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Loreda made a face “A ne, Mom”

Outside, a car came into view They looked at each other

When was the last time they’d had visitors?

Elsa wiped her hands on a cement-sack dish towel and followed Tony out of the house

The auto this way and that to avoid cracks in the earth and sand dunes and coils of barbed wire Yellon dust billowe

d up from the thin rubber tires

Tony crossed the porch and headed toward the auto their way

Elsa tented a hand to shield her eyes frolare of the sun

“Who is it?” Rose asked, co her damp hands on her apron

The automobile rumbled up into the yard and stopped in front of Tony The cloud of dust dissipated slowly, revealing a 1933 Ford Model Y

The door opened slowly A htened He wore a black suit, the buttoned-up coat strained over a well-fed gut, and a brand-new fedora A thicket of gray sideburns bracketed his florid face

Mr Gerald, the only banker left in town

Rose and Elsa walked down into the brown yard and stood with Tony

“Morton,” Tony said, frowning “Are you here about theback to town”

“Yes, he is But that’s not why I’ently, as if the automobile were a lover in need of care, and doffed his hat “Ladies” He paused, looked uncoive us some time to speak privately,” he said