Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-03-13

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;
II wonder what they are up to-"
The pair came in a whirl through
the bushes. The foremost was a
seven-year-old negro girl. in a single
short cottonade garment, wizened,
barelegged 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 q 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 over a root and came to earth in
a heap, while the other pounced upon
her like a wildcat.
Hold still, you limb of Satan" she
scolded. 'How can I do it when you
won't stay still?'
"Oh, lawd," moaned the PROSTATE
one, in simulated terror; "oh, Doctah,
good Doctah Snydah, has All gotter
hab dat operation? Is yo' sho' gwine-
ter twitter aroun' nah insides wild
dem knives en- saws en- things?'
1T won't hurt" treasured the would
be operator; mo more than it did Mis-
Poly Clifford. And I'll put your liver
right back again"
bahs All fo'got ter make nah will. All
leabs-"
"Nonsense!" objected the other irri-
tably. You made 1t yesterday. They
always do 1t beforehand"
No. sub; All done clean forgot ct.
All leabs nah thimble ter de Mefodis'
church. en- nah black en- wife kitten
ter Hickey Snyder, en-"
A twig snapped under Valiant's foot.
Both scrambled to their feet, the black
girl to look at them with a wide self
conscious grin. Hickey. tossing her
short hair back from her freckled
face. came toward them.
my goodness, Miss Shirley" she
said, I'VE didn't see you at ALL" She
looked at Valiant. Are you the man
that's going to fix up Damory Court?"
she inquired. without any tedious for
malities.
"Yes," said Valiant.
We'll" she said critically, you've
got your job cut out for you. But l
should say you're the kind to do It,"
"Rickeyl" Shirley's voice tried to
be stern, but there was a hint oil
laughter in it.
What did I say now?" inquired
Hickey. I'm sure l meant it to be
complimentary"
1T was" said Valiant. 81 shall try
to deserve your good opinion"
But what a CHASTITY play!" ex'
claimed Shirley, Where did you
learn it,"
We were playing Mis- Poly Clifford
In the hospital" Hickey answered
She's got a whole lot of little peb
bles what they cut out
oh. Rickey!" expostulated Shirle,
with a shudder.
They did. She keeps them in
little pasteboard box like wedding-cake
with a blue ribbon around 1t. She wal
showing 1t to Miss Matte Sue yester
day. She was telling her all about it
She said all the women there showed
each other their cuts and Dragged
about how long they were"
you certainly have a highly devel
oped taste for the dramatic" sale
Shirley. Il wonder what your mex
effort will be-"
ITS tomorrow" Hickey informed
her. Were going to have the due
between Valiant and Sassoon."
The smile was stricken from Johr
valiant's face. A duel-the duel-be
tween Valiant and Sassoon! He fel
his blood beat quickly. Had there
been such a thing in his fathers life
Was that what had blighted it?
"only not here where 1t really hap
pened, but in the Meredith orchard
G~reenie's going to be-"
"Ah ain'!" contradicted GREENE
"Ah ain gwineter be dat Valiant, no
howl"
you are, tool" insisted Hickey
wrathfully. "You needn't be SO pickety
and choosety-and after she kills Sas
soon, we put the bloodhounds on hel
trail"
GREENE Uttered. "Dey ain no dawl
aroun' heah'd tech me-" she said, "er
sides"
But, Hickey" Shirley in~terposed
that wasn't a murder. That was 9
duel between gentlemen. They don't
81 know it," assented Hickey cheer
fully. But it makes it more exciting
Will you come, Miss Shirley, deed and
double? l won't charge you any ad
mission"
81 can't promise" said Shirley: "By
the way. isn't it about time Miss Mat
tie Sue had her tea?"
"It certainly is, Miss Shirley" said
~