"
"How long since you've seen 'em?" asked Mrs. Price, apparently
addressing herself to the stocking.
Spindler gave a weak laugh. "Well, you see, ef it comes to that, I've
never seen 'em!"
Mrs. Price put the stocking in her lap and opened her direct eyes
on Spindler. "Never seen 'em?" she repeated. "Then, they're not near
relations?"
"There are three cousins," said Spindler, checking them off on his
fingers, "a half-uncle, a kind of brother-in-law,--that is, the brother
of my sister-in-law's second husband,--and a niece. That's six."
"But if you've not seen them, I suppose they've corresponded with you?"
said Mrs. Price.
"They've nearly all of 'em written to me for money, seeing my name
in the paper ez hevin' made a strike," returned Spindler simply; "and
hevin' sent it, I jest know their addresses."
"Oh!" said Mrs. Price, returning to the stocking.
Something in the tone of her ejaculation increased Spindler's
embarrassment, but it also made him desperate.
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