“She—she’s dancin’ for Testament and the judge—barefooted!”
“No!” declares five female voices at once.
“Yes! Her and the judge has a long talk and I heard ’em. She tells him that Piperock don’t appreciate art.”
“My Art?” asks Mrs. Wheeler.
“I don’t know. Lemme talk, will you? The judge said he longed for the day when Piperock would become the greatest place on earth, and he said she had a good start right now. This here female opines that we’re fifty years behind the times. She asks him why folks don’t wake up around here. The judge says they’re just waitin’ for the right person to come along and set the alarm. She says she’s the greatest dancer in the world.
“She wants to show off, but the judge says that all Piperock ain’t as intelligent as he is and mebbe they’d not see things in the right light.
“Then Testament Tilton comes in. The judge introduces them two, and explains about her bein’ the greatest dancer on earth. Testament Tilton says he’s originally from Missouri. Then he laughed like a danged hy-e-ner. I don’t like to say that about a preacher, but⸺”
“Speak your mind, sister,” says Mrs. Tilton. “I like your description.”
“Well,” continues Mrs. Holt, “I had to go away for a few minutes, but when I got my eye to the crack of that door again I hears the judge sayin’—
“‘Testament, I reckon the rest of the country will kinda set up when we lets ’em know that Piperock is going to exhibit the greatest dancer in the whole danged world, eh?’