The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-06-26

QuaVer1ng tones OF extreme age. fas
Marse. Hep yo'se'f. Come rom he
centah oh de yerf. dat watah. En- dah's
folks say de centah of de yerf is all
fab. Yo' reck'n dey's right, Mars
Chahmahs7"
Now, how the devil do you know
who l am. Anthony" The Judge set
down his cup on the well-curb. II
haven't been by here for year.
The ebony head moved slowly from
side to side. "Or Ant'ny don need
no eyes," he said. touching his hand
to his brow. HE see ev'ything heah. .
The Judge beckoned to the others
and they trooped inside the paling
i've brought some other folks with
me, Anthony; can you tell who they
are?"
The sightless look wavered over
them and the white head shook slow
ly. Don know young mars" said
the gentle voice. How many yuddahs
wild yo'? One. two? No. dom know
young mistis, eidah."
II reckon you don't need any eyes.
Judge Chalmers laughed. as he passed
the sweet cold water to the rest. lone
Of these young ladies wants you to tel
her fortune"
The old negro dropped his head
waving his gaunt hands restlessly
The Judge beckon I'D to Betty Page
but she shook her head with a little
grimace and drew back.
You 60, Shirley" she. whispered
and with laughing glance at the
others. Shirley came and sat down on
the lowest step.
Mad Anthony put out waverins
hand and touched the young body
His fingers strayed over the habit and
went up to the curling bronze under
the hat-brim. dis de III mistis," he
muttered, "ain' afeahd oh OIL Ant'ny
Dah's fab en- she ain afeahd, en- dah's
watah en- she ain afeahd. Wondat
whut All gwine tell huh? Whut dc
coloh OBJ yo' hath, honey?"
Black" put in Chilly Lusk, with q
wink at the others. BLACK as a crow
Old Anthony's hand fell back to his
knee. Young mars laugh at de oil
man." he said, "but he don know. Dat
de coloh dat buhn nah han's-de colot
OBJ gol, en- eyes blue like er cat-bird's
aig. Dah's er man gwine look in dem
eyes, honey, en- gwine make 'em cry
en- cry" He raised his head sharply
his lids shut tight, and swung his arm
toward the North. "Dah's whah he
come fom." he said, ZEN heah"-his
arm veered and he pointed straight
toward the ragged hill behind them
he stay"
Lusk laughed noiselessly. Hes
pointing to Damory Court" he whis
pered to Nancy Chalmers. ''the only
uninhabited place within ten miles
That's as near as he often hits 1t.
fancy"
"Heah's whah he stay" repeated the
old man. Heap OBJ trouble wait heal
heah whah III mistis fin him."
Come, Anthony" said Judge Chal
mers, laying his hand on the old mans
shoulder. That's much too mourn
full! Give her something nice to TOT
on with, at least!"
But Anthony paid no heed. "Gr'et
trouble Dah's fab en- she ain afeahd
en- dah's watah en- she ain afeahd. En-
All sees yo gwine ter him. honey. AL
heah's de co'ot-house clock a-strikin' II
de night-en yo' gwine. Don wait
don wait, III insists, er de trouble
cloud gwine kyah him erway f'om 20
- When de clock strike thuh
teen-when de clock strike thuh
teen"
The droning voice ceased. The
gaunt form became rigid. Then hi
started and turned his eyes slowl,
about him. vague look Of anxiety OF
his face. For moment no one
moved. When he spoke again 1t wa!
once more In his gentle quaverinl
voice:
"watah? Vas. Mars. good watah
Hep yo'se'f"
The judge set a dollar bill on thu
step and weighted 1t with stone, a!
the rest remounted. We'll. good-by
Anthony he said. Were nightly
obliged"
He sprang into the saddle and the
quartette cantered away. my expert
ment wasn't great success. In
afraid, Shirley" he said ruefully.
"Oh. think 1t was splendid" cried
Nancy. do you suppose he really be
lieves thos, spooky things? declare
at the time almost did myself. What
an odd idea-'when the clock strikes
thirteen which. of course. It never
does"
Don't mind, Shirley" banteret
Lusk. when you see all dem trou
bles' coming. sound the alarm and
we'll fly In body to your rescue"
They let their horses out for q
pounding gallop which pulled dowr
suddenly at a muffled shrek from Bet
ty Page, as her horse went into the
air at sight Of an automobile by the
roadside.
Now, whose under the canopy Il