"Well, that's what I'm here for.

Thinking of cornering the--er--potato market, were you ?" "No-o.

Cranberries would be more in my line, and I cal'late you fellers don't deal in that kind of sass.

I had a private matter I wanted to talk over with you, Mr.Dunn; that is, if you ain't too busy." Malcolm looked at him with an amused curiosity.

As he had expressed it in the conversation with his mother, this old fellow certainly was a "card." He seated himself on the arm of the oak settle from which the captain had risen and, lazily swinging a polished shoe, admitted that he was always busy but never too busy to oblige.
"What's on your mind, Captain ?" he drawled.
Captain Elisha glanced about him somewhat uneasily.
"I--I don't know as I made it quite clear," he said, "that it was sort of private; somethin' just between us, you understand." Malcolm hesitated.