"
Once in a while Daggett would suggest to Joe that if he were in his
place he wouldn't eat too much of that green candy. He supposed it
was pure; he didn't mean to sell any but pure candy if he knew it,
but it might be just as well for him to go slow. Generally he took a
paternal delight in watching the growing boy eat his stock in trade.
That afternoon Joe was working on a species of hard sweet which
distended his cheeks, and nearly deprived him temporarily of the
power of speech, while the people seeking their mail came in. There
was never much custom while mail-sorting was going on, and Joe sucked
blissfully.
Then Jim Dodge entered and spoke to him. "Hullo, Joe," he said.
Joe nodded, speechless.
Jim seated himself on a stool, and lit his pipe.
Joe eyed him. Jim was a sort of hero to him on account of his hunting
fame. As soon as he could control his tongue, he addressed him:
"Heard the news?" said he, trying to speak like a man.
"What news?"
"Old Andrew Bolton's got out of prison and come back. He's crazy,
too."
"How did you get hold of such nonsense?"
"Heard the women talking."
Jim pondered a moment. Then he said "Damn," and Joe admired him as
never before. When Jim had gone out, directly, Joe shook his fist at
a sugar barrel, and said "Damn," in a whisper.
Jim in the meantime was hurrying along the road to the Bolton house.
He made up his mind that he must see Lydia. He must know if she had
authorized the revelation that had evidently been made, and if so,
through whom.
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