Part 26 (1/2)

”Nothing.”

”Then why are you standing there?”

”I thought I heard something.”

”In the house?” she asked, rising up with sudden alarm.

”No. Over in town, or rather over by the railroad track. I noticed some tramp-fires along there.”

”Oh, well, don't worry. The watchman will look after them.”

”Hush,” he said, leaning from the window. ”There it is again.”

”I don't hear anything,” she declared. ”Why, it's only a negro singing.”

”So it is,” he said. ”I thought it was someone yelling over in town.

Are you sure that it was a negro singing?”

”Oh, I don't know whether he is a negro or not, but it is someone singing. But what if it is someone yelling over in town? It's nothing unusual, I am sure. I have heard them yell at all times of the night.

I believe it is someone singing,” he finally said, turning from the window.

CHAPTER XXI.

WITH OLD JASPER.

Early in the evening old Jasper Staggs received a visit from Zeb Sawyer, and inasmuch as the social exchanges between them had never been particularly marked, the old man was not a little surprised.

”Well, you see, it aint altogether on your account that I've come,”

said Sawyer with a weak laugh, seeing that in the old man's astonishment there lurked an unfavorable suspicion. ”Mother--and you know she's getting along--took it into her head today that nothing would do her so much good as a visit from your wife and Miss Annie.

And she says she'd like mighty well to have you.”

”Well,” said old Jasper, ”the women folks are out there in the dinin'

room a fussin' around, and I reckon they'll take the time to answer for themselves, jest as I am agoin' to answer for myself, when I say that I'm obleeged to you, but I can't come. I'm talkin' for myself, recollect,” he added, with emphasis, nodding his head and running his fingers through his rim of gray beard. ”Yes, sir; for myself, and for myself only.”

”But I guess Aunt Tobithy and Miss Annie will go, won't they?”

”I have said my say, and it was for myself only, but if you want to know anything consarnin' the other members of this house, just step right out there where they are tinkerin' with the dishes, and ask them.”

Sawyer went into the dining-room. There was a hush of the rattle of dishes and knives, and then Sawyer came back and said they were kind enough to go. ”I am going to stay here with you,” Sawyer remarked.

”All right,” the old man replied.

”And I believe it will be a little more than all right when I tell you of something. The other day I was at an old house in the country, and an old fellow that lives there took me down into the cellar to show me a new patent churn that he was working on. Well, I didn't care anything about the churn, you know, not having much to do with cows, but I looked at the thing like I was interested, just to please him.

And while I was looking about I saw a small barrel, with dried moss on it, and I asked him about it, and he said it was a whisky barrel that was hid out all during the war. This made me open my eyes, I tell you; but as quiet as I could I asked him if there was any of the liquor left. He said he had about a gallon left, and I told him I'd give him twenty dollars for a quart of it, and I did, right then and there; and if I haven't got that bottle right with me now, you may crack my head like a hickory nut.”

By this time old Jasper's jaw had fallen, and now he sat, leaning forward with his mouth wide open. ”Zeby,” he said, and his voice sounded as if he had been taken with a sudden hoa.r.s.eness. ”I reckon I am about as fond of a joke and a prank as any man that ever crossed Goose Creek--and some great jokers came along there in the early days--but there was things too sacred for them to joke about. You know what I said, Zeby?”