Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-02

LAUREN STOUT
ninely delicate. some heavier, a.
though two had been reading 1t to-
gethsf. noting their individual prefer
ences.
He laid it back nusingty, and open
ing I door. entered the large room II
disclosed. This had ben the dining
room. At one end stood . crystal
1nobbed MAHOGANY sidsboard. holding
glass candlestioks In the shape Of
Ionic columns 1t quaint por'
trait Of . lady In hoops and love.
ourls-and at the other end was q
huge fireplace with rust-red fre-doga
and furnished brass fender. All these.
With the round centipede table and
the Chippendale chairs set In order
against the wallis. were dimmed and
grayed with thick powdering of dust.
Tho next room that he entered was
big and wide, place Of dark coiors,
molly smutched Of time. II had been
1t once library and living.room. A
great leather settee was drawn near
the desk and beside this stood . read.
ing-stand with small china dog and
. squat bronze lamp upon 1t. In con-
trast to the orderly dining-room there
was about this chamber sense OF
untouched disorder-a desk-drawer
jerked half open. yellowed news
paper torn across and flung into cor
ner, books tossed on desk and lounge,
and In the fireplace little heap OF
whitened ashes in which charred frag-
ments told Of letters and papers
burned in haste.
Suddenly he lifted his eyes. Above
the desk hung q life-size portrait OF
man, in the high soft stock and vel
vet collar Of half century before.
The right eye, strangely. had been cut
from the canvas. He stood straight
and tall. one hand holding an eager
hound in leash. his face proud and
norid, his single, cold, ,steeiblue eye
staring down through its dusty ca1 ss:.2
with q certain malicious arrogance,
and his lips set in q sardonic curve
that seemed about TO sneer. It was
for an instant - II the pictured figure
confronted the young man who stood
there, mutely challenging his entrance
into that tomb-ltke and secret-keeping
quiet; and he gazed hack a. fixedly,
repealed by the craft Of tho face. yet
subtly attracted. Il wonder who you
wers," he said. You were cruel.
Perhaps you were wicked. But you
were strong, too"
He returned to the outer hall to ind
that the negro had carried In his
trunk, and he bade him place it, with
the portmanteau. In the room he had
just left. Dusk was falling.
Uncle Jefferson" said Valiant ab-
ruptly.5 have you family !.
NO sub. -Jes, ne On nah Oh
ooma6.' 49,
Can she cookf'
"Cook." Tho genial litter again
captured his dusky escort. when
she got do dxens. All reck'n she dc
beaten Ell cook In his heah county"
How would you both like to live
here with me for while? She could
cook and you could take care Of me. "
Uncle Jenerson's eyes seemed to
turn. inward with mingled surprise and
introspection. He, shifted from one
foot to the other. swallowed difncultfy
several times. and said. "Ah ain neb-
bah seed 10 befo'. sub"
well, haven't seen you either,
have II"
Oats de trufe, sub, deed ct ID!
Hyuh, hyuh! Whut All means ter
cay 10 dat dc oil CONAN kahn cook
no fancy didoes like what dey eats up
Norf. She kin jes' cook de Ferginey
style"
THAT sounds good to me-" quoth
Valiant. I'll risk It. Now as to
wages"
"Ah aim specticulous rs ter de
wages" said Uncle Jefferson. "Ah
knows er gemman when All sees one. %
Then It's bargain" responded Va
liant with alacrity. Can you come at
once?' -
"Yas, sub, me en- Daph gwineter
come ovah fus' thing In de mawnin'.
whut yo.all gwineter do 70 20 sup
pah?"
'I1l get along" Valiant assured him
eheerfully. Here Is five dollars. You
can buy some food and things to
cook with. and bring them with you.
Do you think there's . stove in the
htchen?"
'Ah reck'n;" replied Uncle Jefferson.
I'm ef dar ain Daph kin cook er
Chris'mus dinnah Wild TO stones en- or
tin skillet. Vas, subj"
He trudged away into the shadows.
but presently % the new master of
Damory Court stood in the gloomy
hall, he heard the shambling step
again behind him. "Ah done neglect
uated ter az 20 name. sub. All did.
TO- or fac"
my name. IL Valiant. John Va.
liant
Uncle Jenerson's eyes turned up.
ward and rolled out Of orbit. "Mah
LAwd!" he sjaculated soundlessly.
And with his wide lips still framed
. ko,,& thu Last vnrd he shockaA ont