The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-03-24

who l am, Anthony" The judge set
down his cup on the well-curb. Il
haven't been by here for year"
The ebony head moved slowly from
side to side. 'sOl Ant'ny dom need
no eyes," he said, touching his hand
to his brow. "He see evything heah.Y
The judge beckoned to the others
and they trooped inside the paling.
i've brought some other folks with
me, Anthony; can you tell who they
are?''
The sightless look wavered over
them and the white head shook slow
ly. Don know young mars" said
the gentle voice. How many yuddahs
wild yo'? One, two? No, l don know
young mistis, eidah."
81 reckon you don't need any eyes, !"
Judge Chalmers laughed, as he passed
the sweet cold water to the rest. "One
of these young ladies wants you to tell
her fortune"
The old negro dropped his head,
| waving his gaunt hands restlessly.
The judge beckoned to Betty Page,
1 but she shook her head with little
grimace and drew back.
You go, Shirley" she whispered,
and with laughing glance at the
/ others, Shirley came and sat down on
the lowest step.
Mad Anthony put out wavering
hand and touched the young body.
His fingers strayed over the habit and
went up to the curling bronze under
the hat-brim. dis de lii mistis," he
muttered, "ain' afeahd OBJ OF Ant'ny.
Dah's fab en- she ain afeahd, en- dah's
watah en- she ain afeahd. Wondah
whut All gwine tell huh? Whut de
coloh OBJ yo hath, honey?"
Black" put in Chilly Lusk, with q
wink at the others. ''Black as a crow
Old Anthony's hand fell back to his
knee. Young mars laugh at de oil
man." he said, "but he don know. Dat
| de coloh DAT buhn nah han's-de colof
OBJ goT, en- eyes blue like er cat-bird'E
aig. Dah's er man gwine look in den
eyes, honey, en- gwine make 'em CRY
en- cry" He raised his head sharply
his lids shut tight, and swung his arm
toward the North. "Dah's whah hs
come fom," he said. zen heah"-nis
arm veered and he pointed straight
toward the ragged hill behind them
"he stay
Lusk laughed noiselessly. Hes
pointing to Damory Court" he wills
pered to Nancy Chalmers, "the only
uninhabited place within ten miles
That's as near sas he often hits it,
fancy
''Heah's whah he stay" repeated the
old man. Heap oh trouble wait heal
TO- him too, honey, heap OBJ trouble
heah whah iii mistis fin him"
Come, Anthony" said Judge Chal
mers, laying his hand on the old mans
shoulder. That's much too mourn
full! Give her something nice to toI
OF with, at least!"
But Anthony paid no heed. "Gr'et
trouble. Dah's fab en- she aim afeahd
en- dah's watah en- she ain afeahd. Ell
All sees yo' gwine ter him, honey. Al
heah's de co'ot-house clock a-strikin' ii
de night-en yo' gwine. Dom wait
don wait, lii mistis, er de trouble
cloud gwine kyah him erway fom 20
/" When de clock strike thuh
teen-when de clock strike thuh
teen"
The droning voice ceased. The
gaunt form became rigid Then he
started and turned his eyes slowly
about him, a vague look of anxiety OF
his face. For a moment no one
moved. When he spoke again it wal
once more in his gentle Quaverins
voice:
''Watah? Vas, Mars, good watah
Hep yo'se'f."
The judge set dollar bill on tbs
step and weighted it with stone, as
the rest remounted. well, good-by
Anthony he said. Were nightly
obliged
He sprang into the saddle and the
quartette cantered away. Ny expert
rnent wasn't a great success, Tn
afraid, Shirley" he said ruefully.
"Oh, think it was splendidi" criet
Nancy do you suppose he really be
lieves those spooky things? 1 declare
at the time almost did myself. What
an odd idea-'when the clock strikes
thirteen which, Of course, it never
does"
Don't mind, Shirley" bantered
Lusk. When you see all dem trou
bles' coming, sound the alarm and
we'll fly in a body to your rescue
They let their horses out for a
pounding gallop which pulled dowr
suddenly at a muffied shrek from Bet
ty Page, as her horse went into the
air at sight of an automobile by the
roadside.
4 Now, whose under the canopy il
that?' exclaimed Lusk.
Its stalled" said Shirley. %
passed here this afternoon when the
owner was trying to start it, and sent
Unc' Jefferson as first aid to the in
jured."
Il wonder who he can be-" said
Nancy I've never seen that car be
fore"
Why" said Betty gaily, "Ah know!
It's Mad Anthony's trouble-man, OF
course, come for Shirley"
CHAPTER VII.