The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-23

Forceful and quaint as her language was,
the lazy sweetness of her information, ard
the delicate refinement of her face more
than atoned for it. 1t was unconventional
and picturesque as her gestures. So at
least thought Mr.. Stacey, and it emboldened
him to further gallantry.
We'll, Miss Cressy, as my business with
your father to-day was to try TO effect
compromise of his boundary Gains, per
haps you might accept my services in your
own behalf"
(Which means" responded the young
lady, pertly, 1.-THE same thing to me as to
paw. No trespassers but yourself. Thank
you, sir"
She twiried lightly on her heel and
dropped him that exaggerated courtesy
known to the school children as ''cheese."
1t permit ed in its progress the glimpse of a
pretty little slipper which completed his
subjugation
"Well if it's only a fair compromise, " he
began, laughingly.
Compromise means somebody giving up.
Who is it," she asked.
The infatuated Stacey had reached the
point Of thinking this repartee if possible
more killing than his own
Hal That's for Miss Cressy TO say
But the young lady leaning back against
the Intel with the comfortable ease OF be-
ing irresponsibly diverted, sagely pointed
out that that was the function OF the arbi-
traitor.
"Ah, well, suppose we begin by giving up
Seth Davis, Ell? You see that I'm pretty
well posted, Miss Cressy."
"You alarm me-" said Cressy, sweetly.
But l reckon he had given up"
He was in the running that night at
the ball. Looked half savage while | was
dancing with you. Wanted to eat me-"
Poor Seth! And he used to be so partic-
ular in his food" said the witty Cressy.
Mr.. Stacey was convulsed.
"And there's Mr.. Dabnsy-Uncle Ben,"
he continued ''ehs Very quiet but very
sly. A dark horse, eh2 Pretends to take
lessons for the sake Of being near some one.
cha Would he were a boy again because
somebody else is a girlr'
~ should lie frightened of you if you
lived here always" returned Cressy, with
invincible naivete; but perhaps then you
wouldn't know so much"
Stacey simply accepted this as compli-
ment
''And there's Masters" he said, insinuat-
ingly
mot joel" said Cressy, with low laugh,
turning her eyes to the door.
YES" said Stacey, with a quick uneasy
smile. All | see we mustn't drop him. Is
he out there?" he added, trying to follow the
direction of her ewes.
But the young girl kept her face studi-
ously averted.
''Is that all?n she asked after pause.
"Well-there's that solemn school mas
ter, who cut me out of the waltz with you
that Mr.. Ford"
Had he been perfectly cool and impartial
observer he W uld have seen the slight
{ emor cross Cressy's soft eyelds even in
profile followed by that momen airy arrest
OF her whole face, mouth, dimples and
eyes, which had overtaken it in the night the
master entered the ball room. But he was
neither, and it passed quickly and unno-
ticed. Her usual 1.-THE but languid play of
expression and color came back, and she
turned her head lazily toward the speaker.
"There's paw coming. l suppose you
wouldn't mind giving me sample of your
sty,e of arbitrating with him, before you
try it on me"
Certainly not" said Stacey, by no means
displeased at the prospect of having so
pretty and INTEL gent a witness i'll the
daughter, of what he believed would form
an attractive display of his diplomatic
skill and graciousness TO the father
"Don't go away. I've got nothing to say
Miss Cressy could not understand and an
swern
The jingling of SPURS. and the shadow of
McKinstry and his shot gun falling at this
moment between the speaker and Cressv,
Kinstry cast an uneasy glance around the
apartment, and not seeing Mrs Mex lnstry,
looked relieved, and even the deep traces of
the loss of q valuable steer that morning
partly faded from his Indian red complex
ion He placed his shot gun carefully in the
corner, took his soft felt hat from his head,
folded it and put it in one of the capacious
pockets of his jacket, turned TO his daugh
ter and LAYING his MANNED hand familiarly
o,, ba,- choII1dat. said ert.ayaIU XvifhOut lonk-
ing at Stacey.
"What might the stranger be wantin',
Cressg'
perhaps I'd better answer that myself"
said Stacey, bri KY. I'm acting for Ben
ham & Co., of San Francisco, who have
bought the Spanish title to part of this
property. Il
dull but distinct.
He took his hat from his pocket, put it
on, walked to the corner and took up his
gun, looked at Stacey for the first time
with narcotic eyes that seemed to drowsily
absorb his slight figure. then nut the gun
back half contemptuouslv, and with a wave
of his hand toward the door, said:
''We'll settle this yer outside. Cress, you
stop in here There's man talk goin' on"
"Bnt, paw" said Cressy. laying her hand
languidly on her fathers sleeve without the
least change of color or amused expression.
"This gentleman has come over here on a
compromise"
"0n a-whichg' said McKinstry, glanc-
ing scorufully out of the door for some rare
species of mustang vag nelly suggested to him
in that unfamiliar word
ITO see if we couldn't come to some fair
settlement" said Stacey 1--WE no obiec-
ton to going outside with you, but I think
we can discuss this matter here just as
we'll"
His fine feathers had not made him cow
ard, although his heart had beaten little
faster at this sudden recollection of the
dangerous reputation of his host.
''Go on. said McKinstry.
"The plain facts of the case are these"
continued Stacey, with more confidence.
1--WE have sold a strip Of this property CIV
Harrison. We are bound to put our pur-
chaser in peaceable possession. Now to save
time we are willing to buy that possession
of any man who can give it. We are told
that you can"
"Well, considerin' that for the last four
years I've been fightin' night and day agin
them low-down Harrisons for it, l reckon
you've been lied to-" aid McKinstry, delib-
erately. "Why-except the clearing Oh
the north side, whar put up barn. thar
amt an acre OF it as hasn't been shifted
first this side and then that as fast ez druv
boundary stakes and fences, and the Harri-
sons pulled 'em up agin. Thar amt more
than fifty acres ez I've had clear hold Oh,
and wouldn't hev had that eff it handn't
bin for the barn, the raisin' alone o. which
cost me ma1, two horses. and this yer little