The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-07-03

questioning look at his father. whats
the trouble? What's happened? Is
it possible that old Gideon has paid
his rent?"
Louise laughed, q wrinkle crept
across Mrs. Cranceford's brow and
the Major sprawied back with a loud
'haw." Gid's rem was a standing Joke;
and nothing is more sacredly entitled
to instant recognition than a joke that
for years has been established in a
Southern household.
4 notice hat he never goes into the
Majors Office" Mrs. Cranceford re-
marked; and Tom quickly replied:
"And I don't blame him for that. I
went in there about a month ago and
haven't had a dollar since"
The Major did not laugh at this. The
reputed exaction Of his executive
chamber was a sore spot to him.
How you robbers, young and old,
would like to fleece me-" he said. "And
if 1 didn't turn to defensive stone
once in a while you'd pull out my eye
teeth"
Don't see how anybody could get
hold Of your eye teeth, dad" Tom re.
piled. "You are always busy cutting
them when I come round. Oh, by the
way" he added with sudden serious.
ness, "you remember that fellow Mayo,
the one that ran for County Clerk
down here some time ago."
"The scoundrel who swore he was
elected?"
THAT'S the man. He disappeared.
you know, after his trouble down here,
then he went on from one community
to another, a Democrat one season and
a Republican the next, and now he has
returned as a labor leader. I met him
yesterday in Little Rock, and I never
have seer a more insolent ruffian. He
makes no secret of his plans, and he
says that blood is bound to flow. ]
asked him If he had any to spare, and
he cooked his eye at me and replied
that he didn't know but he had"
The Major was silent. abstractly
balancing his knife on the rim of his
plate. Mayo, an adventurer, a scoun
drel with a british force that passed
for frankness, had at one time al
most brought about an uprising among
the negroes of Cranceford County, and
eager ears in the North, not the ears
of the old soldier, but Of the politician,
shutting out the suggestions Of justice,
heard only the clamor of a political
outrage; and again arose the loud cry
that the South had robbed the inof.
fensive negro of his suffrage. But the
story. once so full of alarm, was be-
ginning to be a feeble Renaissance;
Northern men with business interests
in the South had begun to realize that
the white man, though often In the
wrong, could sometimes be in the
right. But now a problem-graver
than the over-thrashed straw of politi'
cal rights, was about to be presented
81 was in hopes that somebody had
killed that fellow" said the Major,
and his wife looked up with gentle re
proof. cont say that, dear. The Lord
will take him in His own good time
The old gentleman winked at Tom
~ don't know about that" he replied
~ I'm afraid that the Lord in His
management of the universe has for.
gotten him"
John, please don't talk that way
When she was very serious she called
him John. when you speak so lightly
you make me afraid that your rela,
tionship with the church is not very
sacred to you"
tits serious at any rate, Margaret
what do you mea by that, John?"
why" Tom cried, at means that
you dragged him into the pow-wow."
"Thomas'-and this time her re-
proof. Don't say that, dear. The Lord
stand that from you. And daughter
she added, speaking to Louise, ut is
not a laughing matter. 1t all comes
from so close an association with that
! gn0d-fOr.nofhinO old Gidaon' 7 kpom