The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-10-30
CHApTER Xxi tContinued.)

81 hope not" the giant replied, look
ing up, and in his voice was a note oil
distress, and in his eyes lay the shad-
ow of a fear"
"And why not, Jimmie?"
Because If she should turn out to
be a genius she won't marry me"
That's where your perception Is
broken off at the end, Jimmie. In the
matter of marriage genius Is mighty
skittish of genius-it seeks the con-
stancy of the sturdy and commonplace.
I'll try a dip of those preserves. Now
let me see. After breakfast you'd bet
ter lie down on my bed and take a
nap"
NO., | must go. The Major is going
over to Brantly today and | want him
to bring me a box of cartridges. l
forgot to tell him last night"
"Oh, you're thinking about Mayo,
eh?"
well, l don't know but he did cross
my mind. 1t occurred to me that he
might waylay me some night. and
don't want to stand out in the road
and dance while he's shooting at me-"
That's right" said the old man. "A
fellow cuts a mighty sorry figure I'M
der such circumstances. I've tried 1t"
He showed his chair back from the
table and Jim got up to take his leave.
Look out for the door, Jimmie. Duck
as you go under or it will lay you out.
Traps set all through life for fellows
of your size"
Jim was not oppressed with weari-
ness as he strobe along the highway,
for in the crisp air a tonic was borne,
but loss of sleep had made his senses
dreamy, and all things about him were
touched with the spirit of unhealthy
the dead leaves fluttering on the un
derbrush, the purple mist rising from
the fields, the water-mirrors flashing
In the road; and so surrendered was
he to a ~listless brooding, forgetful
aver that he moved along, that he did
not notice, up the road, a man leap
aside into the woods. The man hid
behind a tree, with his eye on the
giant and with the barrel of a pistol
pressed hard against the bark. Jim
passed on, with his hands in his peck
cts, looking down; and when a clump
of bushes, red with frost-dyed leaves,
hid him from view, Mayo came out
i from behind the tree and resumed his
Journey down the road.
The Majer~h had mounted his horse
at the gate and was ON the point OF
riding forth when Jim came up. why,
good-morning, James, the old gentle
man heartily greeted him. Have you
Just crawled out of that old mans
kennel? l see that the old owl must
have kept you up all night. Why, sir
If were to listen to him I'd never gel
another wink of sleep"
IT kept myself up" said the giant;
and then he added: Il wanted to see
you this morning, not very bad. but
Just to ask you to get me a box OF
forty-fours when you go to Brantly to
day"
SIN glad to find o so thoughtful
said the Major. "And | want to tel
you right now that you've got to lool
out for yourself. But staying up al
night is no way to begin. Go on into
Toms room and take a nap"
The Major whistled as he rode along
not for want of serious reflection, fol-
he could easily have reached out anc
drawn in trouble, but because the
sharp air stirred his spirits. Nowhere
was there a cloud-a s%peckless da,
In the middle of a week that hal
threatened to keep the Sky besmirch
ed. Rowing bands of negro boys were
hunting rabbits In the fields, will
dogs that leaped high in low places
where dead weeds stood brittle. The
pop-eyed hare was startled from hi
bed among brambly vines, and fierce
shouts arose like the remembered vel
OF confederate troop. The holidays
were near the crops. were gathered
the winters wood was up, the hunting
49,