The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-28
THE GREENLAND
Copyrght-Frank A AIunsey Company.

I borhoOd; but their reputation was not
OF the best, and he had never had any
thing to do with any Of the family.
| barring our Mr.. Deal
! But he thought that Zeb might pos
sibly know; and the latter being called
and Intercepted, scratched his head
and gOSsiped all around Robin Hood S
barn, and finally lowed that he WASH I
perfac'ly suah wheah Marse Deal $
plantation was, but he reckoned he
, & u I'm de place for AIarse Hammond
Of Marse Tom would give him er day
of and len him d boss an buggy.
So we fixed Al up that Zeb was to
drive me over to DELLA the following
morning If the weather was suitable.
L prevaricated to Esther aboG.
wanting TO see particular friend Ot
mine That had once resided IN the
| town, and inasmuch as L was not
Faraday, she permitted me 10 go
without comment.
Our road took US past the old Della
piperre place, and, although Zeb was
| more than anxious TO drive by with
| the horse a. a dead run, l was SUI
hcienuy curious 70 make him stop,
and take 'ook at the place in day
light.
And TO tell the truth, I was no more
favorably impressed than when 1 he'd
seen It under more narrowing circul.i-
stances.
There was no green light visible.
LAAANAl ~ my 4CAAEA DuL lAAt Aa4A n nEa
lected grounds, with their dense thick
| cts and the huge guarded live oaks
with their weird boards Of gray Spanl 81
moss were decidedly depressing Aud
even sE.~l, with the blue Sound laugh
ing on one side Of me, glinting merrt y
in the sunlight, / own that 1 shivered
and told ZeD 10 drive on without loss
Of time.
ant blue feeling that stayed with me
for the rest IF the day-and, indeed, for
the remainder Of the night. until the
mystery was finally cleared up.
Della We found dirty, dusty. one
horse hamlet clustered about a railroad
station some three or four miles back
from the Sound The inhabitants were
mostly hound-pups (whO lOlled regally
IN the middle Of the road and disputed
passage OF man or beast unknown 30
them, with a fair sprinkling OF darkies
and pore white trash"
We made inquiries Of the postmaster
concerning Deal That official sat on
an aged cracker box outside his store
door, and melodiOusly cheWed tobac-
co all the time he talked 10 US.
Yes; he loved he knowed them
Deals. They i.ved right over yunder
bout foah mi down tn Pass Christian
road Would We light and take q sit
for speH2 Did I happen 10 have a
plug OF Chawin' terbacker in my hip
pocket? NO2 Well, so long.
At the Deal homestead 1 found his
brother-or a man who admitted the
charge Of belrg his brother, though he
did II with evident reluctance. He was
more Of gentleman than Deal had
ever profesed 70 be. and treated US with
thes greatest courtesy and hospitality.
He must have me in his parlor before
he would hear a word. And he must
give me cigar and mix me julep be
fore he yso--!J allow me 90 state the ma
ture OF my business; and he said that
he was desoiated when I was compelled
70 refuse his most cordial Invitation 70
dinner.
But when ! finally was permitted to
put my question. he sat up and showed
a lively excitement
DO you know anything about him,
sir2'' he asked me. I'D give a yearling
heiter 10 get my hands on the hound,
begad, sir"
/ stated that he had favored us with
call some FIVE days earlier.
That's right, sir. He allowed that he
was going 10 call on friends in Gull
pepper, whom he had met In New York.
But you don't know what road he took
back, do yOu2 He has not been home
since that afternoon, and, begad, sir, he
took my favOrlte boss and buggy with
him, sir and it's still gone. too, sirv'
1t was pretty hard 70 admit that there
was a boss thief IN the family, sir
This, Major Deal allowed. But man
who went off with ones boss and
buggy, sir, and didn't bring them back,
sir, was a disgrace 20 his family, siri
j agreed with this statement. and be
took my wav nv-neward, thinking very
hard indeed. Before l went to the
5potswood home, 1 had Zeb drive me to
the only livery stable Culpepper boosted,
and there asked q question
Yes, they told me a stranger had left
horse and rig there about week
since, and bad said that he would call
f7r il in a few hours. He had not
shown I'D 10 date.
SO ] went back 70 Faraday and 10
Esther. had a sneaking suspicion that
knew where Mr. Deal might be found.
But I kept IL 10 myself
And one other thing I did ere going
home finally / stopped at a hardware
store and purchased a dark lantern