Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-07-28
CHAPTER XIII.
Lives and Souls.

Willett got through the next morning
somehow. and as soon as he could tell
at just what hour he would be ready
for lunch. telephoned Stacey's. The
luncheon table would be an excellent
place for the dreaded discussion with
his son.
He was informed that young Mr..
Willett had not been in the Office Of
Stacey's that morning. Willett got
Stacey himself on the wire.
mo, john" said Stacey. Francis
didn't come down this morning. They
telephoned from your house that he
was ILL.,"
Willett had. then, left home before
his son was out of bed. He called
the house. Mr. Francis had been gone
an hour. He had taken the big tour
ing car. Willet's perturbation In
creased as the day wore on. He heard
nothing of his son for another twenty
four hours. And when he did
1t was harvest time at Thomas
farm. From the fields came the clat-
ter of the machines. Sam had put on
extra hands, and Mrs. Brown came up
from the cottage to help with the added
burden of cooking for The workers.
Little Dick Brown played about the
dooryard.
With a snort 2 great, black touring
car came tearing into the Thomas
driveway The chickens and little
Dick scattered, but the latter had a
narrow escape He set up q loud
scream of terror. and the women came
cunning to the door,
Francis Willett, at the steering
wheel, bowed with an exaggerated
courtesy.
Good morning. ladies'" he said jo-
morning"
Martha surveyed the visitor with the
fishy eye of suspicion. She had known
another genial soul, whose geniality
had been enhanced by alcohol. She
could unerringly tell the genuine from
the imitation. So her greeting to Fran
els was not of the heartiest.
"Mr dear Mrs. Thomas" said the
young man uaeely. but with just the
slightest trace of thickened accent.
al will not trespass upon your time.
I merely wanted to fill my radiator.
You can, am sure. spare me little
water for the purpose"
Help Yourself" said Martha
"there's a bucket at the we'll"
Francis got down. and his condition
became more apparent; for his walk
was not so fluent as his speech. He
lowered the bucket solemnly but un-
steadily into the well.
Hey, there" cried hearty voice,
"lemme help you"
1t was Lem Brown. He was drenched
with perspiration from head to foot.
His face streamed.
"It's tur'ble hot day in the ffeld,'
he said. Them boys drinks up the
water bout s fast as it's brought to
'em."
Francis Willett did not know Lem
Brown, except by reputation, as Mary
Alice's father, and an assistant of
Sam Thomas. Lem had never seen
Francis. or did not remember him If he
had. He filled a dipper from the
bucket and drank eagerly.
my friend" said the young man.
4 have here something that would
make your water more palatable." He
pulled flask from his pocket.
mot on your life,' refused Lem.
"Me and John Barleycorns never been
friends. He threw me down; now I've
done with him forever: yes, slrreew
He set his dipper on the well-curb
and went to Inscrewing the radiator
cap. "I'll fill her up for ye." he said.
Martha and Mrs. Brown had gone
back to the boiling pot and the baking
oven. Little Dick. drawn by child's
curiosity, stood near by and saw Mr..
Willett play funny Joke on the elder
Brown. When LENS back was turned,
Mr.. Willett emptied half the contents
of his flask into LENS dipper, after
which he added water. Lem screwed
on the cap. returned to the well, and
picked the dipper up.
Beats all how thirsty I be-" he
said. and without taking breath.
poured most OF the liquid down his
throat. He must have swallowed a
pint before he suddenly stopped. HP
held the dipper in his large hand and
contemplated 1t stupidity.
Funny tastin' water" he said. Then
he looked up at Francis. who was
grinning in genial appreciation of a
good joke. Into LENS brain crept
realization. He stared. horror-stricken.
at the smiling face Of his betrayer.
whisky" said Lem. The liquor had