The National tribune., 1902-02-20

dogs, but they got mighty scarce aftel
we struck the alligator belt"
'But it's all nonsense to think of my
taking that thing home with me-"
why, Deacon" eXpostulated Pete, pitt
fully. ''Me and Sandy have been calcu
lating so much on it. It'd be the greatrsI
sight they'd ever see up there.-a rea
live alligator. captured by two of theil
own boys. Me and Sandy have both
wrote our mothers about it. and that yor
was going to bring it home to them. I'll
ne such gift for thrm-all the way
from Savannah. It'll break their hearts
if they don't get it. My mother can kper
II part of the time. and Sandy's mother
the rest. turn about"
"Why, my boy, how in the world can
take it?" asked the Deacon. touched by
Petr's distress.
Easy enough. Mr.. KleCg." answered
the resourccful Sandy. 'You see. he is
now having his Winter Siecn. and unless
he IS stirred nm. he won't wake IN until
Snring He won't give Won y hit Of trou-
bic. Me and Pcte'll carry him down to
vour room on the boat. and put him in
there and ynu won't have 10 paw any
attention tn him until ynu get to Wash
ingtOn when ynu can hire niger tO
larry him to tho train. and put him in the
baggage ear. Give the haggaoe man four
hits and he'll take him right through
home. You won't have to think about
him any more until you get home"
"Me and Sandy have brought money
enough to pay all exnenses." said Pete.
producing a 81 greenhack.
"Put up vour money. Pete" said the
Deacon. "Do you sunnose I'd take II
fnr ANYTHING" said the Deacon. "T'll
thirir about it"
"HPre, hovs, what have Won got therp?"
asked 81. coming nm. and giving the cage
kick. "An alligator? Why. you little
Won can't do nothing with an ALLIGATOR.
Taile it away and kill It at once. Take it
out sf camn and kill it,
He gave the cage another cODtrmptuous
touch with his foot. and turned away to
sreaI1 IN his father while the hnvs sorrow
frrliy pirErd un their net and made n show
of CARRYING ont the order Rrt thav
ths"Cht they noticed the Dnnrop's eve fol
lowing them with a sympathetic. -encour-
aging look.
Shorty came I'M. but, seeing 81. hung
around & little until he left and ho could
get an opportunity to speak with the Doa-
cor alone
Then he fdgctcd arnrud. blushed fiery
rod. fumhlnd nt ono thing and another
and finallv blurtcd ont:
deacon. ! want you to do me very
great favor"
"Cc~tairlv, Shorty" answered the Dpa-
con, looking up from packing his Garnet
sack
I've heen thinking of sending some re-
memhranrp home hv you to Miss Maria
and I cOuldn't think of pothiu- that'd
nlease her hcttcr than n mockinghiri I've
bought the finest ono 7 can find in tho
citv, and horcht n finn cage for It. II
sings and whistles aII sorts of pratty
tunes. and narti"ularIv 'F~er of Thee"
And Shorty h'ushpd redder than ever.
ST understand" said the Deacon who
understood more than Shorty thought he
did. ''Where is it?"
give got II down in the city. don't
want to bring ii out here nnd have NIL
these laddie-hucils yanning about il.
They've all got more tongue than they
have brains"
Seen whole families afflicted that wav."
"Fm going to bring it out to your room
on the ship when none Of them can see II
and get chance to shoot off their
months about it. Don't say nothing to no
hodv about it, particularly 81. SIS nll
right" he continued hpsitatingly. Reluctant
TO cast the slightest shadow on their
nartnershp. "Rut there are some things
-.that-that don't particularly interest
81 understand" said the Deacon. Bring
III alhng ana u take N home.
'Piease, Deacon. don't forget to tell
Miss Maria that | think Ever of Thee is
the prettiest thing the bird does. ! bought
it for that"
And Shorty's face grew so red that it
looked like the glare Of confiagration.
I'll not forget" answered the Deacon
'Say, Pap" said 81 returning presently
and looking with great disfavor on the
in the cabin. Don't let these
saloots make travelling museum out OF
you with all their keepsakes. You aint hin
DOdroming with Dan Rice to show off the
products of Georgy. I've hin
telling them so. You'll have as much as
you want to do to get yourself back home.
without making yourself a pack-horse for
an instructive and interesting exhibition of
the wonders Of Georgy nature. I'm going
Dut to tell them to come up here and take |
all this truck away. You can't carry bit |
Of it Let them charter a schooner to sail |
around to the Mississippi and up the Wa |
bash, il they are so anxious TO remember |
the folks at home. I'll not allow them to |
oad you down with anything"
"Just so, 81; just So" said the Deacon,