The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-24

SlgnS she Knew Wutn ne was In one of his tantrums.
 "Ketch anything, Jafe?' she asked nervously.
 'Ketch anything this weather?- what'd you expect I'd ketch?' From his voice 1t might be figured that vicariously, he blamed her for the failure of his expedition.
 He hunkered down on the doer- step, his fishing pole still in his
 That pore old Mist Rives come by here q spell ago, mighty nigh shook to pieces with chill" she said after q bit.
 "Oh. he come by, did he?8 His tone purposely, was disarming. Well did he come in?'
 "Jes fur minute
 "Jes' fur minute, hen? And what did he want"
 He wanted could I give him somethin fur his aliment. He jes about could drag one sorry foot be- fore the other-barely could make it up here frum his place. 1 reckon he must be down in the bed with fever by now; l could tell by the touch it wuz risln' in him when he left here and started back ag'in. It'll be mighty pitiful him down flat of his back and nobody there to do nothin' fur his comfort. l give him dc st out of our Buffers Ager Drops. l would a give him a little smidgin' of flicker only-only-" She left the sentence unfinished. That pore shackly Mist Rives. he-Oh, please don't, Jafe!"
 Turning, he had cut viciously at her with the long cane. She shrank back as 1t whipped through the air and took the flashing strt Ike on her forearm, thrown up to fend off the blow.
 Mist Rives. Mist Rives!" He mimicked her. furiously. How many times l got to tell you that there old hoodoos name is Snake Doctor? Him thatd skin louse fur its hide and taller and you callin' him Mist Rives, You'll be callin' him honey and sugar next without learn you better. Pet names. huh? We'll, l aim to leafn you"
 She flinched at the threat, rub ping the welt on her skin; but he made no effort to strike her again. He sat glowering, saying nothing at all as she made hurry to dish up the food and put it before him; she hoped the weight of victuals in his stomach might dull the edge of his temper.
 For her part, she had the wisdom to keep silent. too. She ate on her feet. serving him between bites and sups, as was the rule in thls house hold
 After dinner he stretched himself on the floor Of the inner room. But he did not sleep. He was busy with his thoughts. One thing he had seen that day, and another thing he had heard-he was adding them together as the first sum in squalid equa ton.
 She drew ane-bottomed chair outdoors and sat under the china berry tree flaming herself and dip ping" snuff with a peach twig, whtcf she secured back and forth on hel i gums.
 After little while she was driver into the kitchen. It began to rain il | sharp, violent showers. The rair made the house inside no cooler merely changed it from bake-over to putrid steambox.
 It was getting along toward foul o'clock before Japhet emerged frtn | the front room. He drew on hi' heavy knee-length boots which ht had removed before lying down, ant l laced them up. This done. he spoke to her for the first time since neon
 "Wheres that there vii of ticker? he said Fetch it here to me-
 They kept small store of whisk' by tnem-an in that district did tht same-for chills and possible snak' bites. She brought him a pint flasl nearly full and he showed. it into hi hip pocket.
 Then, immediately, as thougi moved by a fresh idea, he hauled i out again and put it down On th kitchen table.
 Come to think about it." he said q won't be neddin to tote no sper rits along with me where I'm goin. Cotton mouths is all down in tn slashes or else along the creek, an' where I'll be all this evenin' is up Cl Bailey's Ridge in the high ground.
 He was not given to favorinG he with explanations of his motives O accounts of his movements. This de parture from fixed habit emboldene' his wife to put question.
 "Fixin' to go shcotin', Jafe?' sh asked timidly.
 q aim to gun me a chance o young squirrels 'twixt now and dusl time. I heard 'em' barkin' all 'roun' me this mornin.' Ef they're tha plenty in the low ground they'll b out thicker'n hops after the mulber ries and the young hick'ry nuts u Bailey's Ridge"
 He took up his single shot riff where it stood in corner, and fror an opened box on shelf scooped handful of brass shells. Then h went outside and tied up both hi dogs. One was hound, good fo hunting rabbits. It was proper tha he should be left behind.
 But the smaller dog, a black mon Erel, was a trained squirrel dog. A