Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
CHAPTER XIV.
The Charm Is Set to Work.

! an Gyp a-quar1in? She's sorry I'm"
| said Nose, when the girl left them
| MOO. not quarreiing-exactiy. She
| said''-he hesitated. TN not tell you what
| she said. for it can't be true. But there's
great trouble at the house!'
| "Dey amt no one sick. is dey?' asked
| Nose. his heart sinking.
| mo. but
| ''Ef dey amt sick nor daid dey amt got
| no trfbb1e; for them Is the only ones rich
folks kin hev. knows. fob Use lots older
than yo' is Dey may think dey has trio-
! ble.- but It's only poor folks that has really
| trtbbles!'
PhA was surprised as much at Moses
| manner as at what he said.
fhat Is nonsense. he replied; they
| stand when explain tiff you'll give me
| chance to do so-and they're neither SICK
nor dead. Some one has stolen their ruby
| ring,
''Jes' what I toll you. jes' 'zactly what
1 tor yo' an Goweh. didn't I. now? Awful
bad luck to have er ruby ring in de house.
Why. dey ought to be rejoicin' dat it's lost
| stead OBJ worryin' ovah 1t! 1 says rich
| folks has no tribbles"
| Il believe you don't know what you're
| saying! 1t flashed through Pills mind
| that his friend had been drinking or per-
haps he had even suffered sunstroke in
| the burning fields. You'd better go In
| the house and lie down awhile"
"shuekl Did dat young man take tide
one dat had de sprained foot?''
| mo. Miss Antoinette wore 1t after he
had gone
Nose drew closer who does dey 'spic-
lon OBJ takin' 1t. Phn?' he asked In a
| whisper.
II didn't hear them mention any ones
name"
rs 20 soln' to wuk tomorrer wild Mr..
Yes. I'll como back to work in the
| morning"
Il feel ez II dem Irwin kids was diggin'
up yo' flower bed-or mebbe It's de pig.
| Whenever l has a ticklin' under de lef
| knee dey's somethin' wrong. 'Spect yo'd
better go on an see bout it,
You want to be rid of me, do you:
| Well, I'll co.
He walked slowly away. Nose impa-
tiently watching him saunter down the
road. "'Twon't be safe for half an hour
ef he walk dat pokin',' he said to himself.
/ He entered the house, took down the
| almanac and studied it attentively. Dis
day!'
When twilight fell he went to the rock on
Old Sugar Loaf. and after looking eau
| ttously around proceeded to take the ring
from its hiding place.
| "An safe an sound an not hurt Bit
he assured himself. Use most awful sorry
to glib de Monttoys sech drefful worry. but
| 1t II be all right in a berry short time: and
what's great deal more to dem dere on
valuable fahm boss will be spahed to dem
| ~ SSdIS, an VIII 1ulDeH lutS L IL De
wuth twice ez much. an 'spect dey'll be
glad I borrered IT," Nose had doubts Of
this, while he repeated 1t, but his courage
was ebbing fast and he must stay it with
| raise hopes. II there were no other way.
Though anxious to follow out Blackhart's
| instructions, and place the ring in the
pond. his heart at this critical moment
failed him. An hour he sat by the rock
1es' ask some one what ter debut no, he
says mustn't. 'Twould spoil de cham.
What If they'd 'spect me? They'd nevah
do dat in de worl'! But what II dey'd ask
me? Good Ian O Twin I'd have to tell a
| reg'iar Bible lie an holler out Nor An
de Mont1oys d forgive me when dey knew
all an keep me. ef fur nothin' else, fur
de same reason dat chiefly keeps Abslom
fur de good he has did!''
He arose and found by the pain in his
limbs that the damp night air caused his
a potent charm against It in his hand. He
! concluded that to creep around back Of the
mansion and under the shadow of the
stables would be less risky than to descend
| the hill in full view Of the house. Some
| members of the family were very apt to be
| enjoying the evening on the terrace. Clasp
| Ing the Jewel firmly he started off, He was
watching the kitchen SO closely that he did
not see the rustic bench in the path until
he struck his knee against 1t, which was
| also the first intfmatton that its occupants
had of his approach.
| An, ciel! shrieked Louise, epringing up
and wringing her hands at ees dat black
beast prowling round. Dere Gees no place
in all dees estate him to escaper
Cobb did mot not forget his dignity. What
ing honest people7 I've got great notion
| to report you!"
'Ef I was yo' wouldn't, Mr.. Cobb,
cause "a have to tell on yo' to 'splain it
all. an I'm suah LOUSY wouldn't prove
OBJ dat. See how she trimbles In de moon
| light. You needs a good deal stronger
caSS's. MISS dan dat dar wood arm o
10000! The wretch''-wratch, Louise
| called TT shall ask madame for re pro-
tectton.or you. Mistaire Cobb. Why do
down the ravine," and Cobb made at Nose
| as II he would carry out his threat.
Oats Jest whar I'm a-goin'. an yo'
needn't tribble yourself to help me-" said
he. walking off in that direction.
March escape, dat" said he to himself
Dat was de old madame's maid herself
En- Cobb had attacked me, she likely would
hev picked up de ring and scooted into de-
house wild it an I'd er been lost. It am
bringin me good luck already"
As he began to descend the narrow path
leading down the ravine, Alexis. who, un-
known to Nose, had Joined him. uttered q
howl, causing him to jump three feet In
the air-as he afterward told Phil He
| landed on a stone, which rolled with the old
man. and sent him headlong to the bottom
| of the ravine.
Good Ian O. Tub Use daid" he groaned,
but still retained enough life to open his
hand and look for the jewel.
Are you hurt?" came in deep tones
| thirty feet above him.
Looking up he saw Cobb and Louise
| standing In the path.
No. Use not hurt. Use tickled," he re-
sponded sarcastically as he picked himself
up. Good night. Mrs. Cobbr'
The girl retreated and Cobb with her as
Nose calculated they would
re brutei'' was all she said
He was not hurt. and brushing the dust
| from his clothes he crept along beside the
barns.
| Cool It with baboon's blood,
Then the charm il firm and good
| And now about the cauldron sing.
| Like elves and fairies in a ring
| Enchanting all that you put fnr'
| Ring! Good Lawd. spa'h metz moaned
Nose. falling on his knees and shaking like
| leaf.
| "But the priching Of my thumbs
| Something wicked this way comes"
"Tain't so faint SO! Oh, my good Fad
der in heaben. yo' knows 1t amt so!'' he
cried aloud. too scared to move He heard
| footsteps on the loft stairs and moment
later Mr.. Glover came out whistling annie
Laurie. Above his whistling he heard a
groan. and walking around to the far side
Of the barn discovered Nose, stiIl on his
| knees