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Jim feels like he mighty near owes all he's got to Railroad Jones. He certainly is a good man, an' so sharp—brainiest man in Lane County, an' his daughter's jest like him." She paused in scolloping a pie crust. "There's Addy now, blowin' for B'atrice. Abner, step an' tell her B'atrice's gone. She went to carry our washin' to niggertown."

The young man went out on the piazza and saw Adelaide Jones in a big yellow roadster in front of the gate. The girl leaned forward and waved.

"How are you this morning, Mr. Teeftallow? Where's Beatrice?"

"She took the clothes to the washerwoman."

Adelaide pouted. "I'm so peeved. What made you let her go?"

"I didn't have nothin' to do with it," said Abner heavily.

"Well, I suppose you want to go to town, you've developed into such a business man; come on and climb in.—Well, say, do you want to ride with me, or don't you?"

"Yes, yes," hastened Abner, starting abruptly for the car as if Adelaide had touched off a spring.

"You didn't seem very enthusiastic."

Abner, who never possessed a syllable of light chatter, reddened faintly and said, "I wasn't expectin' a invitation."

The girl stared, then dimpled into sudden laughter.

"What do you require for them—a nerve tonic?"

"Why, no-o—" dragged out Abner, growing more uncomfortable; then he remembered the cook Aline's titter and he thought with a certain resentment, "She thinks she's better'n me. . . ."

Abner entered the motor in silence. The girl pushed forward a lever and the big car whispered off.

"Where do you want to go?" asked Adelaide.

"Why, nowhere in particklar."

"Then evidently we're out for a joy ride?"

"That suits me," agreed Abner stiffly.

"I declare, Mr. Teeftallow," cried the girl, "do you always let your enthusiasms run away with you like this?"