The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-02-27

Ter give you the benefit. Fur, colonel. you
an me has been neighbors, an frien'ly
neighbour" Daniel proceeded, waxing
ELUSIVE, as he perceived the colonel's
growing interest; IAN amt minded ter
let no recent Happenings interfere betwixt
us. Me an Samantha amt takin' Jobs
part
But an impatient gesture from the col
onel warned him that he was venturing
on dangerous ground. and he checked
himself.
"Hit's ole man Gilbert what come
ter report on" he said, after clearing his
throat loudly. GAS was a-sayin', col
onel, wa t nuver mo- s'prised in my
life; fur Gilbert was ez nigh free ex
you or m an fur him ter up an run
away! What kin you look fur, mex?
SEE I. Howsomever, my boy Jesse, he
done tole me what he has come on ole
Gilberts tracks time an agin, in the
woods, an Jesse diskivered, a day or 80
ago, what the ole coon had hole in the
groun', all kivered with bresh heap, an
a ole pot was buried thar, what must a.
hilt a power O. money. So, putin Of
this an that together, do bullieve, col
onel, what that ole niger must of planned
ter get away ter furrin' parts, say Ala
bamy or Georgy, somewha, an 80 on be-
yon' Mason an Dixon's Line, fur aught
we kin tell. But he can't a-gotten fur ex
yit, not SO fur but he mought be tracked"
Furnival was so full Of the service he
meant to render that he misconstrued
the colonePs rising color and burning
glance. He knew, indeed, that neither
the colonel nor the colonel's father be-
fore him had ever had a runaway slave,
and he supposed that indignation was
the stronger against old Gilbert because
this trusted old negro had furnished such
q record.
"Hits a shame, colonel, ez l do de-
clar, a cussed shame tibet SIGH deceitful
ole niger should plot an plan, an steal,
mon lakly, layin' up of money jes' ter
rob his owners of property; an SO, fur
ole sake's sake, an bein' neighbors an
all, an nuver no gredge betwixt us, eff
you'd mind ter commission me I'd I'M
dertake ter track that ole hypocritter
from here ter Jericho"
Missy, who had risen from the door
step, pale with anger at the first sug-
gestion of hunting old Gilbert, now threw
herself fiat on the floor, interrupting
Furnival with scream of rage. 1--WE
don't have runawaysr' she cried. "And
l amt goin' to let nobody track my old
Daddy Gilbert! He shall go if he wants
to"
The angry flush in the colonel's face
faded; a softer light came INTO his eyes;
he went to Missy, sobbing on the floor,
and put his hand on her head. sect
up, Winifred," he said, with an I'M
wonted gentleness; it touched him to
find that his little daughter felt Us he
did in regard to old Gilbert's disappxaS.
ance.
LET him go!' he Numbered to Furni-
val, with a sweep of his arm that seemed
to emancipate old Gilbert and the mule
together.
"Good Lawd, colonel! Property"
gasped Furnival.
"Tll have none of your interference,
sir" said the colonel, and turned his
back and looked out of the window, but
saw nothing for the mist in his eyes. He
knew old Gilbert must have followed
Nicholas.
jest ez you're mind" said Furnival,
sulkily. 4 wish you good day an better
Judgment.
lie went home and grumbled to Sa-
mantha: "Ef Col. Thorne doan beat me
plum outen all onerstandin', you kin
shoot me. You may live neighbors with
him year in an year out, an think you
know every crack an Granny of him, an
thar'll como a day you'll but yo' head
beginst corner of his darned, crank
sided natur, ez would 'stonish Zebedee.
I'm cussed eff he amt sot that ole niger
an mule free with wave of his ham,"
"Well, he's got plenty mo-" said Sa-
mantha, dolefully.
"Whynt he give some on 'em ter Nick,
eff niggers an mules is SO plenty? tell
We that red headed, freckle faced little
savigerous wasp of a gal o hisn has got
her finger in both his eyes, an she gees
an haws him, you better b'lieve."
Thar amt nobody don't gee an haw
the colonel, you better b'lieve," said Sa-
mantha.