Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-12-07
Copyright, The Bell Syndicate, Inc
Chapter XI-Cntinued
BY oPIE READ

Sick In mind and body, brace made
his way back TO Bethpage. He made
himself as presentable as possible be-
fore he entered the house; fortunately.
too, the attention of Tycie and the
General was at that moment conferred
on Colonel Josh. who had stopped on
TO pay them a call--and who showed
establishment when asked to walk out
to dinner. though he yielded with as
tonishing alacrity to the pressure of
the Generals hand upon his arm. He
was busy with a helping Of late mus
tard green's and hogs jowl, when Tycie
inquired:
"And how is dear Lucyf"
MADAM" said Josh, II am grieved
to impart to you distressful piece of
news. She is soon to be married to
man named Sylvan"
"Oh. Tn so sorry, Colonel JOSH"
"Madam, 1t Is a calamity. Luke
SpivanF
"What's the matter with him." the
General inquired. isn't broke, is he?"
General, the man has money. But
do you know what his calling is? |
shall enlighten you. sir. This fellow is
n dealer in oysters, the-the excres-
cence of the sea, you might say. And
not only that, but he deals in crawfish
as well. back-crawling crawfish, sir.
offered her my heart and my home,
told her that | would devote my life
to her, and from week to week she
nut me off. But when this fellow
Sylvan asked her, | understand she ac-
cepted him at jump, sir. And now
advise him to keep out Of my way
"Oysters and erawfish eh?' said the
General, winking at Drace.
''Those were my words, General
not only oysters but crawfish. / would
not have believed 1t If she had not as
sured me with her own lips, lips that
will please pardon my nearness to
profanity"
Tycie's sympathy went ont to old
Josh, haloed him. and with her eyes
she begged the General to drop the
subject. but it was sweeter TO him
than any sugar ever grained in his
mill.
After dinner they were in the par
Tor when they saw vagabond equip
age stop at the gate, an old carry all
drawn by staggering horse, driven
by ragged negro, There was one
passenger in the habilaments of a
scarecrow, topped off with yellow
cotton hat-enough to disguise any
man on earth save one, and this man
was the exception.
"Tycie. what did I tell you'll !" cried
the General. II knew it as well as |
knew my name Now look at him ~
They looked at him. went out into
the hall to meet him, Tycie in con-
venient tears. The visitor kissed her
and shook hands with the men.
ut is not necessary for me to as
sert that l hold no commission, civil
or military" said the vagrant.
"Sit down, sir" commanded the Gen.
eral And then, surveying him slowly
from head to foot: "Will you please
state as to whether or not you regard
yourself human being?"
"General,' said Tycie, please don't
scold him, for I'm sure he must be
hungry"
my dear, shall not scold him; but
/ don't see anything about him that
calls for congratulations"
HtAv ~
well 60 over and have the parish sur
veyor run you OF suit Of clothes"
my dear relatives, thank you for
these little attentions; and as to your
question, Uncle Howard, let me say.
sir, that my claims as to being a hu-
man are somewhat vague. One Of the
first things I discovered about myself
was my, unreality. When do we eatT
Tyce ran out and returned with .
piece Of frosted cake that looked like
. corner broken OF . marble mantle
piece. The General Was laughing.
well. Liberty, We are always glad
to see you, anyway. 1t 10 the unreal.
ity. il may 80 speak. that spices our
hScb uuu WHICH, JVo SOiuc Win yVuA
gilded worries, you enliyen US. Where
have. you. been, anyhow"
Eve been wherever there is" said
Shottle, gesturing with his cake.
First l went to Memphis, to the
races, and gave old Skinny Hughes
two hundred for a sure card on the
entries. Lost ten thousand. Then l
followed the horses to Lexington with
my bank account leaking like sprin-
king cart But why linger when moth
ing can be swifter than the approach
of poverty? Finally / sold my clothes
to a negro preacher and invested my
all in lottery tickets. 1t seemed that
/ possessed myself of all the figures of
the multiplication table, didn't see how
1 I could possibly miss, but ! did. 1t
wasn't laid out for me to win again.
He gets to a certain pinnacle of for
tune, slips off, and spends the rest Of