Jasper Dale is a bookish recluse who lives at Golden Milestone. He is nicknamed "The Awkward Man." "We met the Awkward man in his yard, and he gave us a quarter apiece for our library. He did not seem awkward or shy; but then we were only children, and his foot was on his native heath. When we got away we compared notes, and found that we all liked him–and this, although he had said little and had appeared somewhat glad to get rid of us. " The Story Girl ch. 7