3

           Hehadwatchedthemarrivefromacrossthestreetandhadcomeacrosstoseeifhecouldhelpwhenitseemedtheywere"inabitofatight,"asheputit.

           WhileLouisheldthebabyonhisshoulder,Crandallsteppednear,lookedattheswellingonGage’sneck,andreachedoutwithoneblocky,twistedhand.Rachelopenedhermouthtoprotest—hishandlookedterriblyclumsyandalmostasbigasGage’shead—butbeforeshecouldsayaword,theoldman’sfingershadmadeasingledecisivemovement,asaptanddeftasthefingersofamanwalkingcardsacrosshisknucklesorsendingcoinsintoconjurer’slimbo.Andthestingerlayinhispalm.

           "Big"un,"heremarked."Noprize-winner,butit’ddoforaribbon,Iguess."Louisburstoutlaughing.

           Crandallregardedhimwiththatcrookedsmileandsaid,"Ayuh,corker,ain’tshe?"

           "Whatdidhesay,Mommy?"Eileenasked,andthenRachelburstoutlaughingtoo.Ofcourseitwasterriblyimpolite,butsomehowitwasokay.CrandallpulledoutadeckofChesterfieldKings,pokedoneintotheseamedcornerofhismouth,noddedatthempleasantlyastheylaughed—evenGagewaschortlingnow,inspiteoftheswellingofthebeesting—andpoppedawoodenmatchalightwithhisthumbnail.Theoldhavetheirtricks,Louisthought.Smallones,butsomeofthemaregoodones.

           Hestoppedlaughingandheldoutthehandthatwasn’tsupportingGage’sbottom—Gage’sdecidedlydampbottom."I’mpleasedtomeetyou,Mr.