Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-04-02

Wouldn't. that theory lead to a
wholesale evasion Of responsibility"
Perhaps. I'm no philosopher. But
a blackbird or a red fox Is so pretty,
even when he is thieving, that I'd let
him have the corn. I'm like the
Lord High Executioner in The Mi
kado' who was SO tender-hearted that
he couldn't execute anybody and
planned to begin with guinea-pigs and
work up. Only I'm afraid | couldn't
ven manage the guinea-pigs."
She laughed. you wouldn't find
many to practice on here. Do you
raise ~guinea-pigs up North?"
All" he said ruefully, you tag me,
too. Have l by chance a large letter
N tattooed upon my manly brow? But
l suppose it's the accent. Uncle JEFF
ferson catalogued me in five minutes.
He said he didn't know why | was
from de Norf,' but he knowed' it.
I've annexed him and his wife, by the
way"
You're lucky to have them. Unc'
Jefferson and Aunt Daph might have
slipped out of a plantation of the last
century. They're absolutely ante-bel-
lum. Most of the negroes are more
or less spoiled, as you'll find, I'm
afraid" She turned the conversation
bluntly. Had you seen Damory
Court b~efore?"
mo, never"
do you like the general plan Of the
placer"
DO I like it," cried John Valiant.
do / like it,"
A quick pleasure glanced across her
face. Its nice of you to say it that
way. We ask that question so often
it's become mechanical. You see, it's
our great show-place."
At that moment a patter of foot
steps and shrill shrieks came flying
over the last-year's leaves beyond the
lilac bushes. It's Hickey Snyder" she
said, peering out smilingly as two
children, pursued and pursuer, burst
into view. "Hush!" she whispered;
Il wonder what they are up to-"
The pair came in a whirl through
the bushes. The foremost vas a
seven-year-old negro girl, in a single
short cottonade garment, wizened
b~arelegged and bareheaded, her black
wool parted in little angular patches
and tightly wrapped with bits of cord
The other was white and as freckled
as a turkeys egg, with hair cropped
like a boys. She held a carving
knife cut from a single, whose edge
had been deeply ensanguined by poke
berry juice. The pursued one stun
bled we a root and came to earth II
a heap, while the other bounced upor
her like a wildcat.
Hold still, you limb Of Satan" sh'
scolded. How can l do it when you
won't stay stil1?"
ooh, lawd," moaned the prostratt
one, in simulated terror; ooh, Doctah
good Doctah Snydah, has All gottel
hab dat operation? Is yo' sho' gwine
ter twitter aroun' NAH insides wiz
dem knives en- saws en- things?"
1T won't hurt" reassured the would
be operator; mo more than it did Mil
Poly Clifford. And I'll put your live
right back again"
Wait er minute. All jes' remem
bahs All fo'got ter make nah will. Al
leabs-"
Nonsense" objected the other irr.
tably. You made it yesterday. The
always do it beforehand"
mo, sub; All done clean forgot et
All leabs nah thimble ter de Mefodis
church, en- nah black en- wife kite;
ter Hickey Snyder, en-"
A twig snapped under Valiant's foo
Both scrambled to their feet, the blac
girl to look at them with a wide sell
conscious grin. Hickey, tossing he
short hair back from her freckle
face, came toward them.
my goodness, Miss Shirley" sh
said, 1--WE didn't see you at ALL" Sh
looked at Valiant. Are you the ma
that's going to fix up Damory Court?
she inquired, without any tedious fol
malities.
YES" said Valiant.
We'll" she said critically, "you'v
got your job cut out for you. But
should say you're the kind to do it."
"Rickey!" Shirley's voice tried t
be stern, but there was a hint {
laughter in it.
What did l say now?" inquire
Hickey. I'm sure l meant 1t to b
| complimentary"
1T was" said Valiant. 81 shall TT
I to deserve your good opinion"
: But what a CHASTITY play!" e,
claimed Shirley, Where did 20
learn it,"
we were playing Mis- Poly Giffor
in the hospital" Hickey answere,
7 She's got a whole lot of little pei
3 bles what they cut out"
3 "Oh, Rickey!" expostulated Shirle
with a shudder.
"They did. She keeps them in