The Washington herald., 1915-09-05

MAYBE it was the climate, said Blandford,
lightly, cor maybe Our negroes spoiled US. Ill
call old Jake in, now. III be glad to see the old
villain again"
"Wait just moment said John. "I've got
little theory I want to test. You and l are
pretty much alike in our general appearance.
Old Jake hasn't seen YOU since you were fifteen.
Let's have him in and play fair and see which
of US gets the watch. The old darky surely
ought to be able to pick out his young narster'
without any trouble The alleged aristocratic
superiority of 'reb' ought to be visible to him
at once He couldn't make the mistake of hand
ing over the timepiece to Yankee Of course
The loser buys the dinner this evening and two
dozen 15H collars fSr Jake. Is it go:'
Blandford agreed heartily. Percival was
summoned, and told to usher the "colored gen
tlenan" in
Uncle Jake stepped inside the private office
cautiously. He was little old man, as black
as SCOT, wrinkled and bald except for a fringe
of white wool, cut decorouslv short. that ran
over his ears and around his head. There was
nothing of the stage uncle" about him. his
black suit nearly fitted him; his shoes shone,
and his straw hat was banded with gaudy rib
bon In his right hand he carried something
carefully concealed by his closed fingers.
Uncle Jake stopped few steps from the
door. Two young men sat in their revolving
desk-chairs ten feet apart and looked at him in
friendly silence. His gaze slowly shifted many
times from one to the other. He felt sure that
he was in the presence of one. at least of the
revered family among whose fortunes his life
had begun and was to end.
One had the pleasing but naughty Carteret
air. the other had the unnlistakable straight.
long family nose. Both had the keen black
eyes. horizontal brows, and thin. smiling lips
that had distinguished both the Carteret of the
Mayfower and him of the brigantine Old lake
had thought that he could have picked out his
Young nlarster instantly from thousand North
erners; but he found himself in difficulties The
best he could do was to use strategy.
''Howdv. Marse Blandford-howdv, sub :"
he said, looking midway between the two young
men.
"Howdy, Uncle Jake" they both answered
pleasantly and in unison. sit down Have
you brought the watch:
Uncle Jake chose hard-bottom chair at a
respectful distance. sat on the edge of it, and
laid his hat carefully on the floor The watch
il its buckskin case he gripped tightly. He had
not rsked his life on the battlefield to rescue
that watch from his "old marster's" foes to
hand it over again to the enemy without strug-
gle.
"Ies. sub: I got it in nv hand sub. I'm
gwine give it to you right away in jus minute
Old Missus told me to put it in young Marse
Blandford's hand and tell him to wear it for
the family pride and honor 1t was mighty
lonesome trip for an old niger man to make
ten thousand miles. it must be- back to old
Virginia sub. You've growed NIGHTLY young
nlarster. | wouldn't have recognized you but
for vo' powerful resemblance to old marster'
With admirable diplomacy the old man kept
his eyes roaming in the space between the two
men, His words might have been addressed to
either Though neither wicked nor perverse, he
was seeking for a sign.
Blandford and John exchanged winks.
Il reckon you done got you mas letter."
went on Uncle Jake. "She said she was gwine
to write to you bout my comm along up this
er-way.'
"Yes, yes, Uncle Jake" said John briskly.
My cousin and I have just been notified to
expect YOU We are both Carterets, you
know
"Although one of u.s." said Blandford. was
born and raised in the North"
so if you will hand over the watch said
John.
MY cousin and l. said Blandford
will then see to it. said John.
That comfortable quarters are found for
you," said Blandford.
With credtable ingenuity, old Jake set up
a cackling high-pitched, protracted laugh. He
beat his knee, picked up his hat and bent the
brm in an apparent paroxysm of humorous ap-
probation The seizure afforded him a mask
behind which he could roll his eyes impartialy
between, above, and beyond his two tormentors
Il sees what" he chuckled, after while
oHr... ua,u,,,,.n &c 70 ,,.l, a.,