Ride the River (1983) Read Free Page A

so he can hear what the preacher says so's they can argue about it at the store."
    "They are friends?"
    "Of course. Everybody likes George, and the preacher looks forward to those arguments. Ever'body down to the store does. They argued about the whale swallowin' Jonah until the preacher came up with evidence showin' two men had been swallowed and lived to tell of it.
    "Preacher, he says for all his mistaken ways George knows more Bible than anybody he ever knew. He says that down inside, George Haliday is a good Christian man who just likes to argue. I wouldn't know about that, but ever' once in a while the preacher throws a sermon right at him; and all the folks know it and they watch George."
    "The tinker who brought the Advocate ? Do you see him often?"
    "Ever' two, three months. Sometimes oftener. He comes down along the ridge trail carryin' a pack so big you'd think it would take three men. Packs it all by hisself."
    "Doesn't he ever get robbed?"
    Well, I just looked at him. Where was he raised? Nobody would rob a pack peddler, but especially not this one. Anyway, even among Injuns, peddlers an' traders were respected an' let be. We all needed their goods. If the peddler stopped comin', we'd all lack for things.
    "Nobody would rob the Tinker. I reckon nobody could. He's got him a special kind of knife he makes himself, and knows how to use it. I often wished I had one like it, but I have to make do with my pick."
    " 'Pick'?"
    "Arkansas toothpick." When I said it, I could see he was ignorant. "It's a kind of knife."
    He stared at me there for a moment, tryin' to make me out. I reckon I was a different kind of person than he'd ever met. So I changed the subject on him.
    "About that money. Folks where I come from, Mr. White, are right serious about money. When somebody owes money, they pay it or explain why they can't. You have money for me. I want it."
    "Of course. You are impatient, but I understand that." He reached in his desk and drew out a paper with all kinds of writin' on it and indicated a line at the bottom. "You just sign right there and you shall have your money."
    Me, I just looked at him. "Mr. White, I don't figure to sign anything until I have the money in hand. All of it. You put the money on the desk and I'll sign fast enough."
    "I am sorry, Miss Sackett. Your signing would expedite matters. In any event, it shall have to be tomorrow, as I naturally would not have such a sum in my office."
    I stood up. "Yes, sir. I understand, sir. Tomorrow morning I will be here and you had better be, with that money. If it ain't here or you aren't, I'll start backtrackin' that money. I reckon any kind of money leaves its trail, and I can read sign as good as anybody. I'll follow that trail right back to where it come from an' right back to you, so's I will know how much is involved an' why you keep putting me off."
    He stood up too. "There's nothing to worry about, Miss Sackett. Your money will be here. However" - and there was a hard edge to his voice - "I would advise you to change your tone. You are in Philadelphia now, Miss Sackett, not back in your mountains. You would do well to curb your tongue."
    "You have that money for me and you'll not have to put up with me."
    He started to speak angrily, then changed his mind. He changed it so fast the words backed up on him, but he finally come out with it. "I am sorry, Miss Sackett, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. I did not wish to offend you or cause unnecessary delays. I only hoped to make your stay more agreeable."
    To be honest, that was all he had done. Maybe I'd been set on edge by the doubts of my bald-headed friend or something in James White's manner, or the fact that I'd been followed from the time I arrived in town. Come to think on it, he'd said nothing a body could take offense to.
    "I am sorry too," I said. "I shall be here in the morning."

    Chapter 3
    When I fetched myself to the sidewalk, the tall young man from the office was standin' there.