Alma record., 1914-02-05
PAGE 9


wide.
But for the dust and cobwebs and
the strange odor, mingled with the
faint musty smell that pervades SUM-
less interior, the former owner of the
house might have deserted it a week
ago. On a wall-rack lay two walking
sticks and a gold-mounted hunting
crop, and on great carved chest
below it had been flung an opened
book bound in tooled leather. John
Valiant picked this up curiously. 1t
was Lucille" He noted that here
and there passages were marked with
penciled lines-some light and femi-
ninely delicate, some heavier, as
though two had been reading it to-
gether noting their individual prefer
ences.
He laid it back musingly, and open
ing door, entered the large room il
disclosed. This had been the dining
room. At one end stood crystal
knobbed mahogany sideboard, holding
glass candlesticks in the shape of
Ionic columns-above it a quaint por-
trait of a lady in hoops and love-
curls-and at the other end was a
huge fireplace with rust-red fire-dogs
and tarnished brass fender. All these,
with the round centipede table and
the Chippendale chairs set in order
against the walls, were dimmed and
grayed with a thick powdering Of dust.
The next room that he entered was
big and wide, a place Of dark colors,
nobly smutched of time It had been
at once library and living-rCOm A
great leather settee was drawn near
the desk and beside this stood read
ing-stand with small china dos and
a squat bronze lamp upon it. II con-
trast TO the orderly diningroom there
was about this chamber sense Of
untouched disOrder-a desk-dTawer
ierked halfopen, yellowed news
paper torn across and flung into a cor
ner, books tossed on desk and lounge,
and in the fireplace a little heap of
whitened ashes in which charred frag-
ments told Of letter. and papers
burned in haste.
Suddenly ne lifted his eyes Above
the desk hung g life-siZe portrait OF a
man, in the high soft stool; and vel
vet collar of half q 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
florid. his single, cold, stecl-blue eye
staring down through its dusty curtain
with a certain malicious arrogance,
and his lips set in a sardonic curve
that seemed about to sneer. Il was
for an instant as if the pictured figure
confronted the young man who stood
there, mutely challenging his entrance
into that tomb-like and secret-keeping
quiet: and he gazed back as hXedly,
repelled by the craft of the face, yet
subtly attracted II wonder who you
were," he said. You were cruel.
Perhaps you were wicked. But you
were strong, too."
He returned to the outer hall to find
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 alb
ruptly, have you a family"
mo, sub. Jes' me en- nah oil
'ooman."
Can she cook?"
Cook" The genial litter again
captured his dusky escort. when
she got de fixens, All reck'n she de
beatenes 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 Jefferson's eyes seemed to
turn inward with mingled surprise and
introspection. He shifted from one
foot to the other, swallowed difficulty
several times, and said, "Ah ain neb-
bah seed yo' befo', suh'
We'll, l haven't seen you either,
have II"
Oats de trufe. suh deed ct is!
Hyuh, hyuh, Whut All means ter
say is dat de 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-" quQth
Valiant. %Tll risk it. Now as to
wages
"Ah ain specticulous as 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 TO yo' sup
pah?"
I'll get along" Valiant assured him
cheerfully. Here is five dollars. You
can buy some food and things to
cook with, and bring them with you.
Do you think there's a stove in the
kitchen?"
"Ah reck'n," replied Uncle Jefferson.
EN- eff dar ain Daph kin cook er
Chris mus dinnah wild fo' stones en- er
tin skillet. Vas, suh!"