Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-27
other glance behind them.

"Ho, no. no. ho!' suddenly laughed the
round. full voice of the big man in front,
and the others Joined him. 1t was deli
cious to make this young fellow own up
to the thing that was so obvious. the more
as they were a strikingly wholesome
looking and we'll mated pair.
'"Tain't such a funny joke. either re-
Joined the eloper, though good ntlturedly
and then he told them all about 1t in q
simple and straightforward manner that
,uickened their already willing allegiance.
If the ole man ketches up therc'll sure
be scrlmmage,' he concluded. but
know who'll git licked
Git ap. there called the big man to
conceal another guffaw. and once more
the horses dragged the coach against the
driving rain. while the passengers trudged
behind in the mud. However. they were
cheerful, though dripping, as they finally
drew up in front of the Tut House.
and were vociferously consinging John
Browns body to a moldering grave, I'M
der the able leadership of the driver pro
tenn. Even from the inside of the coach
there was muSic-a sweet soprano, a deep
contralto and grunty bass.
Uncle Billy Tut greeted them fervent-
~ from his front porch. Only occasional
accidents, such as this, sent custom to
Uncle Billy since the railroad had come
through the next county and made the
coach trip mere twelve-mile transfer
In consequence he had a grudge against
the entire travelling public.
An I'm a-goin' t gouse 'em good.
drat emf he confessed to the mildly eX-
postulating Aunt Margaret.
1t was the big man who helped to carry
the driver in and who relieved that gen
tleman's anxiety by helping to put the
horses away. In the meantime the young
farmer had been the first to reach Uncle
Billy
KIN you hire ME a rig. right away,
fer a drive over t Jonesville?" he breath
lessly asked.
Il wouldn't let no man drive Bess ner
Joe six mile on a night like this fer no
money" said Uncle Billy. Tell ye what
I'll do. though. I'll sell ye Bess. Fine a
little mare as ever we see. Three year ole
an SCUM as a dollar. spankin' good step
per, good win. an not a blemish on 'er.
Two hundred'll git 'er."
"Ain't got that much on me- replied
the young man, shaking his head. Tell
we what I'll do, though. I'll look the mare
over, and if 1 like 'er I'll dicker with We
some. l got a good farm over here on
tn other side of Uticky, an III give ye a
note. You'd ort to know me. I'M"
II don't give a dang who We be- broke
in Uncle Billy. Cash on tn nail. that's
my motto. I druther not have ye leave,
nohow. Customers amt so dog gone
plenty. You're here, now, an yer got to
stay till morning.
And that was the way it had to stand.
The actor approached the register and
wrote with flourish: James Jefferson
Jarvis and wife,
He had scarcely laid the pen down when
the actress stepped up to the register and
smiling demurely. scratched out the words
land wife, Instead, on the line below.
she wrote:
Miss Courtenay and sister,
81 Shall take charge of this child for
the night" she observed, drawing Mollie's
Its very kind of you, and very
thoughtful too, my DEAR agreed the
actor.
Miss Courtenay. please" insisted the
actress pleasantly, and swept into the hall
with Mollie.
The young farmer, when he came to
register, halted perplexed, with his pen
lowering over the fiimsy blank book. and
finally scrawled. in hesitating hand:
John Smith,"
John Smith, chi" chuckled Uncle Billy.
"Yore names Peabody, that's what
yore name is. Yore Buck Peabody's boy.
I'd know that Peabody face anywhere
but reckon it's none of my business
I'm payin' fer two. shamefacedly ad-
mitted Mr.. Peabody. alias Smith. drawing
out his wallet. Don't give me away to
nobody
'Yore name KIN be jeff Davis err Bene-
die Arnol if We like. jes' ez long as ] git
tn sponduiix." the landlord assured him
as he took the money.
When the big man came in. wet and
tired. he had to take what was left in the
way of accommodations.
"Yore suppers ies' ready said Uncle
Billy when he stepped up to register.
But I've had my supper" protested
the other.
That's what they all said replied
Uncle Billy, ''but we got TO eat it jes' tn
same. There's tn supper, that'll cost we
fifty cents. an bed. fifty more, an break
fas'. that's another fifty. Dollar'n
half
Il don't mind paying for it since you
insist said the big man, counting out the
money. "but really prefer not to eat It..
We don't git said Uncle Billy, eagerly
out an eat I'll show We tn wash pan"
The stranger threw back his head and
enjoyed q big laugh; then without fur
Their protest, followed the landlord. He
would much have preferred to put on dry
clothing first, but the tantalizing odor of
hot coffee and the sound of gay voices in
the dining room decided him..
When he stepped in to join them n
hearty shout of welcome went up. 1t was
the first look that his companions had
been able to get at him In good light.
About fOrty-five. clean shaven. dressed
like the lawyer and the actor, in a plain
black Prince Albert, he was easily the
most distinguished looking of the little
company The blushing clippers We're APP
parently the guests of honor and the re-
cpients of much affectionate raillery, In
which the stranger joined and in which he
was quickly the leader, proving himself TO
be head and shoulders above the others in
clean. harmless. wit. as he had been in
practical eXpediency.
TO their disappointment he was the
first to leave the table, explaining that he
had some writing TO do that could not
be put Off but when he was gone the
mystery of his occupation became at once
the topic of conversation. Each one of
them 1t seemed. had been unaccountably
puzzled to place him. He seemed to have
no distinguishing characteristics that
would assign him to any line of business
with which they were familiar
THAT fellow Is thoroughbred, re-
marked the broker. "Wonder what he
does. Looks like he might be an actor
Il can't agree with you at ALL" pro-
tested Mr.. Jarvies. II am IL player, my.
self, and l am quite sure he does not be-