Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-12-01
(cHAPTER vI-continued).

1t was fortunate that Cookie knew
nothing of the solitary grave some
where on the island, with its stone
marked with b. H. and crOss-bOnes,
nor that the inhabitant thereof was
supposed to walk. If he had, l think
the strange spectacle of a lone negro
IN small boat rowing Justify for the
American continent might soon have
been witnessed on the Pacific by any
eyes that were there to see. And we
could Ill have spared either boat or
cook.
Yet even though uGvexed by this
grewsome knowledge, after two or
three days l noticed that Cookie was
Ill at ease. AS the leisure member of
the party, l enjoyed more of Cookies
society than the rest. On this Occa-
sion while the morning was Still In its
freshness he was permitting me to
make fudge. But his usual jOviality
was gone. saw that he glanced over
his shoulder at intervals, muttering
darkly to himself. Also that a rabbits
foot was slung cOnspIcuously about
his neck.
Having made my fudge and set the
pan on a stone in the stream to cool.
! was about to retire with a view to
conducting a limited exploring expedI-
tion of my own. The assurances of
Mr.. Shaw--not personally directed to
me, Of course; ting armed truce I'M
der which we lived did not permit Of
that-had convinced me that l had
not to dread anything more feroclous
than the pigs, and the widest of them
would retire before stick or a stone.
Besides, boosted little automatic,
which l carried strapped to my waist
in buslnesslike manner. Mr.. Vane
had almost got me to the point where
] could shoot 1t off without shutting
my eyes.
TAus equipped, l was about to set
off into the woods. had turned my
back on Cookie and the camp, when
was arrested by an exclamation:
Miss Jinnyw
l turned to find Cookie gazing after
me with an expression which, in the
familiar phrase of fiction, could not
Interpret, though among its ingredi-
erts were doubt and anguish. Cookie,
too, looked pale. l don't in the least
know how he managed 1t, but that
was the impression he conveyed,
dusky as he was.
Miss jimmy, 1t mos look lax yo'
'hOat to go perambulatin' in desc yere
woOds?"
II am, Cookie" / admitted.
The whites of Cookies eyes became
alarmlngly conspicuous. Drawing
near In stealthy manner he whis-
pered:
"YO' bettah not, Miss Jinny!".
"Oh, nonsense, Cookie" l SAID Inn
patiently. 'There'snOt a thing on the
islsnG but the pigs"
'NIia7 jimmy" he solemnly replied,
'"dey's pigs and pigs"
'Yes. but pigs is pigs, you know"
! answered. laughing.
"Dey's pigs and pigs, chile-live
ones and---dend ones"
dead ones2~ OF course haven't we
been eating them?"
"Yo' won't nevah eat dis we're kind
o dead pig, Miss jimmy. Its-it's a
ha'nt"
The murder was out. Cookie leaned
against a cocoa-palm and wiped his
ebon brow.
PersistehtIy questioned, he told at
last how. today and yesterday, aris-
ing 10 the dim dawn to build his fire
before the camp was stirring. be had
seen lurking ut the edge Of the clear
ING white fOur-footed Shape. II was
4 pig. yet not pig; its ghostly hue,
rs nOIseIess movements, divided II
rom an T.ruper Mundane pOrkers by
ne dreadful gulf which divides the
ivlng fra = ne dead. The first morn
~ C'ookIe. doubtful Of his senses
nd flung stone md tie spectral
ming Ind vanished IKE shadow.
n lis pec0nd apVnarnncel hat'ng hac