The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-21

how you uns don't take this yere
cabin fer no tavern"
Madam" ! said with a low bow
"it is misfortune. not desire. which
has caused us 10 trespass upon your
hospitality. We will very gladly pay
you literally for any damage done. I
am an officer in the Confederate ser.
vice, and the breaking down of our
horses compelled us to take refuge
here in order that this lady might
not be exposed to Janger from rowing
gangs Of guerillas. The dog attacked
us In the dark, and we killed him in
order to save our lives"
The deep-mouthed bloodhound's
heavy bay resounded up the rocky
way" calculated Bungay with dan.
cling eyes.
"Drat yer potry, Jed Bungay! ye
dew make me tired fer suah." She
turned back to us. and from her first
words 1t was plainly evident she had
been impressed with BIZ. one sentence
OF my labored explanation.
Did you uns say as how ye'd pay
fer whut ye ct anc fer thet truck We
busted?" she asked doubtfully.
Certainly. madam, and took
some money from my pocket as evi-
dence Of good faith. What would you
consider due you?"
The grim, set face relaxed slightly.
While she permitted her husband to
edge his way a little more into the
foreground
wal, stranger, sorter reckon as
how bout four bits Ill sQuar' things
dorgs Is mighty durn cheap hereabout
enyhow. Give me ther four bits.
mister, an reckon az how it II
be all right"
/ glanced at Mrs. Brennan, and the
amused twinkle in her eyes led me
to say heartily, I'VE had not entirely
completed our meal, but imagined we
saw ghosts
Ghosts" He glanced around ap-
prehensively,- ION Heaven and on
thy lady call, and enter the enchanted
hali!' Wus ther ghosts ye saw over
thar?" And he pointed toward the
wall opposite.
] nodded.
Then / sorter reckon as how
Mariar and me wus them ghosts" he
continued, grinning. I'VE sorter reck.
onsd as how we wanted ter see who
wus yere afore We come in. I'll
listen till my fancy hears the clang of
swords, the crash Of spears These
yere is tough times, stranger, in these
parts, an man whut has ter perfect
a lovely female hes got ,.r keep his
eye skinned"
Maria shifted contemptuously.
"Ye're no great shakes at a perfect
In o me. Jed Bungay. Now you sit
down thar an begin ter fill up. I
reckon as how ther Cap an his gal
will kinder jine with us fer manners"
She seated Jed with such extreme
vigor that / looked for the chair to
collapse beneath him as he came
down, but the little man, not in the
least daunted. picked up his knife and
fork with sigh of relief.
40 woman! In our hours Of ease
uncertain, coy, and hard to please"
he murmured. Come, sit down,
stranger; sit down an share
soldiers couch, soldiers fare Not
as I'm sojer." he hastened to ex-
plain, "but thet's how 1t Is In ther
book. Say. old woman, kint We kinder
skier up some coffee fer we uns---
leastwise whut us Confeds call cof-
fee?"
Without much difficulty / induced
Mrs. Brennan to draw her chair once
more to the table, and I sat down
beside her.
"You are Confederate, them" I
asked, curious to know upon which
side his sympathies were enlisted In
the struggle.
He glanced warily at my gray
jacket, then his shrewd, shifty eyes
wandered to the blue and yellow cav
airy cloak lying on the floor.
wal, jist don't know, Cap" he
said cautiously, continuing to eat as
he talked, "as I'm much O. enything
In this yere row. First ther burned
gray-backs they come snoopin' up
yere, an run off all my horgs; then
ther blame blue-bellies come long
an cut down every lick o. my corn
fodder, so thet III be cussed II amt
bout ready ter fight either side. ANY,
how I amt did no fightin' yit worth
talkin' bout. fer Marian Is pow'fuL
feared I'd get hurt"
Maria regarded him scornfully.
Hiding out, suppose?"
wal, t amt very healthful fer
us ter be stayin' ct hum much O.
ther time, long with that thar Red
Lowrie. an Jim Hale, an the rest O.
thet cattle round yere."
"Guerillas pretty thick now In the
mountains"
Wal, | dunno; heerd as they wus
doin' somethin' down by ther brick
church hut fhar'a M preat oh bob,S oP