ll right," the old man replied.

"And I believe it will be a little more than all right when I tell you
of something. The other day I was at an old house in the country, and
an old fellow that lives there took me down into the cellar to show me
a new patent churn that he was working on. Well, I didn't care
anything about the churn, you know, not having much to do with cows,
but I looked at the thing like I was interested, just to please him.
And while I was looking about I saw a small barrel, with dried moss
on it, and I asked him about it, and he said it was a whisky barrel
that was hid out all during the war. This made me open my eyes, I tell
you; but as quiet as I could I asked him if there was any of the
liquor left. He said he had about a gallon left, and I told him I'd
give him twenty dollars for a quart of it, and I did, right then and
there; and if I haven't got that bottle right with me now, you may
crack my head like a hickory nut."

By this time old Jasper's jaw had fallen, and now he sat, leaning
forward with his mouth wide open. "Zeby," he said, and his voice
sounded as if he had been taken with a sudden hoarseness. "I reckon I
am about as fond of a joke and a prank as any man that ever crossed
Goose Creek--and some great jokers came along there in the early
days--but there was things too sacred for them to joke about. You know
what I said, Zeby?"

"I know all about them old fellows," Zeb said, with a laugh. "I have
heard my granddad talk about them. In fact, he was one of them, and I
get it from him not to joke on some things. I've that bottle of liquor
in my pocket this very minute."

The old man stepped to the door. "Tobithy; oh, Tobithy."

"Well," his wife answered from the dining-room.

"Zeb is powerful anxious for you to go over to his mother's, as the
old lady is wanting to see you, but I don't see how you can get off."

Sawyer looked at him in surprise. The old man made him a sign to be
quiet.

A dish clattered and his wife exclaimed: "You don't see how I can go.
Oh, no, but you see how I can stick here day after day, killing myself
with work. I am going."

The old man grinned and sat down. "I was afraid she would back out,"
he said, "and I wanted to clinch the thing. Jest let me tell her that
I am afraid she can't do a thing and then it would take a good deal
more high water than we've had for a year or two to keep her from
doing it."

His wife and Annie came into the room and he put o