Look went along to the front window and threw it up. Only the old men were in sight in the street, standing shoulder to shoulder, their faces upturned, their beards snapping in the breeze. At this safe strategic distance they had one more shot to fire, and their countenances showed it. Amazeen held his hand beside his mouth and huskily whispered: “Squire, you know--that party--the party we was talkin’ about just now?” Sullen nod. “You needn’t sue me on his account. I won’t say nothin’. But--Squire!” Another curt nod. “I know that said party has owed you a settlement for quite a while, if what folks say is true. Now, why don’t you put your bill in with Wat’s and collect both with a”--the old man shouted the last word--“hoss-whip?” For Squire Phin had banged down the window. CHAPTER V--HIRAM LOOK MEETS KLEBER WILLARD BRIEFLY AND BRISKLY AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS A nice little man came up the lane, And it was summer weather; Said he, “It is jolly to meet again, Like this, we two together. And if there be no other thing That you can think to say, Then it’s ‘How do you do? ’ and ‘How do you do?’ And ‘How do you do, to-day? ’ “ It was “Figger-four” Avery who secured from Hiram Look the most information about himself for general circulation. When, after the first few days of wonderment, the attendance at the Squire’s premises dropped off, it was “Figger-four” who remained loyal to the new attraction. Hiram tolerated his constant presence because the little man’s wide-eyed, wide-eared, wide-mouthed receptiveness of his tales flattered the eminent impresario of Imogene and her appanage. Avery was so small and inoffensive that the showman never resented any questions that he asked. All others Hiram shooed off with profanity when they hinted concerning his affairs and intentions. “Blast him,” growled Hiram to his brother, “I feel like a sap tree with a spile let into it when he’s around. I just drip and drip away to him and he sets and laps it down and I can’t seem to shut off. But he’s an obligin’ little fool.” Avery’s soubriquet came from the appearance of his legs. A fever-sore years before had shriveled the left leg, and the knee was set permanently at an angle. As he bobbed along, alternately rising and sinking, he kept presenting with his legs the shape of a grotesque 4. “Everywhere I go,” said Hiram, “Figger-four is right at my elbow, still askin’ questions. And I get interested in answerin’ and I forget and try to keep step with him, and the first thing I know I’m hoppin’ along worse than a darned jack-rabbit. But he’ll do errands like a fly.”