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That was the warot from Jacob Gill, my oldest friend in the world, ht

“Sorry, Jacob,” I said, “but I didn’t knohere else to go”

He looked ht back at hihed, picked up one of h the tiny parlor and into the tiny dining room

“I reckon this is the guest rooet some blankets; we can make a pallet on the floor—unless you want to sleep out in the sht be more private for you”

“This will be fine,” I said

Jacob’s house was a sad sight on the inside The few pieces of furniture were battered old castoffs held together with baling wire and odd ends of rope The cotton batting was co out of the cushions on the settee In the kitchen, a baby’s cradle gave off an unpleasant aro to meet a mouse for lunch Jacob said, “You want a drink?”

“Just soood for me”

“The puer or two myself”

He didn’t bother to pour the whiskey into a glass He pulled the cork and took a big slug right out of the bottle

“Well, that’s just fine, ain’t it? Drinking straight from the bottle, and it ain’t even lunchtime yet”

This observation belonged to Charlotte, Jacob’s wife, who came in from the back porch with an infant in one arm and a pile of laundry in the other

“Hello, Charlotte Ben Corbett”

“Yeah, I knoho you are” Her voice was cool “I heard you were back in town”

“Ben’s gonna be staying with us for a few days,” said Jacob “I told hi room”

“That’s grand,” Charlotte said “That’s just wonderful That oughta make us the most popular family in Eudora”