Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-05-30
CHAPTER XII.

CHIPS arrival in Greenvale produced
astonishment and gossip galore. Il
began when the stage that Uncle Joe"
Barnes had driven for 20 years started
for that village. There were other
passengers besides Martin. his wife.
and Chip. The seats inside were soon
filled. and Chip. seeing q coveted
chance. climbed nimbly TO a position
beside the driver.
Gee Whitaker observed one by
stsnder to another. as Chips black.
stockinged legs flashed into view. but
that gals nimbler'n a squirrel n don't
mind shown underpinnin'. I wished
I was drivil' that stage. IN bet she's
a circus"
Uncle Joe soon found her a live com
panion at least. for he had scarce left
the village ere she began.
Your bosses are fatter'n Tins
bosses used TO be-" she said. DO ye
feed 'em on hay and taters?"
Uncle Joe gave her sideways
glance.
Hay and taters." he exclaimed: I'VE
don't feed bosses on taters down here.
Where'd you come from?"
Il used 70 live at Tins Place. up in
the woods. n We fed our bosses on
taters. n they had backs sharp nun
TO split ye."
This time Uncle Joe faced sQuareIy
around.
Il know all about bosses" she con
tinued glibly. Il used TO take keer on
'em n ride one plowin'. an I've been
throwed more'n a hundred times when
We struck roots, an ye ought 20 "a
heerd Tim cuss. I used 90 cuss just
the same. but AIRS. Frisbio says
mustn't"
Wal. I swow." calculated Uncle
Joe. realizing that he had a case"
What's your name. n whar's Tins
Placer"
MY names Chip. Chip Mcclure.
only faint. It's Vera: but they allus
called me Chip. an Tins Place is
ever so far mp in the woods. I ruined
away cause dad sold me. an fetched
UP az Mrs Frisbie's camp. n she's
goin' 20 eddicate me. My mother got
killed when was a kid. n my dad
killed mother one. too: he's a bad 'un."
Uncle Joe gasped at this CORY tale
OF double murder. not being quite sure
that the girl was sane
"Haint they ketched yer dad yit?"
he Queried.
NO, nor they won't" Chip ratified
on, as II such killing were a daily oc-
currence In the woods Hes a slick
'un, they say. an now he's got Pete's
money. he'll lay low"
Worse and worse. and more OF it,"
Uncle Joe thought.
You must a had middlin' lively
times up in the woods" he said. Did
yer dad Kill anybody else sides yer
mother n this MANI"
He didn't kill mother" Chip re-
turned promptly; "he used TO lick her.
though. but she got killed IN mill.
n I wisht II 'ud bin him. / wouldn't
a bin an orfn then. Say" she added.
as they entered woods bordered
stretch Of road. did ye ever see spites
here?"
''Spites." he responded. now more
than ever in doubt as TO her sanity.
what's them?"
why. they's just spites-things We
can't see much OF 'ceptin' it's dark.
Then they come crawlin' round. They's
souls o. animals mostly. Old Tomah
says. I've seen thousands on EN-"
Uncle Joe shifted his quid, turned
and eyed the girl once more. First. a
wild and wofuny mixed tale OF muir
der, and then spookish thingsl Be
yond question she had wheels, and he
resolved 10 humOr her.
"Oh. yes, we see them things here
now n then" he said. but it takes
considerable Ticker to do 1t. We hain't
had murder. though, for quite a spell.
This is a sorter peaceful neck o. woods
ye're comm to-"
But Chip failed 10 grasp his quiet
humor. and all through that 20-mne
autumn day stage ride she chartered
on like a maybe.
He soon concluded she was sane
enough. however. but the most volu-
BILE talker who ever shared his seat.
IT never seen the beat o. her" ha
said that night at Phinney's store
the village news agency.-"she clacked
every mint from the time we started
I'LL we fetched In. an never callated
sich COINS on ez she told about cud
ever happen. Thar was murder n
runnin' away. n she got ketched n
carried OF n fetched back, n q whole
Lot o resky business. She believes in
ghosts. too. sorter Injun sperits. n
she kin swear list ez easy ez kin. II
seems the Frisbies hev kinder 'dopted
her. n guess they'll hev their hands
full. She's a bright 'un. though, but
SIGH a talker!"
At Aunt Comforts spacious. old
fashioned home. where Chip was now
installed. she soon began TO create the
same impression. This had been An
Eie's former home, and her Aunt Com
fort Day had been her foster mother.
THIS family. in addition to the new
arrival. consisted of Aunt Comfort.
rotund and wAru-heartsd: Hannah