Part 24 (2/2)

”Jasper,” said his wife, ”I wouldn't make light of it.”

”Light of it! Why, I couldn't make light of anything so heavy.”

”Father,” said Lou, ”the bees have swarmed and settled on the peach tree.”

”That so? Why, I thought thar was honey in the air. Come on Jim an' help me hive 'em. Won't take but a minit.” Jim began to roll up his sleeves.

”Oh,” protested the old man, ”I don't want you to preach to 'em. Ma'm,”

he continued, addressing Mrs. Mayfield, ”he always goes at 'em with his sleeves rolled up, and, I gad, he fetches 'em.”

Jim strove to explain to Mrs. Mayfield, but Jasper pulled at him.

”That's all right, Jim, she understands. Come on, or them bees might fly away. Come on, I tell you. Ma'm take yo' eye offen him so he kin come on. Thar, I thank you,” he said, bowing, when Mrs. Mayfield looked in another direction. ”Thankee, ma'm an' ef I had a eye as fetchin' as your'n I could haul wood with it. Come on, Jim.” He drew the preacher out of the house, and Margaret said to Mrs. Mayfield: ”Don't let Jasper fret you, ma'm.”

”Oh, no, Mrs. Starbuck, to me he is an old time story book, ill.u.s.trated.”

”My father fret anybody?” cried Lou. ”How could he?”

”Why don't you say I couldn't fret anybody,” Tom broke in, and looking sweetly at him she innocently inquired, ”Could you?”

At the corner of the fence Jasper and Jim halted. They had just seen Peters enter the house. ”Howdy,” said the ruffian, entering the room. ”I 'lowed I mout find Starbuck here.”

”It would be safer for you to meet him where other folks are,” Lou spoke up and Peters bowed mockingly.

”Mars Peters,” said Mammy, ”please don't bother Mars Jasper, he's er gittin' old.”

And toward the poor old creature the ruffian turned with a scowl. ”Shut up, you old fool.”

”Why, Mr. Peters,” they all of them cried, and at that moment Jasper and Jim came into the room. ”Peters,” said the old man, ”this woman nursed me. My mammy died an' left me to her, an' as a little baby she was the only mother I knowed. My grandaddy built this house, an' that door was opened by him an' never has been shut, an' anybody comin' along that road was always welcome to come in. But thar is one man that must never darken it ag'in.” He took out his watch and looking at it, continued: ”I'll give you jest one minit, Peters.”

The ruffian looked at a gun standing in the corner; looked at Jasper holding the watch; looked at the women, who in disgust turned their faces from him; looked at the door, and clearing his throat, walked out.

”Sometimes, ma'm” said Jasper speaking to Mrs. Mayfield, ”the laziest man ain't got no time to stay no longer.”

”Well, I wouldn't make light of it,” remarked Margaret.

”No lighter than I can help. I reckon we'd better eat a snack an' then Jim, you may preach to them bees.”

CHAPTER XIV.

AN OLD MAN PREACHED.

Several days pa.s.sed and Peters was seen no more about the Starbuck place, but the old man knew that the scoundrel had not surrendered his scheme, but merely was lying low, waiting for his appointment as deputy marshall. Such an office was not hard to get. The danger attending it often made material scarce, for higher among the hills where the rebellious spirit of man had never failed to gaze with defiant contempt into the eye of the law, the distiller's blood smeared the rock and the deputy, if not taken away by friends, was left to the buzzard. So, whether or not trouble was on the road to meet old Jasper, depended upon a piece of paper, to be written and stamped in the capital of the State.

But something else soon arose to claim the sympathetic attention of the household.

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