And 'twas ten minutes of twelve
Saturday mornin', too, and there was eight men waitin' their turn
in line, and nary one of them or Lute either had the spunk to ask
Melissa to hurry. Ho, ho! 'unprotected female' is good!"
He had his laugh out and then added: "But there's no doubt that
Charlie's goin' to be popular with the women. Why, even Maud seems
to take a shine to him. Said she was surprised to have me show
such good judgment. Course she didn't really mean she was
surprised," he hastened to explain, evidently fearing that even an
old friend like Jed might think he was criticizing his idolized
daughter. "She was just teasin' her old dad, that's all. But I
could see that Charlie kind of pleased her. Well, he pleases me
and he pleases the cashier and the directors. We agree, all of us,
that we're mighty lucky. I gave you some of the credit for gettin'
him for us, Jed," he added magnanimously. "You don't really
deserve much, because you hung back so and wouldn't tell his name,
but I gave it to you just the same. What's a little credit between
friends, eh? That's what Bluey Batcheldor said the other day when
he came in and wanted to borrow a hundred dollars on his personal
note. Ho! ho!"
Captain Sam's glowing opinion of his paragon was soon echoed by the
majority of Orham's population. Charlie Phillips, although quiet
and inclined to keep to himself, was liked by almost every one.
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