“‘Lord’s sake, Bill!’ says I, ‘what you up to?’
“‘Nothin’ much, Tumm,’ says he.
“‘It don’t look right,’ says I. ‘What is it?’
“‘Nothin’ much,’ says he; ‘jus’ countin’ up my money.’
“’Twas true enough: there he sot—playin’ with his fortune. They was pounds of it: coppers an’ big round pennies an’ silver an’ one lone gold piece.
“‘You been gettin’ rich?’ says I.
“‘Tumm,’ says he, ‘you got any clear idea o’ how much hard cash they is lyin’ right there on that plain deal table in this here very kitchen you is in?’
“‘I isn’t,’ says I.
“‘Well,’ says he, ‘they’s as much as fourteen dollar! An’ what d’ye think o’ that?’
“I ’lowed I’d hold my tongue; so I jus’ lifted my eyebrow, an’ then sort o’ whistled, ‘Whew!’