"Hot diggity!" Wiley started running toward the front door. "No, Wiley, not that way! Through the back here. My buggy's behind the store." Wiley slammed the door as they rushed out. It wasn't half a minute before Doctor Elton stuck his head back inside. "Hey, Jodie, what if the thing ain't got enough gasoline in it? What'll I do?" "Lord, I don't know. Reckon coal oil would work?" "It might. Pump me up a few gallons. I'll take it, just in case." "My drum's slam empty. All I've got's some in a one-gallon can." "Just give me that!" Papa handed the oil to the doctor and had scarcely had time to close the back door when the front door opened, and in walked Shoogie and Black Idd. Then Little Stray and Ned. "Shoogie! You look funny!" "I's sho' 'nuff bad sick this time, Bandershanks. Grandpa Idd, he takin' me up to the doctor's house, soon's we warms our feets." "Doctor Elton ain't— He just— Doctor Elton went to get—To get you, Ned! You gotta ride far away on Mister Ward's automobile!" "Baby, what's you talkin' 'bout?" "You! You better go far off!" Ned kept standing in the doorway, looking down at me. I talked as fast as I could, telling him he'd better hide, but I couldn't make him get scared! He was carrying a big wooden crate on his shoulder, and he didn't even put that down. "Baby, where's Mister Jodie at? I got him the puppies here." "Puppies? Papa! Com'ere! Ned's got us some puppies!" Lemme see, Ned! Open the box! Lemme see them!" "Ned! My Lord! What're you doing here?" I didn't know Papa could walk so fast! He was at the front of the store before Ned could set the puppy box down. "Mister Jodie, I done fotched you them two puppies what I promised you!" Ned lifted the lid. "See 'em, Mister Jodie! They's up good size. Both fat and pretty!" Papa wouldn't even glance down at the puppies. "Doctor Elton's looking for you! Did he see you coming in?" "Naw, sir. I ain't see'd the doctor. Black Idd, he on his way to his house with Shoogie." "Aw! For goodness sakes! You must've been coming in the front door at the same time he was going out the back! It hasn't been a minute! Lemme through the door! Maybe I can make him hear me!" In his rush to get out on the porch, Papa stumbled into the puppy box, and almost knocked me down. Black Idd pulled me back out of his way. "Doc! Hey, Doc! Wiley! Y'all come back!" "They ain't no stoppin' him, Mister Jodie," Black Idd told Papa. "He's got them mares in a long lope. And they's way past the grist mill!" "Papa?" Papa wouldn't listen. "Move your catalogue and scissors, Bandershanks! I gotta get to the phone!" "Papa, look at the puppies!" "This is no time to think of dogs! I gotta call your mama to head them off! I hope to goodness she's already back." "Ned, can I hold this one?" "Sho'. Stray, pick the puppy up for the baby."