The Ordway new era., 1914-05-15

folks say de centah of de yerf is all
fab. Yo' reckn dey's right. Mars
Chahmahs?"
Now, how the devil do you know
who am, Anthony" The Judge set
down his cup on the wellcurb. Il
haven't been by here for a year."
The ebony head moved slowly from
side to side "Or Ant'ny dom need
no eyes," he said. touching his hand
to his brow. He see ev'ything heah."
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 signtless 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. don know
young mistis, eidah."
II 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 beckon,d to Betty Page.
but she shook her head with q little
| grimace and drew back.
You go, Shirley" she whispered.
and with a 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 III mistis." he
muttered. "ain' afeahd OBJ OIL 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 crow"
Old Anthony's hand fell back to his
knee. Young mars laugh at de OIL
man." he said. "but he dom know. Dat
de coloh dat buhn nah han's-de coloh
OBJ goP, en- eyes blue like er cat-bird's
aig. Dah's er man gwine look in dem
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 he
come rom." he said. zen heah"-his
arm veered and he pointed straight
toward the ragged hill behind them
"he stay"
| Lusk laughed noiselessly. Hes
pointing to Damory Court" he whis.
pered to Nancy Chalmers. "the only
uninhabited place within ten miles.
That's az near a. he often hits 1t.
fancy"
"Heah's whah he stay" repeated the
old man. Heal OBJ trouble walt heah
To- him too. honey.-heap OBJ trouble.
heah whah III mistis I'm 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 TOP
on with, at least!"
But Anthony paid no heed. "Gr'et
trouble. Dah's nah en- she aim afeahd
en- dah's watah en- she ain afeahd. En-
All sees yo' gwine ter him, honey. Ah
heah's de co'ot-house clock a-strikin' In
de night-en yo' swine. Don wait
dom wait, Ill mistis. er de trouble
cloud gwine kyah him erway rom yo
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. vague look Of anxiety on
his face For moment no one
moved. When he spoke again It was
once more in his gentle quaverins
voice:
"watah? Yas. Mars. good watah
Hep yo'se'f"
| The Judge set q dollar bill ON the
step and weighted It with q stone, AZ
the rest remounted. well, good.by
Anthony he said. We're nightly
obliged"
He sprang into tho saddle and the
quartette cantered away. my expert
ment wasn't q great success, I'm
afraid. Shirley" he said ruefully.
"Oh, think It was splendid" cried
Nancy. DO you suppose he really be,
lieves thos, spooky things7 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 ny in body to your rescue"
They let their horses out for a
pounding gallop which pulled down
suddenly at mumed shrek from Bet.
.ty Pags, as her horse went into the
air at sight OF an automobile by the
roadside.
Now, whose under the canopy 10
that?" exclaimed Lusk.
Its stalled" said Shirley. Il
passed here this afternoon when tho
owner was trying to start It, and I sent
Unc' Jefferson as first aid to the in
jured." 'r .F
II wonder who he can be-" said
Nancy. I've never seen that car be-