His casual wave of a hand could have meant almost anything, and Johnny felt a small tremor of apprehension.

When he was merely one of the men on the payroll he had stood just a bit in awe of old Sudden, and he could not all at once throw off the feeling, even though Sudden had willingly enough acknowledged him as a prospective son-in-law.

He allowed a blob of black paint to place a period where no period should be while he stared after Sudden's bulky form in the dust-covered car.
Sudden busied himself in the garage, turning up grease cups and going over certain squeaky spots with the oil can while he studied the problem before him.

He had once before likened Johnny Jewel to a thoroughbred colt that must be given its head lest its temper be spoiled for all time.

Just now the human colt seemed inclined to bolt where the bolting threatened disaster to Mary V.