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           "Howdoeshekeepwhat’sinitinit?"

           Jemgiggled."He’sgotaCo-Colabottlefullofwhiskeyinthere.That’sso’snottoupsettheladies.You’llseehimsipitallafternoon,he’llstepoutforawhileandfillitbackup."

           "Why’shesittin’withthecoloredfolks?"

           "Alwaysdoes.Helikes‘embetter’nhelikesus,Ireckon.Livesbyhimselfwaydownnearthecountyline.He’sgotacoloredwomanandallsortsofmixedchillun.Showyousomeof‘emifwesee‘em."

           "Hedoesn’tlookliketrash,"saidDill.

           "He’snot,heownsallonesideoftheriverbankdownthere,andhe’sfromarealoldfamilytoboot."

           "Thenwhydoeshedolikethat?"

           "That’sjusthisway,"saidJem."Theysayhenevergotoverhisweddin’.Hewassupposedtomarryoneofthe—theSpencerladies,Ithink.Theyweregonnahaveahugeweddin’,buttheydidn’t—aftertherehearsalthebridewentupstairsandblewherheadoff.Shotgun.Shepulledthetriggerwithhertoes."

           "Didtheyeverknowwhy?"

           "No,"saidJem,"nobodyeverknewquitewhybutMr.Dolphus.Theysaiditwasbecauseshefoundoutabouthiscoloredwoman,hereckonedhecouldkeepherandgetmarriedtoo.He’sbeensortadrunkeversince.Youknow,though,he’srealgoodtothosechillun—"

           "Jem,"Iasked,"what’samixedchild?"

           "Halfwhite,halfcolored.You’veseen‘em,Scout.Youknowthatred-kinky-headedonethatdeliversforthedrugstore.He’shalfwhite.