Who is Candy, a character created by John Steinbeck?

Candy is one of the men who live in the ranch house in Soledad in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men."  Older and disabled, he is referred to as "the old swamper"; he no longer goes out with the others.  Instead, he sweeps and cleans the ranch house while the men work in the field. Knowing that, like his dog, he will be banished when he is no longer useful, Candy asks George and Lennie if they will let him contribute to their dream of owning a place of their own as he has saved $350.00 from the payment given him after his accident.  With Lennie and George, Candy has found new hope in his isolation, but, of course, it is short-lived as with Lennie's death, so, too, does the dream of their own place die:  '

Then--it's all off?'  Candy asked sulkily.

As the men rush out in search of Lennie after the death of Curley's wife, Candy lies down hpelessly in the hay of the barn, covering his eyes with his arm in the same manner as when his dog was shot.  For, Curley knows that Lennie will meet the same fate as his old dog.  And, he will soon follow, powerless to change anything.