The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-29
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co~-s~y say MeAaAs, AsAa:s oa-ss.~y

NO. maam: he done soaked the
lAbel on one OF Mr.. Pegloe's whisky
bottles and pasted II on the wall Just
- high a my chin. SOS can SEQ II
good. and he's learning me that-a-
way! Maybe you've seen the kind OF
bottle I mean-Pegloe's Mississippi
pf1ot: Pure Corn Whisky" But Han
Aibafs bright little face fell. He was
quick TO see that the EDUCATIONAL sys-
TEN devised by the Judge did not i'm
press Betty at all favorsbly. She drew
him into her arms.
You shall have my books-ths
books learned to read out of when
was . little girl. Hannibal!"
Il hke learning from the label pret.
~ WELL" said Hannibal Loyalty.
But you1l like the books better,
dear. whom you see them. know just
whore they are. for I happened on
thsu on . shelf In the library only
ths other day"
After they had found and examined
tAe books and Hannibal had gruding-
" admitted that they might possess
certain points Of advantage over the
label. he and Betty went out for q
walk. t wes now late afternoon and
the sun was sinking behind the wall
q the forest that rose along the Ar.
hansas coast. Their steps had led
mem 70 the terrace-where they
oeood looking Oh into the west II
was here that Betty had said good-by
- Bruce Carrington-it might have
bepn months ago. and II was only
1aye. She thought OF Charley
C3arley. with hia youth and hope and
1Agh couraSe-unwittingiy enough she
I'D led him on TO HE death! A sob
soee In her throat.
Hannibal looked up into her face.
~IAs memory Of his own loss was
osser very long absent from his
sn1nd. and Miss Betty had been the
S1ettm Of similarly sinister tragedy.
He recalled those nrst awful days OF
1nnslinsss through which he had lived.
Ohsn there was no Uncle Bob-soft.
voiced. smiling and Infinitely COM
Danionable.
why. Hannibal. you are crying
vhat about dsarr' asked Betty sud.
lsniy.
NO. mA'am: I amt crying" said
8nnntbai stcutiy. but hts wet laahes
save the lis to his words.
"a Are you homesick-do you wish to
- back to the Judge and Mr.. Ma
haRyr'
mo. ma'am-it amt that-I was
3ust thinking"
Thinking about what. dear?"
About my Uncle Bob" The small
fAce was very wfstful.
~Oh--and you still miss him 90
mach. Hannibai?"
Il bet I dol reckon anybody who
mew Uncle Bob would never get over
o1ssing him: they just couldn't. Miss
0stty! Tho Judge Is mighty kind.
cd 20 is Mr.. Mahaffy-theyre awful
k1nd. Miss b n. and II seems like
They get kinder all tho time-but
Win Uncle Bob. when he liked you,
- just laid himself out to let you
know IT,"
That docs make q lseat difYer.
once. doesn't it" agreed Betty sadly,
and two piteous fearful eyes were
'bsnt upon him.
Don't you reckon II Uncle Bob is
alive. like the Judge says. and he's
ever going to fnd me. he had ought
10 b here by now?" continued Han
.1bal anxiously.
But II hasn't been such a great
while. Hannibal: It's only that SO
much has happened to you. IL he
was very badly hurt II may have been
weeks before he could Gravel: and
ehen when he could. perhaps he went
back to that tavern to try to learn
what had become OF you. But we
may be quite certain he will never
abandon his search until he has made
svsry possible effort to find you.
dssrf That means he will sooner or
later come TO west Tennessee, for
there will always be the hope that
yeu have found your way here"
sometimes get mighty tired wait.
Ing. Miss Betty" confessed the boy.
Seems like I Just couldn't wait no
longer" tie signeo gently. and tnen
his face cleared. You reckon he'll
come most any time. don't you. Miss
Betty"
Yes. Hannibal; any day or hour!"
"Whoop!" muttered Hannibal soft.
~ under his breath. Presently he
asked: Where does that branch take
you to?" He nodded toward the
bayou at the foot OF the terraced blum.
1T empties into the river" an
swered Betty.
Hannibal saw a small skin beached
among the cottonwoods that grew
along the waters edge and his eyes
lighted up instantly. He had a Juvenile
passion for boats.