"FIRST four, forward and back!" he shouted. "Forward
and SALUTE! BALANCE to corners! SWING pardners! GR-R-RAND
Right-and-Left!"
I think the combination of abandon and decorum with which he performed
that "Grand Right-and-Left" was the funniest thing I have ever seen. But
I didn't laugh at it.
Neither did Miss Apperthwaite.
"NOW do you believe me?" Peck was arguing, fiercely, with Mr.
Schulmeyer. "Is he crazy, or ain't he?"
"He is," Grist agreed, hoarsely. "He is a stark, starin', ravin',
roarin' lunatic! And the nigger's humorin' him!"
They were all staring, open-mouthed and aghast, into the lighted room.
"Do you see where it puts US?" Simeon Peck's rasping voice rose high.
"I guess I do!" said Grist. "We come out to buy a barn, and got a house
and lot fer the same money. It's the greatest night's work you ever
done, Sim Peck!"
"I guess it is!"
"Shake on it, Sim."
They shook hands, exalted with triumph.
"This'll do the work," giggled Peck. "It's about two-thousand per cent.
better than the story we started to git. Why, Dave Beasley'll be in a
padded cell in a month! It'll be all over town to-morrow, and he'll have
as much chance fer governor as that nigger in there!" In his ecstasy he
smote Dowden deliriously in the ribs. "What do you think of your
candidate NOW?"
"Wait," said Dowden. "Who came in the hacks that Grist saw?"
This staggered Mr. Peck. He rubbed his mitten over his woollen cap as if
scratching his head.
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