The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1889-03-09
CHAPTER v.


Buck was ordered TO take his flute into the woods,
ii he could not iorego the temptation OF blowing
it, and a proclamation of IS h-e-e" issued
throughout the house The colonel, after drinking
a mint toddy, took roll OF manuscript from a
book case, looked over it, and said
"Burwood, think we'd better begin anew. This
stuff seems to he too much devoted 10 the character
OF the soil We want to begin with something
more lively. We might start with Shecuts
organization "a a county and then write up a fight
between the first county Judge and the first sheriff
The Judge was killed. and then his son took up the
fight and killed the sheriff. Don't you think that
ought to make good starter?"
II think So" answered.
"Wcll, Just say that after much squabbling in
the legislature, the county was organized in 1926,
and then go right into the difficulty between the
Judge and the sheriff. Fix ii up in sort of excit
ing way
''What were the names of the Oficers?" | asked
"Let me see. Hanged ii | know. Hum, did
know. Is ii necessary to know their names?"
Eyes, If you want your book to bear the stamp
of truth"
lie walked up and down the room, meditating
profoundly, and then, after drinking smother mint
toddy (of course, asking me to drink but which
declined), sat down, stretched out his legs thrust
his hands deep into his pockets, and, in a self con-
demnatory tone remarked:
"Why didn't | think OF this last night while
Hammonds was here? Well, leave the names blank,
and we'll fill 'em out afterwards"
lie then gave me, in detail, an account of the
fight and, after lying down on the sofa, said 60
ahead now, and get that down, and, in should
drop of to sleep, wake me when YOU get ii
finished"
| rather enjoyed the writing, for having been
idle so long, work had become agreeable; and fancy,
yielding TO demand came generously TO my assist
ance. / threw in many little details, and painted,
with more less effect, many pictures which
thought might please the old gentleman. The
dinner bell rang | continued to write and the
colonel continued TO sleep. There came gentle
tapping at the door.
Come in" called.
Lucille entered. She had evidently been riding,
for her cheeks aglow, and in her eyes there
seemd to be the lingering ex cement ofa wild dash
on horseback.
as pa asleep"
Eyes"
ais that what he calls dictating?"
"lle dictated before he slept, and |, remembering
what he said have written it."
"Let me see," she said advancing and taking up
a sheet of manuscript. "You write a very good
hand" she added, and, in putting down the sheet,
just as was arranging the manuscript, her hand
touched mine
GLOW long has pa been asleep"
who's asleep?" the colonel asked, sitting up.
You have been, haven't you?" she asked
Haven't slept wink" he reIoined I've been
lying here, thinking"
"Well, dinner is ready"
Cali right. You go ahead, and Mr. Burwood
and will come when have looked over our
work"
Lucille withdrew, and the colonel asked me TO
read the first "stagger' (as he termed it) at the
"History of Shellcut."
did so. lie was delighted "Why, sub" said
he, THAT reads like novel, but it is true every
word of it. Oh We'll make folks open their eyes,
| tell YOU By George, sub, | didn't know you
understood the situation so well Come, let US eat
dinner, and then we'll rest awhile"
Day after day our work went forward with con-
slant delight to the colonel and with something of
pleasure TO me, for the close and almost self for
getful employment of writing drew my mind, as
much anything could, away from q gloomy
brooding. Playful spring was sobered into earnest
summer, and the young mocking- birds were learn
ing to fly. From across the fields there came the