The sea coast echo., 1905-02-11
An Unexpected Host.
Dx EIe11ER -Aa1ns. Jn.

/
ular reason for his paying visit to
the settlement except to break the
monotony OF camp life, and, Talbot
found himself able to endure that.
But what he would.n not do for himself
he was willing to do for his dogs.
When the little red jlggers got into
Jessie's ears, he started Immediately
down the river trail for supply Of
Uncle Georges Insect ointment" the
desultory manufacture of which form.
I'd the old negro's sole business.
He started late, and 1t was past
| noon before he reached Uncle Georges
shack. The two old people were Just
sitting down to possum and roasted
yams, and the perfume OF the dinner
was all that was necessary to second
their hospltable proposal to set q
plate for Talbot.
The possum was done to q nicely.
Through the cracks in his brown,
crisped skin the white fat laughed
unctuously, and he dripped like a full
sponge as Uncle George turned him
about in the platter.
Il haven't had anything as good
as this for long time, Uncle George,
said Talbot, plying knife and fork as
siduously.
mo, sab. reckon dat s right"
beamed the old negro. Mus be
mighty lonesome, too. feedin all by
yoself. You Deen gone right smart
time sah."
ANY news in town since / left?"
asked Talbot, taking another sugary
yam.
"Yas, sab. Dey's been "a heap o.
news sagashitatin' round, but l dis
'emmeber exactly what It is."
"De circus's been yerF," suggested d
Aunt Lily, somewhat reproyingly.
"Oh, 1t has, has it?" said Talbot.
"Circuses don't often favor this town"
mo, sab. And reckon dey's
through favorin' fo' good an all. Dey
cert'nly done bus her wide open."
who bust her open?"
Nate Reynolds and his gang, safi.
It was de corn whisky done 1t, reck.
on. Dey was pirutin' round mighty
obstrepolus befo' dey cut de ropes.
Dere was de bigges' kin of fight
right den. De cages got broke, an dey
amt cotched some Of de animiles yet.
Doan' look like dey would, neither,
cause de circus Is done gone"
"That was very reprehenstble OF
Reynolds" said Talbot lightly. In his
eyes, just then, jiggers loomed larger
than elephants. well, Uncle George,
IL you'll get the stuff ready, I reckon
ri start. Looks like I'd get wet be-
fore | get back"
With sardine can full Of the oint-
ment IN his pocket, Talbot started on
his return to camp. Tie afternoon
sky was rapidly growing black with
low, greasy rainclouds. The dust
aroused by Talbots steps fell on the
road again close behind his heels. Not
breath Of air stirred the long needles
of the pines. The inocking birds that
had cheered his coming had hed 10
the hammocks.
He had been walking the better part
of two hours when the first low gEow.
of thunder broke the oppressive qutet
He was near the end OF the road,
where It dwindled away among the
trees to the little trodden foot-path.
Six miles up the path lay the camp.
The journey through the semitropi-
cal storm did not, appeal to Talbot,
and he resolved to spend the night
at the abandoned Walton plantation.
In the dim light he saw its broken
fences just ahead.
The place had been pretentious
one in It's day, but the great freeze
OF 1sS9-90 had ruined Its master ana
driven him to humber quarters. The
blacLenad skeletons Of the orange
trees across the way were all that re-
NAMED of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
grovo. Some scattering wild tees had
spr, ng MP, and their bunghs, now
white with bloom, CLEANED among
their dead kindred like yotive gar
lands.
On the front walk weeds and shrubs
alhowed one another for existence. me
dilapi.ated veranda was full OF pit-
falls for the unwary foot. talbot step
ned across 1t. and passing through the
short hall, entered wha' had ohc0
been the drawing room.
The house had a warm, stagnant az.
mosphere. and strange, arrestihs
s,oell quite distinct from the heavy
mingled odors of orange flowers ana
rofting vegetation mat was bfewn lh
.brough the broken windows.
Talbot struck a match and In the
lights OF the CHEEKY fame looked about
him. ar
AZ one end Of the room was nre-
r,oce with the remains OF cnarred
Voc d living in the ashes. fragments
NJ ,aths and plaster and dead leaves
Uttered the floor. The ceiling bellied
,,,ro' wind.flled sail. One corner OF
i mad given away entirely, and .
wide aperture showed the piaekness
Of the regions above.
As me match flame dwindied, 1fai.
bot,s hound, young Beppo. pressed
sra,nst his masters ieg, the muscles
scro.s His peaked head wrinkling sns-
p's, s.asnot eathsrsd several hsndiula Of
,.ss.s.. ,-.<z zssse-~ 49, '>sd nsapsa shsA ID