The times., 1897-03-14

even brown, Mr.. Simmons would have seen
lin biushing violently. He knew his mis-
tress was making fun OF him, but he was
not less embarrassed on that account he
looked at Mrs. Ward and laughed
Speak right OUT said that lady
who was with you in the bateau?''
Little Essex, ma'm-Iuy granc chill, I'm
bleedge ter have some Un long fer ter fol
de boat steady when l go ter look a my
set-hooks. Little Essex wuz de fust one
I see, Ell L hollered at i'm"
did anybody cross from the other side
this morning. asked Mr.. Simmons.
Not dat 1 knows un, less'n it wuz
Criddle's Jerry. He's got a wife at de
Abercronbie place He fotch Marse Grid
dies buggy to be worked on ut our black
snlif shop, en- he rid de mule home dis
mornin'. Little Essex had 'er down yer
bout daylight waitin' fer Jerry, kaZe he
say he got ter be home soon efnottefo'.
Uncle Andy had an Imagination. Jerry
had brought the buggy and had ridden the
mule home He also had wife at the Alb
ercrombic place, but his master had given
him 10 pass TO visit her, thinking it
might delay his return. For that reason
Jerry did not cross the river the night
before.
And here we've been chasing Criddles
Jerry all the morning. remarked George
Cossett TO Mr.. Simmons Pap was right y
But what was the niger doing at your
place. Mr.. Simmons was still arguing
the matter in his mind
Don't ask me, replied George Gossett.
''Dey amt no countin' fer a nigger, suh,''
remarked Uncle Andy, affably. 'Dey amt
no 'countin' fer 'em when dey Of ez is,
much less when dey young en- soople like
Criddle's Jerry"
Under the circumstances there was moth
ing for Mr. Simmons and young Gossett to
do but to turn about and recToss the river
It was fortunate for them that a negro boy
was waiting TO take Mrs. Ward horse
3cross the river. They followed him into
the ford, and made the crossing without
difficulty. Then the two men helda council
ofwar Uncle And Y had anothername forit
Il wish you'd look at um jugglin'," he
said to his mistress, as he helped her from
the bateau.
George Gossett was Wet, tired and dis
gusted, and he would not hear to Mr. Sim
mons proposition to "beat about the
bushes in the hope that the dogs would
SiTikS Aaron w StdTlSu
he said Lets go home, and when we
try for the nigger again let's start right
We'll. tell your father I'll be back the
dag after tomorrow if | don't catch his
niger. I'm obliged TO go home now and
change my dudS if I don't strike a trail
It's true sa ying that there's more mud
than water in the 0conee. I'll take Il short
cut. III go up the river a mile or such
a matter and ride across to DawSon's old
mill road. That will take me home by
dinner time
AS it happened, Mr.. Simmons didn't take
dinner at home that day, nor did he re-
turn to GoSsett's at the time he appointed.
He called his dogs and turned his horses
head up stream. He followed the course
OF the river for a mile or more and then
bore away from it. While he was riding
along, lost in his reflections, he suddenly
heard Sound give tongue far ahead. That
sagacious dog had unex pectedly hit on
Aaron's trail, and he lost no time in
announcing the fact as loudly as he
could. Mr.. Simmons was very much sur
prise1.
"if that blamed dog is fooling me this
time III feel like killing him." he remarked
tohimself. Therest OF the dogs joinedin, and
they were all soon footing it nerrily in the
direction Of the big swamp
The blue falcon, circling high in the air,