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           Andhesplutteredangrily,"Fella’scometoanice—toanicewhensomebodybuttons’em.Iwanttabeletbetobuttonmyownpants."

           Masaidplayfully,"Theydon’tletpeoplerunaroun’withtheirclothesunbutton’inCalifornia."

           "Theydon’t,hey!Well,I’llshow’em.Theythinkthey’regonnashowmehowtoactoutthere?Why,I’llgoaroun’a-hangin’outifIwanta!"

           Masaid,"Seemslikehislanguagegetsworseever’year.Showin’off,Iguess."

           Theoldmanthrustouthisbristlychin,andheregardedMawithhisshrewd,mean,merryeyes."Well,sir,"hesaid,"we’llbea-startin’’forelongnow.An’,byGod,they’sgrapesoutthere,justa-hangin’overintatheroad.KnowwhatI’ma-gonnado?I’mgonnapickmeawashtubfullagrapes,an’I’mgonnasetin’em,an’scroogearoun’,an’letthejuicerundownmypants."

           Tomlaughed."ByGod,ifhelivestobetwohundredyouneverwillgetGrampahousebroke,"hesaid."You’reallsetongoin’,ain’tyou,Grampa?"

           Theoldmanpulledoutaboxandsatdownheavilyonit."Yes,sir,"hesaid."An’goddamnneartime,too.Mybrotherwentonouttherefortyyearsago.Neverdidhearnothin’abouthim.Sneakyson-of-a-bitch,hewas.Nobodylovedhim.Runoffwithasingle-actionColtofmine.IfIeverrunacrosshimorhiskids,ifhegotanyoutinCalifornia,I’llask’emforthatColt.ButifIknow’im,an’hegotanykids,hecuckoo’d’em,an’somebodyelseisa-raisin’’em.