"There ain't any call to feel bad," said Eskew.
"It might have happened any time--in the night, maybe--at my house--and all alone--but here's Airie Tabor brought me to her own home and takin' care of me.I couldn't ask any better way to go, could I?""I don't know what we'll do," stammered the Colonel, "if you--you talk about goin' away from us, Eskew.We--we couldn't get along--""Well, sir, I'm almost kind of glad to think,"Mr.Arp murmured, between short struggles for breath, "that it 'll be--quieter--on the--"National House" corner!"A moment later he called the doctor faintly and asked for a restorative."There," he said, in a stronger voice and with a gleam of satisfaction in the vindication of his belief that he was dying."Iwas almost gone then._I_ know!" He lay panting for a moment, then spoke the name of Joe Louden.
Joe came quickly to the bedside.
"I want you to shake hands with the Colonel and Peter and Buckalew.
"We did," answered the Colonel, infinitely surprised and troubled."We shook hands outside before we came in.""Do it again," said Eskew."I want to see you."And Joe, making shift to smile, was suddenly blinded, so that he could not see the wrinkled hands extended to him, and was fain to grope for them.
"God knows why we didn't all take his hand long ago," said Eskew Arp."I didn't because Iwas stubborn.I hated to admit that the argument was against me.I acknowledge it now before him and before you--and I want the word of it CARRIED!""It's all right, Mr.Arp," began Joe, tremulously.