The Idaho Republican., 1914-04-03

lOH DCbluc Hlul. vi q ouuuCh Nhuhh o1S
up and barked in earnest.
Turning his head, his master saw ap-
preaching dilapidated hack with
side lanterns like great goggles and
decrepit and palsied curtains. 1t was
drawn by lean mustard-tinted mule,
and on its front sat colored man OF
uncertain age, whose hunched verte-
brae and outward-crooked arms gave
him a curious expression of replete
and bulbous inquiry. Abreast Of the
car he removed moth-eaten cap.
"Evenin, suh," he said,-"evenin',
evenin'."
"Howdy do" returned the other
amiably.
"Ah reck'n yo-ll done had er breck-
down wild dat machine-thing dar. Yo',
been hyuh bout er hour. ain yo'?"
Nearer three" said Valiant cheer
fully, but the views worth IT.
A hoarse litter came from the con-.
veyance, which gave forth sundry.
creakings of leather. "Huyh! Huyh!
OATS so, sub, OATS SO! Hmm.
Reck'n Ah'll be gittin erlong back." ;"
He clucked to the mule and proceeded
to turn the vehlcls round.
Hold on" cried john Valiant! Il
thought you were bound III the other
direction"
mo, sub. Ah'm gwine back whah I
come f'om. All JUS druv out hyuh
case Miss Shirley done met me, en-
she say. 'Unc' Jeffe'son, yo' go 'treckly
out de Red Road, case er gemman
done got stalled-ed.'"
"Oh-Miss Shirley. She told you.
did she? What did you say her first
name was?"
Oats huh fust name, Miss Shirley.
Vas, sub! Miss Shirley done said f.
me ter come en- git de gemman whut
-whut kinder dawg is yo' got dar?"
Its bulldog. Can you give me
lift? I've got that small trunk and"
Oats right fine dawg. Miss Shir-
ley she moghty fond oh 'dawgs, too."
Fond Of dogs, is she?" said Valiant.
Il might have known it. 1t was nice
of her to send you here, Uncle Jeffer-
son. You can take me and my traps,
/ suppose?"
"'Pens on whah yo' gwineter," an
swered Uncle Jefferson sapiently.
Pm going to Damory Court"
A kind Of shocked surprise that was
almost stupefaction spread over the
others face, like oil over pool.
Danny Co'ot! OATS de old Valiant
place. Ain nobody lives dar. All
reck'n ain nobody live dar fer mos er
hun'erd yeahs!"
"The old house has a great surprise
coming to It," said Valiant gravely.
"Henceforth some one is going to oc-
cupy it. How is 1t anyway
"Measurin' by de coonskin en- th'ow-
in in de tail, cts erbout two mile.
Ain gwineter live dar yo'se'f, sub, is
yo'?"
Il am for the present" was the
crisp answer.
Uncle Jefferson stared at him a mo-
ment with his mouth open. Then ejac-
ulating under his breath, go de
Lawd! Whut folks gwineter say ter
dat!" he shambled to the rear of the
motor and began to unship the steam
er-trunk. "Whut yo gwineter do wild
dat-ar?" he asked, pointing to the car.
"Ah kin come wild ole Sukey-dat's
NAH mule-en fotch it in de mawn-
in. Amt gwineter rain ter-night no
how
This matter having been arranged,
they started Jogging down the green
bordered road, the bulldog prospecting
alongside.
"S'pose'n de Co'ot done ben sold en-
yo gwineter fix it up TO de new
ownah," hazarded Uncle Jefferson
presently.
Valiant did not answer directly.
You say the place hasn't been occu-
pied for many years." he observed
Did you ever hear why, Uncle JEFF
ferson?'
"Ah done heerd," said the other
"but All disremembahs.
Sump'in dat happened befo' All come
heah fom or Post-Oak Plantation.
Reck'n Majah Bristow he know erbout
It, er Mis- Judith-dat's Miss Shirley's
Her fathah wus Genl Tawm
en- he died TO- she was
bawn."
Shirley Dandridge! A high-sound-
Ing name, with something of long
linked culture, Of arrogant heritage.
In some subtle way it seemed to
clothe the personality Of which Va
liant had had that feeting roadside
glimpse.
"Reck'n yo-all come f'om New
York;" inquired Uncle Jefferson, after
a little silence. $50! Dey say dat's
er pow'ful big place. But All reck'n
or Richmon's big ernuf TO- me-" He
clucked to the leisurely mule and
added, "Ah bin ter Richmon' onct.
Yas, sub! All nevah see sech houses
mos all bigger'n de county co'ot-
house."
John Valiant expressed somewhat
absent, interest. He was looking
at the blossom In his