The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-03-28

mo. But why
'cThen what you mean by comm
a-foolin around me this away? Think
Pm derned fool an don't know moth
in? Reckon l don't know It's nice
day? Reckon don't know It's rough
country? Reckon It's anybody's busi-
ness whether Pm deaf or not"
Melvin was so surprised at the old
mans words and manner that 1t was
full minute before he recovered suff-
ciently to make a reply. At last, how
ever, he said:
IL am sorry IF l have offended you,
and l beg your pardon. l meant no
harm, | assure you. IL have lost the
road"
"Waal, s'pose you have. ain't
found It,"
81 thought you might be able and
willing to direct me so that can find
it."
"Dld cause you to lose it?"
certainly not"
"Am l anywise responsible for your
losin itY'
"No."
"rhen it hain't none Of my duty to
help you to find 1t, | reckon"
Don't you ever do anything to ac-
commodate people"
81 tend to my own business"
And you won't even SO much as d.
rect me to the roadW
The old man was silent for mo-
ment. Then, Strengthening himself up.
he said:
81 see jest how it are, stranger. You
are gwine to keep on a-fooln around
here an chawin OH the rag till my
danderll begin to rise, an then I'll jest
naturally light in on you an give you
the allfiredest wust lickin ever any
body got In all this world"
Melvin drew back from the old man
and eyed him curiously. He didn't
know what to make Of such strange
conduct, and he thought the man must
be crazy. Had his situation been less
| desperate he would have passed on
without waiting to exchange another
word, but under the circumstances he
felt that he must gain some informa-
| ton from the old man if possible, even
at the risk Of getting fight OH his
hands. So he made one more effort.
Say" he began, darkness is com.
Ing Oh, and l can't think Of spending
| the night here in this wood
| "Can't you?" the other said. "Waal
In that case why don't you git out Of
it, thcn?"
81 would If you'd direct me-
| The native remained silent. Melvin
waited a moment, then added:
| Il say, won't you open your heart
| ne nj fol u,b I
find house?'
"Find it anywhere you blame please
for all Of me. Fust l knowed any
house had been lost
"Iou know what l mean"
"Reckon you mean what you say"
~ mean can't you direct me to
house where can spend the nightY'
"Mebby I could"
"Well, why don't you"
Don't have to-
| "No, but you certainly ought to be
accommodating enough to do that
much for a stranger"
| "Mebby / ought, but the fact IS |
amt keern durn whar you spend the
night. The whole worlds aforc you
an you can jest stop whar you darn
|
the best thing you can do is to git. You
have picked an nagged at me long
enough, an | amt n-gwinc to stand
much more Of your foOltn."
"And you won't direct me to a.
at amt my business to direct you to
nothin. You amt got me hired for no
sich purpose"
"But you"--
"YOu git!'
The old man rose to his feet and
started forward, his eyes cleaning
with anger. Melvin scented serious
trouble and put spurs to his horse and
moved on.
II almost wish now" he said to him.
self, "that l had taken the chances
and stopped at Beckctt's Mill. 1t
would be no worse to run little risk
there than it Is to sleep out in these
woods and go without food. O God, If
l could just recall that one act which
shadows all my life I'd give the worldr'