sight of the stalls, there's Butsy standin' in the
rain with the hosses. A big bunch of Jaspers is holdin' a meetin' out
in front of a row of bran'-new stalls that's just been put up. There's
a hot argument goin' on 'n' they don't pay no attention to the rain.

"'You gone dippy?' I says to Butsy. 'What are you standin' out in the
rain with the dogs fur? Why don't you put 'em up?'

"'No chance,' says Butsy. 'All the stalls is took except these new
ones, 'n' the guy who furnished the lumber fur 'em won't unlock 'em
till he's paid.'

"I looks at the stalls--there's a great big padlock on each door.

"'Why don't they slip him the coin?' I says.

"'You can search me,' says Butsy. 'That's what they're chewin' the rag
about now.'

"Me 'n' Peewee slides over to where the crowd is.

"'I'll have the law on ye sure!' a old Jasper is sayin'. He's got on a
long-tailed coat 'n' a white string tie.

"'Edge right in!' whispers Peewee to me. 'It ain't goin' to cost you a
cent!'

"'You ain't got no right to lock them stalls, Jim Burns!' says the old
Jasper. 'They belong to the Knox County Agricultural Society!'

"'Not till I'm paid fer the lumber, they don't!' says the guy he calls
Jim Burns. 'Gimme eighty-six dollars, Kurnel, if you want to use them
stalls.'

"'I'll have the law on ye sure as my name's Hunter!' says the old
Jasper.

"'I guess you won't,' says Burns. 'My lawyer tells me to lock them
stalls.'

"'Who's your lawyer?' says the old Jasper.

"Harry Evans," says Burns.

"'Well, why ain't he here?' says the old Jasper.

"'That's right--he'd ought to be here!' says several in the crowd.

"'I told him to come two hours ago,' says Burns. 'Say, Orphy!
Telephone in an' find out why Harry ain't here!'

"Orphy climbs off the car 'n' goes in a shed 'n' we hears the telephone
bell jingle. Pretty soon he comes back.

"'Missus Evans says Harry's fixin' a clock,' says Orphy. 'He's purty
nigh through, an' he aims to git out here soon as she'll strike right.
He's comin' in his autymobile.'

"The crowd gives a groan. Burns throws up his hands.

"'He'd a damn sight better walk,' he says.

"The argument sort-a dies down while they're waitin' fur this Harry
Evans.

"'Come on!' Peewee says to me. 'I got to tell Butsy the good news.'

"I see the rain tricklin' off Butsy's nose when we get close to him.

"'Stay with it, Butsy!' says Peewee. 'They got a lawyer comin' in a
auto--'

"'Come 'n' hold t