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“You measly skinflint!” Mr Paddock said “Not if I know it, you won’t Not in ood, honest, decent little chap, and you— For a cent I’ll— No! You hand him a hundred of that money, and do it quick! No, two hundred! Two hundred dollars, I say, or take the consequences!”

Mr Tho, and so did Almanzo But Mr Paddock’s fists clenched and the ed “Two hundred!” he shouted “Hand it over, quick! Or I’ll see you do!”

Mr Tho Mr Paddock, and he licked his thumb and hurriedly counted off some bills He held them out to Almanzo Almanzo said, “Mr Paddock—”

“Now get out of here, if you knohat’s healthy! Get out!” Mr Paddock said, and before Al there with the bills in his hand, and Mr Thompson slammed the door behind himself

Almanzo was so excited he stammered He said he didn’t think Father would like it Al all that money, and yet he did want to keep it Mr Paddock said he would talk to Father; he rolled down his shirt sleeves and put on his coat and asked:

“Where is he?”

Al strides The bills were clutched tight in his hand Father was putting packages into the wagon, and Mr Paddock told him what had happened

“For a cent I’d have s face,” Mr Paddock said “But it struck ure the boy’s entitled to it”

“I don’t know as anyone’s entitled to anything for coh I must say I appreciate the spirit you showed, Paddock”

“I don’t say he deservedThompson his own money,” Mr Paddock said “But it’s too much to ask him to stand and take insults, on top of that I say Almanzo’s entitled to that two hundred”

“Well, there’s so in what you say,” said Father Finally he decided, “All right, son, you can keep that money”

Almanzo smoothed out the bills and looked at them; two hundred dollars That was as much as the horse-buyer paid for one of Father’s four-year-olds

“And I’ up for the boy the way you did,” Father said “Well, I can afford to lose a custoood cause,” said Mr Paddock He asked Al to do with all that money?”

Almanzo looked at Father “Could I put it in the bank?” he asked

“That’s the place to put money,” said Father “Well, well, well, two hundred dollars! I ice your age before I had so much”