Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/71

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THE RISE OF GINGER GILLETT

countenance you could have hid a ten-cent seegar in, and presently he kem to and smiled, like as if he was sure confused, and said suthin'."

And Pillsbury paused to drink.

"And what did he say?' I asked.

"You'll admire to hear," said Pillsbury, "you'll fair admire! He says in a fierce whisper, 'Partner, who slung me off the train?' And I says, 'Ole man, his name's Prov'dence, and he's hard to beat.' And he replies as he faints away, 'What's his other name?' And ole Green hears him, as he waz pickin' broke glass out of the seat of his pants very tender, and he says, 'I reckon this ginger-headed stranger introduced to Painted Rock so sudden is somewhat of a man, or he wouldn't be for stowin' the whole name and deescription of Providence away in his mind till he's well agin.' And he says, 'Pillsbury, what with glass and oil I'm not fit for activity, so I'll look after the ginger-headed arrival what bucks up agin destiny, while you goes and digs out the engineer of this freight.' And that's how Ginger Gillett struck Painted Rock, and how ole Green took

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