The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-11-02

neither to the right nor the left, SO
closely was she mewed. She spoke.
softly, louder and then there drew the
darkened form Of man, Batoche. an
old frog-hunter whom once before she
had employed.
II am here to borrow the mushkrat-
spear for the one day, for mine he was
broke; but they are still asleep"
"Come closer. good Batoche, and lis
ten to me. Take this note to Monsieur
Drace. at General Bethpage's house
quick. with ns one to see you. and I
will give you a diamond when you
come back"
'Give me the note, an be there
soon"
She gave him the note, and he has
tened away. She stood at the door,
wondering why she had not heard her
father stirring about. Once she
thought she heard him call Tony. Az
ter long time Tony came, and she
heard them together AZ they went out.
Then all was silent
Sick In mind and body. Drace made
his way back to Bethpage. He made
himself as presentable Al possible be-
fore he entered the house; fortunately,
too, the attentia, Of Tycie and the
General was at that moment centered
on Colonel Josh, who had stopped on
to pay them a call-and who showed
astonishment 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 helping Of late mus
tard green's and hogs jowl, when Tycie
inquired:
"And how is dear Lucyr
MADAM" said Josh, 81 am grieved
to impart to you a distressful piece Of
news. She is soon to be married to a
man named Spivan."
"Oh, I'm SO sorry, Colonel JOSH"
MADAM. 1t is a calamity. Luke
Spivani"
"What's the matter with himf" the
General inquired. isn't broke, Is her"
General, the man has money. But
do you know what his calling is7
shall enlighten you, sir. This fellow is
. 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.
I offered her my heart and my home.
/ told her that I would devote my life
to her, and from week to week she
nut me of. But when this fellow
Spivan asked her, / understand she ac-
cepted him at a jump. sir. And now
1 advise him to keep out Of my way"
"Oysters and crawfish. eh?' said the
General, winklng 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 out to old
Josh. haloed him; and with her eyes
she begged the General to drop the
subject, but 1t was sweeter to him
than any sugar ever grained in his
mill.
After dinner they were in the par
lor when they saw a vagabond equip
age stop at the gate. an old carry-all
drawn by . staggering horse, driven
by 4 ragged negro. There was one
passenger In the habilaments Of q
scarecrow, topped of with = yei:cv
cotton hat-enough TO Disguise any
man on earth save one. and this man
was the exception.
"Tycie, what did ] tell youi" cried
the General. II knew 1t as well as
knew my name. Now look at him r.
They looked at him, went out inte
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 hold no commission. civil
or military" said the vagrnDt.
"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 a human beingY
General" said Tycie. please don't
scold him, for I'm sure he must be
hungry"
MY d ar. shall not scold him but
don't see anything about him that
calls for coreratulations.'
Liberty" said Virgil, tomorrow
Wen go over and have the parish sur
veyor run you Off a suit OF clothes"
"AIy 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 unreallty. When do we eat?"
Tycie ran out and returned with a
piece of frosted cake that looked like
q corner broken OF a marble mantle
piece. The General was laughing.
well, Liberty. we are always glad
10 ooo VIM unuxuou 1e. fI.. ,.rroaI-