Part 21 (1/2)

never denied a thing. Even Ann's got a proud tilt to 'er, an' struts along like a young peac.o.c.k. This here article will explode like a busted gun amongst 'em an' bring the whole bunch down a peg or two. Do you reckon they've got their paper yet?”

”Not yet,” Wartrace answered. ”The carrier has to go clean round by Spriggs's at the foot of the mountain 'fore he gits thar. He generally hits Tom's place about an hour by sun.”

Miss Sally-Lou folded the paper and thrust it into the big pocket of her print skirt. ”I am goin' over thar, Dolph,” she said, with a rising smile. ”I wouldn't miss it for a purty.”

”You'd better keep out of it,” the storekeeper mildly protested. ”You know you have been mixed up in several fusses.”

”I don't expect to have a thing to do with this un,” was the eager reply. ”But I would just like to see if they really are countin' on a man of that sort tyin' himself on to a lay-out of their stripe. n.o.body in the valley believed Mr. Mostyn had any such intention. He was just killin' time an' amusin' hisse'f.”

Leaving the store, Miss Sally-Lou strode briskly along the hot, dusty road toward Drake's. Every now and then a low giggle would escape her lips, and she would put her thin, gnarled fingers to her mouth as if to hide her smile from some observer. ”John Webb wasn't tuck in by it, I'll bet,” she mused. ”He ain't n.o.body's fool. John's got a long, cool head on 'im, he has. He kin see through a mill-rock without lookin' in at the hole.”

She found John near the front fence, lazily inspecting a row of beehives on a weather-beaten bench.

”Think they are goin' to swarm?” Miss Sally-Lou inquired, in her most seductive tone, as she unlatched the gate and entered.

”Wouldn't be a bit surprised,” the bachelor returned, as he automatically touched his slouch hat. ”It is time. We had fresh honey last year long 'fore this.”

”Has Dolly got home from school?” was the next question.

”Yes'm,” Webb answered. ”She come in a minute ago. She may be lyin'

down. She ain't as well as common; she looks sorter peaked; I told 'er she'd better take a tonic o' some sort. She's stickin' too close over them books; she needs exercise, an' plenty of it.”

”I hate to bother her if she ain't up an' about”--Miss Wartrace had the air of a maiden lady who had as soon chat with a bachelor as feast upon any sort of gossip--”but I'm makin' me a new lawn waist, Mr. John, an'

I want to ask Dolly if she'd put big or little b.u.t.tons on. She has such good taste an' knows what the style is.”

”By all means git the _right_ sort, Miss Sally-Lou,” Webb jested. ”If they are as big as mule-shoes, or as little as gnats' eyes, stick 'em on.”

”You are a great tease,” the spinster smirked. ”You always have some joke agin us poor women. You make a lot of fun, but you like to see us look our best, I'll bound you.”

John's freckled face bore vague evidence of denial, but he said nothing. He moved toward the farthest hive and bent down as if to inspect the tiny entrance.

”Well, I'll run in a minute,” she said. ”Watch out an' don't git stung.”

”If I do it will be by a _bee_,” said the philosopher to himself, ”an'

not by no woman o' _that_ stripe. Lord, folks advise me to set up to that critter! She'd talk a deef man to death. He'd kill hisse'f makin'

signs to 'er to stop.”

The visitor ascended the steps, crossed the porch, and, without rapping at the door, entered the sitting-room where she found Dolly, Ann, and her mother together. Mrs. Drake was patching a sheet at the window; Ann, sulky and obstinate, was trying to do an example on a slate; and Dolly stood over her, a dark, wearied expression on her face.

”h.e.l.lo, folkses!” Miss Sally-Lou greeted them, playfully. ”How do y-all come on?”

When she had taken a chair she mentioned the waist she was making, and as Dolly gave her opinion in regard to the b.u.t.tons she eyed the girl studiously. She remarked the dark rings around the beautiful eyes, the nervous, almost quavering voice. ”She hain't heard yet,” the caller decided. ”But she may suspicion something is wrong. Maybe he hain't writ to her since he went back--the scamp! He ought to be licked good an' strong.”

”What are you fixing up so for, Miss Sally-Lou?” Ann wanted to know, a bubble of amus.e.m.e.nt in her young eyes and voice. ”Are you going to get married?”

”Listen to her,” Miss Wartrace t.i.ttered, quite un.o.bservant of Ann's sarcasm. ”The idea of a child of that age constantly thinking of marrying.”

At this juncture John Webb came in and approached his sister. He had not removed his hat, but, catching Dolly's reproving glance, he s.n.a.t.c.hed it off and stood whipping his thigh with it.

”You wanted to know about them bees,” he said. ”They don't intend to swarm to-day, so you needn't bother any longer about it.”

”I was just laughin' at Ann, Mr. John.” Miss Sally-Lou raised her voice tentatively, that she might rivet his attention. ”Young as she is, I never see 'er without havin' 'er ax some question or other about me or somebody else marryin'.”