The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-08
y, who
smiling pleasantly
.s.o..la~al nn.

smiling pleasantly - WIN
meandered ON:
LEI we ketoh him, Miss Rob. mayby
he can help us erbout that last matter
er yours. Ii does seem ter mo no man
ner men couldn't or took off anything
SO well known as your old mare ner so
handsome as that high steppin colt or
hers 'thout somebody a-seein 'em, at
least somewhar's. Thar oughter been
bills out an er reward offered
eyes, i dare say" Rob broke in.
"But, you see, Mr.. Reed, / have not
any bad money to throw away after good
horses. l believe you legal gentlemen
have fiction that all money is bad"
"It does make most er the trouble in
the world, either havin it er losin it er
lackin it,, Mr. Reed said profoundly,
and mentally patted himself on the back
for having spoken so well. "Of co'se
you amt seen, but jest fer forms sake
we must ask you--you an Aunt Phemy
EFF you've saw any long, danglin fell
Ter, lean as er houn. with black eyes an
er hangdog look, either passin the road
er skulkin in the bushes yere?"
IF such a man has passed, have not
seen him." Rob said, facing the official,
though her heart was humping fast.
"Aunt Phemy can answer for herself.
But, if you must search the place, please
do not go near the house. If pappy
knew, it would make him so unhap-
py"-
SHE shan't be bothered, depend on
that" the deputy said, smiling down
at her. The other men had come up to
him, their long mustaches beaded at the
ends with fair water. Aunt Phemy
stood with eyes downcast. She had the
African instinct of secrecy and had in
stantly caught Rob's cue.
"'Tain't nobody went erlong dis way
as 1 Seed" she said; then, dropping a
sort Of courtesy: Il hear Sis Liza an
Aun' Why Johnson say las night as
dee coined home frum pra'ar meetin
dee gut er skeer frum some sort er crit
ter. Dee lowed it wus or han't, dar ON
dc hill by Topmark' s graveyard. 1t wus
long an high, dee say, an groan so dee
sho' thunk it wus ole man Topmark
done come back case er dc way he son
Ben carryin on sence he los he wife. "
"Oh, no, no! Beg your pard'n, Miss
Rob, but that's jest too richW the dep
uty said, laughing explosively. He had
heard-who had not?-of Topmark's in
fatuation. If Rob became Mrs. Top
mark No. 2, her influence would be
thing to covet, for Topmark certainly
carried the district in his pocket when
it came to local elections. The whites
divided always on lines of social or per-
sonal cleavage. 1t was the black votes
which really told for fellow or against
him, and the storekeeper swung the
black vote as he pleased.
Not in set words, but dimly and afar
off, all this rushed through the officials
mind. He had good reason for not
wanting Miss Rob McGregor to remem-
Der him as a rude and pestilent fellow.
Now, no doubt on her fathers account,
she was anxious to have the posse go in
some other direction. So much he read
shrewdly underneath her smiling cour-
tesy, and she should have her way. There
was certainly small likelihood that the
man they hunted lay hid at Roscoe, for
all it had so much tangled scrub. Any
way the chance was too remote to be
worth making her an enemy. Facing
about, he said to his followers, speak
ing low and rapidly: Il think I've got
clew. Well ride fer the big nleadders
an not spare our stock. Good day, Miss
Rob! You be right easy erbout your
par. EFF we had ter chase the Teller past
your gate, they shouldn't nobody make
noise ernough ter let him know what