nd sewers an' become
an independent community, instead o' layin' back on other folks!"

"How about all them churches you been buildin' all over them mountains--air
they self-sustainin'?"

"Well, they do need a little help now and then." The judge grunted.

Through the morning many cards were brought the Pope, but the doctors
allowed no business. To amuse himself the Pope sent the judge into the
sitting-room to listen to the million-dollar project of one sleek young
man, and the judge reported:

"Nothin' doin'--he's got a bad eye."

"Right," said the Pope. At twelve o'clock the judge looked at his watch:

"Dinner-time." And the Pope ordered his old mountain friend cabbage,
bacon, and greens.

"Judge, I got to sleep now. I've got a car down below. After dinner you
can take a ride or you can take a walk."

"You can't git me into a automobile an' I'm afeard to walk. I'd git run
over. I'll jus' hang aroun'."

Another telegram was brought in.

"Runnin' easy an' winnin' in a walk," said the Pope. "It's a cinch. You
can open anything else that comes while I'm asleep."

The judge himself had not slept well on the train; so he took off his
boots, put his yarn-stockinged feet in one chair, and sitting up in
another took a nap. An hour later the Pope called for him. The last
telegram reported that he was so far ahead that none others would be
sent until the committee started to count ballots.

"I've made you an executor in my will, judge," he said, "an' I want you
to see that some things are done yourself." The judge nodded.

"I want you to have a new church built in Happy Valley. I want you
to give St. Hilda and that settlement school five thousand a year.
An'"--he paused--"you know ole Bill Maddox cut me out an' married
Sally Ann Spurlock--how many children they got now, judge?"

"Ten--oldest, sixteen."

"Well, I want you to see that every gol-durned one of 'em gits the
chance to go to school."

Now, old Bill Maddox was running against the Pope, and was fighting
him hard, and the judge hated old Bill Maddox; so he said nothing.
The Pope too was silent a long while.

"Judge, I got all my money out o' the mountain folks. I robbed 'em
right and left."

"You ain't never robbed nobody in Happy Valley," said the judge a
little grimly, and the Pope chuckled.

"No, you wouldn't let me. I got all my money from 'em an' do you know
what I'm goin' to do?"

"Git some more, I reckon."

[Illustration]

The Pope chu