The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-04-10

glass candlesticks in the shape OF
Ionic columns-above it quaint por-
trait of a lady in hoops and love-
curls-and at the other end was
huge fireplace with rust-red fire-dogs
and furnished brass fender. All these,
with the round centipede table and
the Chippendale chairs set in order
against the walls, were dimmed and
grayed with thick powdering OF dust.
The next room that he entered was
big and wide, a place of dark colors,
nobly smutched of time. 1t had been
at once library and living-room. A
great leather settee was drawn near
the desk and beside this stood a read
ing-stand with a small china dog and
a squat bronze lamp upon it. In con-
trast to the orderly dining-room there
was about this chamber a sense or
untouched disorder-a desk-draWer
jerked half-open, a yelloWed news
paper torn across and flung into 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 letters and papers
burned in haste.
Suddenly he lifted his eyes. Above
the desk hung 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
forid, his single, cold, steel-blue eye
staring down through its dusty curtain
with a certain malicious arrogance
and his lips set in sardonic curve
that seemed about to sheer. 1t 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'
repealed by the craft of the face, yet
subtly attracted. Il 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 1t, with
the portmanteau, in the room he had
Just left. Dusk was falling.
Uncle Jefferson" said Valiant alb
ruptly, "have you family?'
mo, sub. Jes' me en- nah Oh
CONAN"
Can she COOKE"
Cook" The genial litter again
captured his dusky escort. when
she got de fixens, All reckn 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, sub"
well, I haven't seen you either
have II"
Oats de trufe, sub, deed ct Is!
Hyuh, hyuh! Whut All means ter
say is dat de OF 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 "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?"
'Tll 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 TO stones en- er
tin skillet. Vas, subj"
He trudged away into the shadows
but presently as the new master OF
Damory Court stood in the gloomy
hall, he heard the shambling ster
again behind him. "Ah done neglect
uated ter ak yo' name, sub. All did
TO- er fac"
my name is Valiant. John Va
liant"
Uncle Jefferson's eyes turned up
ward and rolled out of orbit. Nah
Lawd!" he calculated soundlessly
And with his wide lips still framed
about the last word, he backed out
Of the doorway and disappeared.
Alone in the ebbing twilight, John
Valiant found his hamper, spread q
napkin on the broad stone steps and
took out a glass, spoon and part oil
a loaf of bread. The thermos fash
was filled with milk. 1t was not 8
splendid banquet, yet he ate 1t with
a great content as the bulldog at his
feet gnawed his share of the crust
| He broke his bread into the milk az