Page:Teeftallow-1926.djvu/326

warmly. "He learned me all I know or ever expect to know."

"Yep, an' I suppose you heard about Nessie Sutton—Nessie Belshue, she is now?"

A tickling came over Abner's scalp, as if someone had douched him with cold water. "Why, n-n-no-o," he said.

"She's a proud mammy now—her an' Belshue's got a little gal."

"She has!" ejaculated Abner, oddly moved again.

"Yep, an' the quare part is, it's a four-months baby. She's been married to Belshue that long, but it's alive an' kickin' all right—quick action, I call it," and here Mr. Fraley burst into a roar of laughter, leaning against the prescription counter in his mirth.

Mr. Pratt stood looking from one hillman to the other.

It seemed to Abner that the floor was sinking under him. He was thinking with an overwhelming sense of pain and pathos, "A little gal—a little gal . . ." Something constricted in his throat and he heard his own voice saying in a strained tone, "Well—that—that's nice—er—Mr. Pratt—yes—I—I'm goin' with the—the strike breakers—g-get you in if I can—I got to go—" He was getting out of the drug store on shaking legs.

As he went he heard Fraley gasping out some explanation half choked with laughter. This faded to silence as Abner passed out the door. He walked unseeingly into the chill sunshine that lay over the unsightly square. The courthouse clock began slowly tolling an hour. Abner moved on with an aching throat, repeating in a whisper, "A little gal—a little gal—to bring a little gal in a worl' like this 'un."