The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-06-16

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'VAI|IANTSdVIRGIlSIk
f HALLII LIIIINIL RIV[S ps Se,s asrzes,
ILLUSTRATED AI< LAUREN STOUT
. HALLT IRMINH RIVTS )

Ant'y, he know! He see trouble er.
comm en- trouble er-gwine. Dat same
night de hoss-shoe drop offen de
stable do, en- dis ve'y mawnin' az
buhd done fly inter de house. Das'
er mighty bad hoodoo. er mighty bad
hoodoo!" ak
"'shucksl" said the major. you're
as loony as old Anthony, with your
internal signs. If your Mars Johns
been out all day reckon he'll turn
up before long. III wait for him
while" He started in, but paused ON
the threshold. did you say-ah-
that mint was all gone, Unc' Jefrer.
SOM"
Uncle Jeferson's lips relaxed in a
wide grin. "Ah reckn dal1's er few
stray sprigs lef', sub. Step In en- mex
yo'sef ct home. Eff Mars John see
yo', he be mought'ly hoped up All
gwineter mix yo' dat julep In two
shakesi"
He disappeared around the corner
Of the porch and the major strobe into
the hall. threw his gray SLOUGH hat
on the table, and sat down.
1t was quiet and peaceful, that an
cient hall He fell to thinking of the
many times, of old, when he had sat
there. The house was the same again,
now. 1t had walked from thirty.
years slumber to a renewed prime
Only he had lived on meanwhile and
now was old. He sighed.
How gay the place had been the
night of the ball, with the lights and
roses and music! He remembered
what the doctor had said about Val
liant and Shirley-it had lain ever
since in his mind, a painful specula-
ton. The recollection reused another
thought from which he shrank. He
stirred uneasily. What on earth kept
that old darby so long over that JULIEN?
A slight noise made him turn his
head. But nothing moved. Only a
creak Of the woodwork, he thought,
and settled back again in his chair.
It was, in fact, stealthy football
he had heard. It came from the
library, where a shabby figure
crouched, listening, in the corner be-
hind the tapestried serena man
eviIly clad, with a SCARED cheek.
It had been with no good purpose
that Greet King had logged the major
these last few days He Rugged hot
hatred grown to white heat in six
years Of prison labor within bleak
walls at the clicking shoe-machine. OF
with the Changing on blazing OF
frosty turnpikes. He had skunk be
hind him that afternoon, creeping Ut
the drive under cover Of the bushes
and while the other talked with Uncle
Jefferson, had skirted the house and
entered from the farther side, through
an open French window. Now as he
peered from behind the screen, q
poker, snatched from the fireplace
was In his hand His furtive gaze fell
upon morocco-covered case on q
commode by his side. He lifted Its
lid and his eyes narrowed as he saw
that It held a pistol He set down
the poker noiselessly and took tbs
weapon. He tilted tit was rusted,
but there were loads in the chambers.
He crouched lower, with whispered
curse: the major was coming into the
library, but not alone-the old niger
was with him!
Uncle Jefferson bore a tray with a
frosted goblet over whose rim peeped
green leaves and which spread abroad
an ambrosial odor, which the major
shifted approvingly as the other set
the burden on the desk at his elbow,
'Majah," said the latter solemnly
you reck'n Mars John en- Miss Shir
ley"
Good lord!" said the major, wheel
ing to the small ormolu clock on the
desk. Its most four o'clock. Haven't
J you any idea where he's gomez"
mo, sub, less'n he's gwineter looi
ovah dem walnut trees. Whut Abs
gwine ter say-yo' reck'n Mars Johr
en- Miss"
Walnut trees? Is he going to sci
themT
Tree man come f'om up norf' some
whah ter Sc erbout ct yistidday, Vas
sub. Yo' reck'n Mars John en-"
Mice pot of money tied up in the,