The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-03-24
4Howdy Do, Anthony,p He said.

down and saw the draggled flower
thrust through the twist of grass. ''Oh,
pup of wonders!" he exclaimed.
Where did you get that rose?"
Chum sat up and wagged his tail. for
his masters tone, instead of ridicule,
held dawning delight. Perhaps the
thing had not been intended as a dis
grace, after all!
With the FIRST sight of the decora-
ton Valiant had had sudden memory
of splotch Of vivid red against the
belted gray-blue of gown. He
grinned appReciatively. And warned
her." he chueiled. Told her not to be
afraidl' He busted the blossom pains
taldngly with his handkerchief and
held it to his face-a live brilliant
thing, breathing musk-odors of the
mid-moon of paradise.
A long time he sat, while the dog
dozed and yawned on the shiny cushr
ion beside him. OF sudden Chum sat
up and barked in earnest
Turning his head, his master saw ap-
preaching dilapidated hack with
side lanterns like great goggles and
decrepit and palsied curtains. 1t was
drawn by a lean mustard-tinted mule,
and on it's front sat a colored man OF
uncertain age, whose hunched verte-
brae and outward-crooked arms gave
him a curious expression of replete
and Dubious inquiry. Abreast of the
car he removed moth-eaten cap.
"Evenfn', suh," he id,-'evenin'
evenin'"
"Howdy do" returned the other
amiably.
"Ah reck'n yo'n done had er brock
| down wild dat machine-thing dar. Yo'
been hyuh bout er hour, ain yo'?"
Nearer three" said Valiant cheer
fully, but the views worth it."
A hoarse litter came from the con-
veyance, which gave forth sundry
creakings of leather. "Huyh! Hugh!
OATS SO, sub. OATS SO! Hmm.
Reckn Ah'll be gittin' erlong back"
He clucked to the mule and proceeded
| to turn the vehicle round
Hold on" cried John Valiant. Il
! direction"
No, sub. Ah'm gwine back whah !
come f'om. All JUS druv out hyuh
case Miss Shirley done met me, en-
she say, Unc' Jeffe'son, yo' go 'treckly
out de Red Road, case er gemman
done got stalled-ed'"
'Oh-Miss Shirley. She told you,
did she? What did you say her first
name was?"
Oats huh fust name, Miss Shirley.
Vas, sub! Miss Shirley done said f
me ter come en- git de gemman whut
-whut kinder dawg is yo' got dar?"
Its bulldog. Can you give me a
lift? I've got that small trunk and
Oats right fine dawg. Miss Shir-
ley she moghty fond OBJ dawgs, too
Fond of dogs, is she?" said Valiant.
Il might have known it. It was nice
of her to send you here, Uncle Jeffer-
son. You can take me and my traps,
/ suppose?"
Pens on whah yo' gwineter," an
swered Uncle jefferson sapiently.
I'm going to Damory Court"
A kind of shocked surprise that was
almost stupefaction spread over the
others face, like oil over a pool.
Danny Co'ot! OATS de old Valiant
place. Ain nobody lives dar. All
reck'n ain nobody live dar fer mos er
hun'erd yeahs!"
The old house has great surprise
coming to it." said Valiant gravely.
"Henceforth some one is going to oc-
cupy it How is it anyway"
NMeasurin' by de coonskin en- th'ow-
in in de tail, cts erbout two mile.
Ain gwineter live dar yo'se'f, sub, is
yo'?'
Il am for the present" was the
crisp answer.
Uncle Jefferson stared at him q mo-
ment with his mouth open Then ejac-
ulating under his breath, "Fo' de
Lawd! Whut folks gwineter say ter
dat!" he shambled to the rear of the
motor and began to unship the steam
er-trunk. Whit yo' gwineter do wild
dat-ar?" he asked, pointing to the car.
"Ah kin come wild ole Sukey-dat's
nah mule-en fotch it in de mawn-
in. Amt gwineter rain ter-night no
how
This matter having been arranged,
they started jogging down the green
bordered road, the bulldog prospecting
alongside.
@s'pose'n de Co'ot done ben sold en-