Part 4 (1/2)
”Must be wanting to keep them out of Aleck's way.”
At that moment the figure of a tall, lanky colored man came down a side street. The man entered the widow's cottage and received a warm welcome.
”Glad to see you, Mistah Thomas. Hopes yo' is feelin' fine this ebenin',” said the widow graciously.
”I'se come fo' to make yo' an offah,” said Mr. Thomas. ”Yo' said yo'
would mahrry me soon as I had a job. Well, I'se got de job now.”
”Is it a steady job?”
”Yes, at de stone quarry--dribin' a stone wagon.”
”How much yo' gits a week, Peter?”
”Twelve dollahs,” was the proud answer.
”Den I closes wid you,” said the widow, and allowed the suitor to embrace her.
Just then Aleck came in sight. As he saw the couple through the open door he straightened up.
”Maybe yo' didn't look fo' me around, Mrs. Taylor,” he said, stiffly.
”Oh, yes, I did, Mistah Pop,” she said, sweetly. ”But yo' see--I--dat is----” She stopped short. ”Wot's dat?” she cried.
”Wot?”
”Dat hump on yo' back?”
”Ain't no hump on my back,” answered Aleck.
”Suah da is.”
”He's got a sign on, too,” put in Peter Thomas. ”Look wot it reads, 'I hab got to hump to cotch de widow.' Hah! hah! hah! Dot's a good one.”
”Yo' needn't hump yo'self to cotch me,” cried the widow, wrathfully.
”I'se engaged to Mistah Thomas.” And she smiled on the individual in question.
Crestfallen and bewildered, Aleck felt of his back and took off his coat. He squeezed the rubber rabbit so hard that it exploded with a bang, scaring himself and the others.
”Dat's a trick on me!” roared the Rover's man, and tore the rabbit from his coat. ”Dem boys did dat!”
”I can't see yo' to-night, or any udder night, Mistah Pop,” said the widow. ”I'se engaged to Mistah Thomas.”
”Den good-night,” growled Aleck, and turning on his heel he started for home.
Tom and Sam saw that he was angry, yet they had to roar at the scene presented. They wondered what Aleck would say when he got back to the farm.