The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-09

his horses With Cao W1.p, anQ tHc car
riage rolled smoothly onward.
John unbent before the wheels had
made a dozen revelations
"Well, I never seen the beat Of that
for temper, !" he began. 1.P'r'aps you'll
tell ne, Jerry, be was frnnin. It vas
the biggest bluff fer fun ever heard cn
that's all I've got to say about it. y
Jerry maintained q dig1iGed silence.
He knew Johns last ror.ark was mere
figure of speech. lie bad evidently
great deal ncre to soy.
"Humphr' went or this worldly wise
youth with wag Of lis head. "l'ye
seen his kind, ,nan.'s the time-scft
soap afo-o a2d brickbsrs after. by eye.
but he was ragia when lie trarped oi2s.
Maybe ycu thi2k he's co1.2:n bacE.
You're as innercent as the babe urbern,
Jerry. Them great big fellers your size
amt much in seein through things.
P'r'aps you're goin to stop at the c-oss-
roads and make q fcol Of yourself, besides
freezin cut the missus''-
Jerry smiled.
"Don It worry, young one; tie roissus
won't freeze and 1 guess I know the
master better than you do. In oin
to wait. You can walk homo if you
want to. I ain't keepin you There
was a twinkle in Jerry's eye. He was Z
man of few words. bat be usually hit
straight in a controversy.
John looked at his Immaculate top
boots and was silent Oh that head.
"See here, Jerry he said, returning
once more to the charge, 81 oct you q
fver the master don't come home this
night amt got too much tin, but 1 II
that certain don't see 10 risk.
.sDcue," said Jerry soielnnly, and the
situation in Johns opinion having
reached climax there WAS nothing for
it but to wait results
They drove on in reflective silence the
rest Of the wsy. It was not far to the
turn of the road. Wien they reached
this objective point, Jerry headed his
horses icr home, but drew rein beneath
some great, gaunt trees.
you'd best get down, John, ard
walk about bit; it'll unstif your
joints,n said Jerry, with his profession
al air of command. 'and you may as
well look in at the carriage wicdow and
tell Mrs. Arnold that the masters just
gone for cigar and will be back direct
ly. And look sharp now. Don you be
mountin this box again till you see the
light Of that there cigar bobbin along
the road Mind what tell you, John
n.y." And Jerry looked very forbiddlnS
as he knitted his brows.
A grunc from John showed his dis
trust Of the future, but he executed the
orders of his superior to the very letter
and tramped mp and down, beating Of
the cold wish his wiry arms and stamp
ing his booted feet, striking sparks from
the frozen ground.
Jerry sat immovable, looking neither
to the right ror to the left. This timo
Of waiting was crisis in his life, and
he began to question; if he had been
wise to stake everything, even his pro-
fessional reputation, upon the wayward
humor of his young master. But then
something had to be done. He could no:
submit to this eternal questioning on
the part of his subordinate, mere sta
BILE Lad, who knew 10 better. Yet there
was only one way to silence him, and
that way this great hearted fellow IN
his simple instinct trusted to Providence.
The cold was biting and the wind
whistled fe-cely through the trees. The
horses paved impatiently, while the
steady tramp, tramp Of the young foot
man never relaxed for q single moment.
Jerry listened for some sound from the
carriage. His Keen ear coold occasion
ally catch a long drawn sigh, but that
was all
Suddenly there was halt in Johns
rapid, measured strides. The interrup-
tion brought the blood 70 Jerry's heart.
For the first tinlo he looked behind him.
a shifting spark Of light in the dark
ness told the tale. Nearer and nearer it
cane, dancing to the tune Of mans
brisk walking.
JONI buIOSU LUZ tuO Aaot eA4ue, JeAoS az
q figure emerged from the shadow and
hastened toward the carriage.
"All right, John,'' said the master
cheerily. "Drive on, Jerry" He flung
his cigar into the road, opened the cas.
riage door and sprang in.
John mounted stolidly, Jerry cracked
his whip, and off they started to the
music of the horses ringing hoofs.
John kept silence until the house
loomed up in front.
''I'll pay that fver, Jerry, with my
next month S wages. y
Then Jerry relaxed and laid hand
On the slight shoulder.
''Oh, keep your money, . be said kind
II. ''I amt for bettin on q sure thing;
only hold your tongue next time and
trust to your betters - With which sug
ar coated admonition Jerry drew up in
his best style before the broad carriage
step Of the old homestead.
THE END.