Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-03-16
CHAPTER II.

Early the next morning Clarence,
Moses and Solomon, in one bateau, and
Uncle Bob, famous boatman, with
J Luke, in another, started from the land
| ing. AS they rounded the point near the
scene of the recent fatality. the first
object that met their gaze was the old
bateau, splintered and bottom up, drift
ing slowly down the stream, and the
next object was that identical alligator
lying in exactly the same place on the
bank.
Clarence raised his rifle, threw its
muzzle within ten feet of the gators
head and fired. The bullet passed
through the saurian's eye and entered
his brain. He gave spasmodic strug-
gle, his tail swept half circle and he
was dead.
They hastily scrambled ashore, and
Bob and Moses turned him over, and
Strengthened him out; he was nearly
12 feet long.
For God," said Moses, suddenly;
"dar Brer' Jobe now"
where! Where!" said Clarence.
| "Why, dar, master, dar-see how him
liel JUS like a man." and Moses pointed
| to ridge that seemed to extend down
the gators stomach.
Eyes, dar Brer' lobe, suah huff" said
Bob, "pore Brer' Jobe."
| Solomon and Luke with knife and ak
cut into that capacious nav to I'M
tomb him; presently something black
and woolly protruded-
"Dar him." said Moses, "pore Brer
Jobe."
"Da's fack," said Bob, "dar's his
hair
They cut wider and pulled, and
pulled again, and finally from out that
gloomy sepulchre appeared the re-
mains of a big black sow.
"Fore de Lord" exclaimed Bob, eff
dat amt Sis Dinah's sow-dat gator
gwine fer de whole famibly suah nuff."
"He is dat" said Solomon, "Brer'
Jobe want huff fer he.''
Just then voice was heard from the
other side of the creek:
Say, Is you got dat gator fer suah? 2"
llglanced across the creek and there,
sticking from behind cyprus, was the
white and woolly head of Uncle Jobe.
Clarence fired off both barrels of his
shotgun in rejoicing, and sent boat
across for him.
He said, and he always stuck to 1t,
that when the boat capsized he struck
on the gators back, and from there
scrambled ashore.
"But didn't you hear me call, Uncle
Jobe?" said Clarence.
eyes, chile, I hear you, but skeared to
speak, fear dat gator get me, SO jus
crawled off and laid down, and, Dress
de Lord, you gun woke me, an you got
dat gator"
de gators all right, Brer' Jobe,'
said Moses, "but whar Sis Dinah's
Sukey, what she gwine do now?'
'She glib me de dibble, s'pecl," said
lobe.
The boats returned, the negroes sing.
ing their plantation melodies as they
| glided down the stream, and Uncle
lobe joining in the chorus like any.
thing but O dead darby.
Arrived at the landing, with Clarence
in the lead, they marched up the lane
nor halted till they reached the cabin
] of Dinah; she was at the Manor house
washing.
AS they rounded the corner of the
house, there she stood on the back
piazza, half bent over Il wash tub, her
red bandana tied around her head, hcl
sleeves we'll above the elbows, scrub
bling away on the dashboard, and big
tears chasing each other down hel
black face.
!, Mrs. Hill stepped out on the piazzn
and said: "Dinah, 1 told you you need
not work to-day, poor soul; am sorry
for YOU"
II know you is, mistis; know you is
but bleeged to work-it help me for.
git bout Brer', Jobe. can't stay home
and he ain't dar."
mo, but here he! honey, here hel"
"Jobe! Brer' Jobe"
It was frantic cry; her sudden leal
overturned the wash tub; three steps
at a time she flew down the piazza, ant
her bare black arms were around the
neck Of her elder brother.
Honey, da amt cotch you, tank God
de gators amt cotch you, is da?"
"No, Sis Dinah, not 'zackly, but do
cotch you sukey."
"Pick out the finest pig on Orion
Dinah, in place Of Sukey, wheneve,
you're ready"
Tears had gathered in the eyes Of
both Mrs. Hill and Clara, while Dinal
: was welcoming back the brother who
though lost, had been found.
"Mistis," said Dinah, II Jus rinse desc
cloes out, and clean up dis yere piazza
an if you please, marin, won't work
no more to-dny-I jus is ober joyous
; sides Use weak us calf"
That's right, Dinah, have day Of
rejoicing"
"Uncle Jobe," said Clara, II am very
glad the alligators didn't get you.
feared l had lost my fishing compan
ion.'
Dress you soul, honey, Unc' Jobe
yere yet; but can't tell how long
chile, can't tell.
"Marster, Marse Clarence say, yo,
gwine gibe t'ousand dollars fer bring
old lobe back; desc old bones amt
wort dat, marster, but tanks yer, dee,1
does, an my 'baccer mos out, marster
an if / wort little OBJ dat"
TELL Corbett to give you pound
lobe, and quart of apple jack, you ras
cal. You fooled us ALL
CHAPTER III.
your MOTHER, CHILD. HAS ROMANTIC
NOTIONS"
|