er tness outside.

    Everyter t. Brannon stood beer as usual, .  filing  ter.

    Jake noticed t t eacher as he came in.

    Afternoon, said Brannon.

    Jake felt somet ood ful. Package of target, please. As Brannon reacer for tobacco Jake decided t  laugime t as   nig slept, and he look of a weary buzzards.

    Speak up, Jake said. how much do I owe you?’

    Brannon opened a dra on ter a public-scablet. Slocablet looked more like a private notebook t s. tracted, and little dra a certain page and Jake saten at t random across ttle round, seated cats ails. Jake stared. ttle cats le cats were Mrs. Brannon.

    I raigme see------ Brannon rubbed  tablet. Approximately ty dollars.’

    Itll take me a long time, Jake said. tut maybe youll get it’

    quot;theres no big hurry.’

    Jake leaned against ter. Say, own?’

    Ordinary, Brannon said. About like any othe same

    size.’

    population?’

    Around ty thousand.’

    Jake opened tobacco and rolled te. ly mills?’

    ts rigton mills—tory. Some gins and sawmills.’

    kind of wages?’

    Id say around ten or eleven a  t laid off no makes you ask all to try to get a job in amill?’

    Jake dug  into  sleepily. Dont kno. er and pointed out tisement read. I to this.’

    Brannon read and considered. Yea ss not muc a couple of contraptions suc corrals to different vacant lots in town.’

    So get there.’

    Brannon  o ted out tion. Did you go on his morning?’