The Ekalaka eagle., 1915-12-10


nunt folks an is allus hankerin' for
the company Of them as has edication.
SO, seems yo' must have right smart
chance o learnin, or yo' couldn't teach
school, / kinder figger that mebby
'Nervy'll tuck a sort O. a shine to YOU
an find yo' right good company"
Ross looked at George in blank
amazement, then stole glance at Mi
nerva. Her face was fiery red and her
eyes We're fixed on her plate. He felt
that he ought to say something to
break the silence and relieve her en-
barrassment, but what could he say?
George, totally blind to the situation
and wholly unconscious of the feelings
of the others, went on with brutal
bluntncss:
"Nervy's allus been sort Of a quaire
cr1tter, but pears like since that visit
over to her dads the other night she's
been quairer than ever. When she
come home she seemed kind O. cl,lm
an dreary-like, an she's been a moy-
In round yere ever since, a-longin' an
alvin for higher an better life. Now.
M J1st a plain, practical, common
sense sort o plug myself, 80 l don't
know how to talk bout no sich rubbish
as that, but you bein' edicated, mebbv
you kin talk with 'er bout sich things"
Minerva gave George one quick, an
pealing glance. then hung her head in
shame. Ross saw her modification
and from the bottom Of his heart pit
led her. He looked at George as
though he would like to take him OUT
and stamp him into the earth. AS he
could not very we'll do that and as he
wanted to do something to relieve
Minerals embarrassment he turned to
George and said:
Have you pretty good crops this
year through this part of the coun-
try?'
Ross did not see it. but Minerva gave
him an eloquent look of gratitude.
"Waal, fair to middlin'," George re-
piled. "Nothin' to brag of specially,
an nothin' to grumble bout in reason.
Seems that folks hain't payin' so much
'tent1on to their crops as they mought
since this here war come up. 1 reckon
y
foutin'?"
Minerva looked quickly up at Ross
and seemed to wait expectantly,
Would he forget and betray himself?
He laughed lightly and replied care
lessly:
"Oh. they've never had any serious
trouble in finding room to bury all my
dead"
Minerva breathed freely again, George
said:
Il reckon, mebby, you don't banker
after no foutin'?'
Il have no particular longing for it.,
and my yearnlng that way has never
grown SO strong as to prevent my hold
ing 1t in check. Fighting might be all
right if the other fellow wouldn't fight
back
Then you ort a-been with us in that
fight over to Conrow's. You been hear
in tell of it, reckon?"
''Yes, I've heard of that fight"
'Waal, if you'd been with us in that
you'd a-had fellers to fit that didn't
fight back. Them jayhawks never
fired shot,
You were there, We're your
Il should say was. Say, you heard
bout that feller that was over thar at
Silas Bones an some fellers come an
tuck i'm away jest in the nick O. time
to save i'm from gittin' hung?"
"Yes, I've heard him mentioned"
"Waal, sir, you know what l doney"
II have no idea.'
''Waal, sir, l chased that dadburn
cuss all over doggone cornfiep, a-pop-
pin at i'm with my gun ever chanst
l got, an run i'm down into some
woods an was jest bout ready to lay
my hans on i'm when he done me the
blamedest meanest trick l ever know
ed feller do. AS he run along he
ketched a-holt of swingin' limb, pull
ed it forward an then let If fly back.
What you reckon happened?"
II don't know
II know, you bet, though I didn't
know for bout hour. That limb
flew back. swiped me acrost the face
an knocked me heels over head quick
erin hen kin wink her ear. 1t was a
bla1no slick trick, but moughty dog
gone mean advantage to take Of a fel-
Ter when he want expectin' nothin'.
Don't you think so?'
II don't know. presume in case
like that man is justified in doing
almost anything to save his life. Then
perhaps he acted unconsciously, little
dreaming of the result. l suppose you
would know that man If you were to
meet him again?'
Ross asked this question with cool
disinterestedness that caused Minerva
to look up at him in astonishment. He
was as calm and collected as though
he We're Il perfect stranger to the whole
affair. Minerva showed far the most
anxiety Of the two as she waited for
her husbands reply.
"Know him" George exclaimed.