Part 33 (1/2)
Peters held up his hand. ”Ricolleck I ain't in yo' house. You told me not to darken yo' door ag'in, and I hain't. Don't overlook that fact.
And I wouldn't be here, but my app'intment has come.”
”Wall.”
”An' I go on duty day atter to-morrer. Do you know what that means?”
”I told you not long ago what it mout mean.”
”But it mout not turn out that way.”
”Shot fo' an' s...o...b..d three,” muttered the old man, his mind reverting to the story paper.
”Starbuck, is that young feller Elliott any kin to Jedge Elliott in Nashville?”
”That's for you to fin' out.”
”Wall, I didn't know, an' I come mighty nigh havin' trouble with him not long ago.”
”Yes, an' I reckon he come mighty nigh a robbin' me of a pleasure--when the time comes.”
”It was about Lou.”
”Miss Lou, you viper.”
”Oh, that's all right. Starbuck, you ricolleck I told you I had that old-fas.h.i.+oned, single-barrel cap-an'-ball pistol. Here it is.” He drew forth an old pistol.
”Peters, I'd advise you to come after me with a mo' improved weepin.”
”Oh, I'll do that an' with help from off yander, when the time comes. I ain't atter you yit. I jest wanted to give you one mo' chance. An' when I come sh.o.r.e enough, I'll fetch improved weepins. I ain't quite in my official capacity now.”
”Yo' app'intment has teached you big words.”
”Yes,” said Peters, tapping the barrel of the pistol, ”as big as the slug this thing is loaded with. My daddy told me that this here slug went through his brother's heart an' was buried in a tree. It was dug out an' now it's here--in this pistol ag'in. Jest fetched it along to remind you of the past.”
”Oh, my ricolliction is good, Peters. But I don't ricolleck how you come by that old pistol. None of yo' folks ever tuck it away from any of mine. I reckon some of yo' folks stold it outen the cou't house.”
”That's all right, Starbuck. No matter how it come, it is here. But I don't want no trouble with you, an' won't have none if you do the right an' easy thing. Raise that thousand dollars fur me. You've got it hid somewhar.”
”If I had a million I wouldn't give you a cent.”
”Mout change yo' tune befo' this thing is over with.”
”Yes,” said Jasper, ”I mout whistle a dead march.”
”Not over me,” Peters replied.
”Yes, over you.”
”You're a liar.”