Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-20
Hey, Pliny! Step over here a min

Hey, Phny! step over mere d Hill
Comm" said Pliny, with alacrity.
Then In an aside to his audience: See
that? Can't let an evenin' pass with
out conference with me. Sets
heap of store by my judgment"
Sets more store by your laigs."
said old man Boyle. They Kin run
Grants, anyhow"
Pliny FASTENED across the square.
and in careful imitation of. Scatter
good said. "Evenin', scattergood."
"Evenin'. Pliny. Flow of language
good as usual tonight? Didn't meet
with no trouble sayin' what you had
to say?"
Come through Bailey today?'
"Calclated to-
"Any news?"
Mary"
. whats become of that what's his
name baby you was a'tellin' about?
The one that lost his ma and was
bein' cared for by neighbors"
"Nothin' hain't become Of him.
Calclate he'll be took to institu-
"Um! Likely-lookin' two-year-old.
was he? Take note Of any blem-
ishes?"
Il hear tell by them that knows
as how he was sound in wind and
Who's keepin' him. Pliny?'
Mis- Patterson's sort of shuffied
him in with her seven. Says she
don't notice no difference to speak of.
Claims faint possible FIR eight chill
be-"
"Um! G'bye. Pliny. Ever deal in
facts over there to the post office?
Ever have occasion to mention facts?'
"Er-not regular facts. Scattergood.
You needn't to worry about my talk
in too free"
Seems like a Teller that talks as
much as you do would have to men,
ton fact once in while. G'bye,
Pliny."
1t was two or three days later that
Postmaster Pratt alluded again to
Martha and Jed Lewis.
esTHEY'RE gittin' wuss and wuss.'
he said. with some gratifica-
ton. Last night they was a rumpus
you could "a heard forty mile. Ended
up by him threatenin' to leave her.
and by her tellin' him that if he didn't
she'd lock him out of the house.
Looks to me like that family fracas
was about ripe to bust" .
signs all pint that way. Will. Too
bad. fain't it? There's Areason FIR it,
I calc'late. Ever look FIR the reason,
Will? Ever think about it at all?"
"Hain't had no time. Post office
keeps me thinkin' night and day"
well, I have. Fingered heap"
ANY results, scattergood"
"Some-some."
What be they?"
scattergoods eyes twinkled in the
darkness. Il got it all figgered out"
he said, that them young folks needs
a dose of Soothin' sirup."
II want to know" said the post
master. breathlessly and with Devil
derment "Soothin' sirup! I swan
to man! Hain't been out in the heat,
have you. Scattergood?
Scattergood made no reply to this
head and said: "G'bye, will. Gbye."
Next morning scattergood walked
past the Lewis place. He passed 1t
three times before he made up his
finally he turned through the gate
and walked around to the kitchen
door. Inside he saw Martha Riding
up the kitchen, not with a morning
song on her lips, but wearing a sullen
expression which sat i'll on her fine
New England face.
'Mornin', Marthy," he called.
She looked up and smiled suddenly.
The change in her face was aston
ishing.
MOfnln, MI. BalneS. Set right
down on the porch. Let me fetch
you hot cup Of coffee. 'Twon't take
a minute to make"
Cant STOP" said Scattergood. 81
was lookfn' for Jed"
"Jed's gone." she replied, shortly,
the sullen expression returning to her
face. HE won't he back fore noon"
"Uh-huh! Wa-al, I calc'late 1 kin
keep on drawin' my breath till then
If you kin. I call to mind the time
when you was ALTERED Uneasy If Jed
got away from you for six hours in
q stretch"
'Them times is gone" she said,
shortly.
"shucks!" said scattergood.
"They be-" she said, hercely. "Hain't
no use tryin' to hide it. Jed and me
Is about through. Nothin' but fussin'
and backbitin' and maneuverin'. He
don't care f'r me no more like he used
to, and"
You don't set SIGH heap Of store
by him." Scattergood interrupted.
Martha hesitated. Il do" she said.
slowly. But I can't put up with it
no more"
"Jed's fault-mostly." said Scatter
good, az one speaks who utters an
"No more'n mine," she said. with
a sudden Hash. 81 dunno what's got
into us, Mr.. Baines, but we no sooner
git into the same room than it COM