The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1923-04-05

had employed.
~ am here to borrow the mushkrat-
smear 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
brace, at General Bethpages house
, quick, with no one to see you, and |
will give you a diamond when you
come back"
"Give me the note, an l 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. At
ter long time Tony came, and she
heard them together as they went out.
| Then all was silent.
Sick in mind and body, Drace 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 centered
/ on Colonel JOSH who had stopped off
! TO pay them a call-and who showed
establishment when asked to walk out
to dinner, though he yielded with as
tonshing 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 Lucy?'
"Aadam," said Josh, Il am grieved
to impart TO you a distressful piece OF
news. She is soon to be married to
man named Sylvan"
ooh. I'm so sorry, Colonel Josh"
MADAM, 1t is calamity. Luke
Spivan!'
"What's the matter with him?' the
General inquired. Isn't broke Is hep
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.
I offered her my heart and my home.
told her that would devote my life
to her, and from week to week she
put me off. But when this fellow
Sylvan asked her, I understand she ac-
cepted him at jump, sir. And now
advise him to keep out of my way"
"Oysters and crawfish eh?" said the
General, winking at Drace.
"Those were my words, General
not only oysters but crawfish. would
not have believed it 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 it 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
uIuN II ny d iAOASO, hliNCh
by ragged negro. There was one
passenger in the habilaments of
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 tell you'll" cried
the General 81 knew it as well %
knew my name. Now look at hint"
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 Cen
eral. And then, surveying him slowly
from head to foot: "Will you please
state as to whether or not you regard
yourself human belng?"
General" said Tycie, please don't
scold him, for Pm sure he must be
hungry"
"My dear, / shall not scold him; but
don't see anything about him that
calls for congra iulations."
Liberty" said Virgil, tomorrow
We'll go over and have the parish sur
veyor run you off 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 hui
man are somewhat vague. One of the
first things l discovered about myself |
was my unreality. When do we eat?'
Tycie ran out and returned With u
piece of frosted cake that looked like
)lece. The General was laughing.
swell, Liberty, we are always glad
o see you, anyway. 1t is the unreal
ty, if may so speak, that spices our
ives; and when you come with your
ilded worries. you. enll3en US Where
ave you been. anyhow
1--WE been wherever there Is" said
hottie, gesturing with his cake
First l went to Memphis to the
noes, and gave old Skinny Hughes
wo hundred for sure card on the
ntries. Lost ten thousand. Then
ollowed the horses to Lexington, witt
~ bank account leaking Ike sprln !
ling cart. But why linger when nof )
ig can be swifter than the apron
poverty? Finally | sold my clofl
} negro preacher and invested my
u in lottery tickets. L seemed thar =