"Seein' anything?" remarked the man on the bench, who had sleepily
regarded him.
"No," said the colonel, "that is--it's only Dick Ruggles crossin' the
road."
"Thought you looked a little startled, ez if you'd seen that ar
wanderin' stranger."
"When I see that wandering stranger, sah," said the colonel decisively,
"I won't be sittin' long in this yer chyar. I'll let him know in about
ten seconds that I don't harbor any vagrants prowlin' about like poor
whites or free niggers on my propahty, sah!"
"All the same, I kinder wish ye did see him, for you'd be settled in
YOUR mind and I'd be easier in MINE, ef you found out what he was doin'
round yer, or ye had to admit that it wasn't no LIVIN' man."
"What do you mean?" said the colonel, testily facing around in his
chair.
His companion also altered his attitude by dropping his other foot
to the floor, sitting up, and leaning lazily forward with his hands
clasped.
"Look yer, colonel. When you took this place, I felt I didn't have no
call to tell ye all I know about it, nor to pizen yer mind by any darned
fool yarns I mout hev heard.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233