Horton does, he can't beat that, for we'll have our
forces--part of 'em, any way--drawn up in battle array before the
Land Office doors when they open at seven o'clock. We won't need to
hurry to do it, either. We'll have time to brush up and eat our
breakfasts like a couple of Christians after we get there."

"Had I better take the money with me?" Jessie asked.

"Certainly, all you can rake and scrape."

Jessie laughed gleefully; it was evident that Joe had not told Mr.
Wilson of his recent financial transaction. When Jessie told him, he
got up--the colt had been tied at the gate and we were all within
doors again, in spite of Mr. Wilson's first entreaty to Jessie to "get
right in"--crossed the room and held out his hand to the old negro.

"Shake, friend!" As Joe, rather reluctantly, I thought, for he was a
shy old man, laid his black hand in Mr. Wilson's clasp, the latter
continued: "I reckon I know a man when I see one, be he white or
black, and I tell you I'm proud to have the chance of shaking hands
with you!"

Joe, furtively rubbing the hand that he had released--for, in
his earnestness, Mr. Wilson had evidently given it a telling
pressure--hung his head, and responded, sheepishly: "I reckons I'se
be a whole Noah's A'k full of animals ef dish yer sort ob t'ing gwine
keep on. Miss Leslie, she done call me a angel, and now yo' done says
I'se a man. Kine o' ha'd on a ole feller like me, hit is!"

Mr. Wilson laughed good-humoredly.

"You're all right, Joe; we won't talk about it. And now, how is Miss
Jessie to get the money?"

"I'se gwine draw a check on de bank in Fa'hplay to cobber de whole
'posit," returned Joe, with dignity; "I done axed the cashier 'bout
hit, an' he tole me w'at ter do. He gin me some papers w'at he called
blanket checks, an' tole me how to fill 'em out. I'se done been
keepin' ob 'em safe." In proof of which statement Joe drew an
old-fashioned leather wallet from an inner pocket of his ragged coat,
undid the strap with which it was bound, and, opening it, carefully
extracted therefrom two or three bits of paper, that a glance sufficed
to show were blank checks on the First National Bank of Fairplay.
While he was getting the checks out another paper, loosely folded and
yellow with age, slipped from the wallet, falling to the hearth. As it
fell there slid from its loose folds a soft curl of long, bright hair,
of the exact hue of little Ralph's. Stooping, Jessie picked up the
shining tendri