At that moment Susie came out on the porch.
"Why, Welcome!" she exclaimed; "what's the matter?"
The old man gave a plaintive sniffle.
"Been driv out ag'in, gal," he answered, "an' this here's the last time. I stood enough to drive a preacher to drink, but never no more, never no more. Good-by, Susie. You've allers been good to me, you hev, but that brother o' your'n 's a case."
Welcome swung his stick over his shoulder and stepped forward to shake hands with Susie.
"Welcome Perkins," she cried, "you go right into the house and stop this foolishness!"
"Oh, let him go, Susie," said Matt. "Right now, when the McReady family have a big fight on their hands, Welcome makes up his mind he wants to leave. I didn't think it of him, but, if he's bound to go, tell him good-by and let him start."
"What's that I'm hearin'?" queried Welcome, pricking up his ears. "The McReadys got a fight on?"
"Never you mind about that, Welcome," returned Matt cheerfully. "Just hike right along. What do you care for the McReadys, anyhow? After the way you've been treated here, I should think you'd be glad to cut the whole family and dig out. Good-by!"
"You dry up!" glared Welcome. "I'm talkin' to Susie. What's this about a fight, gal?"