Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-08-10

borhood would likewise know his
shame. In fancy, Blaze saw his rep
utation torn to shreds and himself K
posed to the gibes of the people who
venerated him. He would become a
scandal among men, an offense to re-
spectacle women; children would shun
him. Blaze could not bear to think
Of the consequences, for he was very
fond of the women and children OF
~Jonesville. He rose from his ham,
mock and tiptoed down the porch into
the kitchen, from which point of Sc
cudty he called loudly for his daugh-
ter.
Alarmed at his tone, Paloma came
running. "What is the matter?" she
asked, quickly.
"Get her out" Blaze cried, savagely.
"Get shed Of her."
"Her? Whe?"
"That varmint."
"Father, what ails your"
"Nothin' ails me, but l don't want
that caterpillar crawlin' around my
premises. l don't like her"
Paloma regarded her parent curl
ously. "How do you know you don't
like her when you've never seen herr
"Oh, I've seen her, all l want to;
and l heard her talkin' to you just now.
i won't stand for nobody tellin' you
bad stories"
Paloma snickered. "The idea! She
doesn't"
sect her out, and keep her out"
Blaze rumbled. "She amt right; she
ain't-human. Why, what d'you reck-
on l saw her do, the other day2 Makes
me SILVER now. You remember that
big buIl-snake that lives under the
barn, the one I've been layln' for?
| Well, you won't believe me, but him
and her are friends. Fact! l saw
her pick him up and play with him.
Who-ee! The goose-fesh popped out
on me till it busted the buttons Of my
vest. She amt my kind Of people,
Paloma. Strange amt no name for
her no, sir! That woman's dam near
peculiar"
! Paloma remained unmoved. II
thought you knew. She used to be a
snake-charmer."
"A-what% There was no doubt
about it. Blaze's hair lifted. He
blinked through his big spectacles; he
paved the air freely with his hands.
slow can you let her touch you? I
couldn't. I'll bet she carries a pocket
full of dried toads and-and keeps live
lizards in her hair. I knew an old VOC
doc woman that ate ~cockroaches. Get
shed Of her, Paloma, and We'll fumi-
gate the house."
At that moment Mrs. Strange herself
opened the kitchen door to inquire, us
anything wrong?" Misleading Blaze's
expression for one Of pain, she ex-
claimed: mercy! Now, what have
you done to yourself"
But the object Of her sollcitude
backed away, making peculiar clucking
sounds deep in his throat. Paloma
was saying:
"Thls is my father, Mrs. Strange.
You and he have never happened to
meet before"
"Why, yes we have! I know you"
the seamstress exclaimed. Then q puz-
zled light hickered in her black eyes.
Seems to me we've met somewhere,
but-fve met so many people," She
extended her hand, and Blaze took
it as if expecting to find 1t cold and
scaly. He muttered something unin-
telligible. give been dying to see YOU"
she told him, "and thank you for CIV
ing me Pal0ma's work. l love you
both for it."
Blaze was immensely relieved that
this dreaded crisis had come and gone
but wishing to make assurance doubly
sure, he contorted his features into q
smile the like of which his daughter
had never seen, and in a disguised
voice inquired, snow where do you
reckon you ever saw met"
The seamstresS shook her head. u
don't know, but I'll place you before
long. Anyhow, I'm glad you aren't
hurt. From the way you called Palomu
I thought you we're. I'm handy around
sick people, so L"
"Listen!" Paloma interrupted.
There's someone at the front door,
She left the room; Blaze was edgine
after her when he heard her utter q
stihed scream and call his name.
Now Paloma was not the kind OF
girl to scream without cause, and hei
cry brought Blaze to the front Of the
house at q rum. But what he saw there
treasured him ~momentarily; nothing
was In sight more alarming than one
Of the depot hacks, In the rear seat OF
which was huddled the figure Of
man. Paloma was flying down the WALL
toward the gate, and Phil Strange was
awaiting on the porch. AS Blaze funG
himself into view the latter exclaimed
81 brought him straight here, Mr.
Jones, cause l knew you was his besi
friend"
who? Who is IT."
"Dave Law. He must have come II
on the noon train. Anyhow, I fount
him-like that" The two men hurried
100000 tho road eide hu cida