Page:The Geranium.pdf/95

42 Granpaw?"

Old Gabriel stiffened. He felt for the post to pull himself up on. "Ef you waitin' on Mose an' Luke," he said, "you better git goin'. They started over to yawl's place an hour ago."

"Come in here, I say! Come in here right now!"

The blind boy sat alone on the steps, staring ahead. "All the men gone?" he called.

"All gone but ol' Hezuh. Come in."

He hated to go in--among the women.

"I smells it," he said.

"You come in here, Gabriel."

He went in and walked to where the window was. The women were muttering at him.

"You stay in here, boy."

"You be 'tractin' that cat right in this room, settin' out there."

No air was coming through the window, and he scratched at the shutter latch to open it.

"Don't open that winder, boy. Us don't want no wildcat jumpin' in here."

"I could er gone wit 'em," he said sullenly. "I could er smelled it out. I ain't afraid." Shut up wit these women like he one too.