.