"Yep," interrupted Letts, earnestly. "That air the way it were."
Jake nodded and continued: "Sure, Sandy, us-uns all knowed ye swore false on the trial.... Well, next day, Young an' the brat went to Albany to see the guvener."
The ex-convict's eyes widened at the thought of the squatter girl in such august company.
"He were fine to Tess. Seemed kind a stuck on her, the Professor says. The brat told 'im all about how she'd looked after Andy, an' how he were in prison five years innercent, an' then, he give 'er a free pardon for 'im. Day before yesterday, they brought 'im home. Some happy they air, I tell ye!"
"Well," commented Sandy, "I air glad he's out. I never did feel jest right 'bout his bein' shet up, but I were needin' the money."
Jake rose, and coming into the room, took up a broken fishing tackle and sat down again.
"That ain't all the news, nuther, Sandy. While the Professor was to Auburn, some skunks tore down old Moll's shack. She come down here in the rain madder'n a settin' hen. The old woman's going to stay with us-uns."
"It air a fine thing fer old Moll," added Mrs. Brewer. "I been thinkin' fer a long time as how she were too far 'long in years to be alone in the shanty."
"Well," said Sandy. "I'm glad to hear it."
"What air ye doin' down here, Sandy?" inquired Mrs. Brewer.
"Me? oh, me!" He paused to choose his words. "I got some news for you folks. I air goin' to get married."
"Air that why ye're all togged up?" Jake queried. "Gosh, but ye air some beau, Sandy.... Ain't he, ma?"
"Yep, I air on my way to get my girl. I been waitin' over three years for this here day, an' now--I air got flowers in this bundle."
"Who ye goin' to marry, Sandy?" demanded Mrs. Brewer.
Letts grinned again, straightened his shoulders pompously, and lined his feet together on a crack in the floor.
"Tess Skinner," he answered, looking from the man to the woman.
Mrs. Brewer dropped on a stool, and her husband's jaws fell apart in astonishment.
"Tess Skinner?" he repeated dully. "Pretty little Tess Skinner?"
"Well, I swan!" gasped the squatter woman. "Did she say she'd have ye, Sandy?"
"Well, it air like this. I been askin' 'er to marry me ever since she were sixteen year old, but she wouldn't while her daddy were alive. Then once she says to me, 'Sandy, you go git Andy Bishop an' git that five thousand, an' come back here.' Now I got the cash. I air a goin' to git the girl."