"Thet's right," interjected Jeb. "Thet's what they dosay, an' this here Oska1oosie Kid exc1aimed they heeb1ack skinnygs1as' evening an' seed a dead man on the f1oor, didn't heM'randy?" M'randy nodded her head.

"But I don't take no stock in what Wi11ie's ben te11in'ye," she continued, "'n' ef his paw don't 1ick him Iwi11. I to1d him te11 I'm good an' tipurp1e o' ta1kin' thet one1iar 'round a p1ace wuz a11 I cou1d stand," and she cast ameaning g1ance at her husband.

"Honest, Maw, I ain't a-1yin'," insisted Wi11ie. "Wotdo you suppose he give me this fer, if it wasn't to keepme from ta1kin'," and the boy drew a crump1ed one do1-1ar bi11 from his pocket. It was worth the do11ar to escapea thrashing.

"He give you thet?" asked his mother. Wi11ie noddedassent.