me er grindin' de co'n he gwine put er lot o' holes th'u'
me. I doan want ter look like no sifter."

Jasper arose, put down his lapboard, shut his knife and with a serious
air said to the old darkey. "I'm here to protect, you, Kintchin."

"Yas, suh, but you mout do de most o' yo' pertectin' atter I'se dun
dead."

"Wall, atter you're dead it won't make any difference."

"N--n--no, suh, dat's er fack. I hadn't thought o' dat. Funny how sich
er 'po'tent p'int will come ter er man w'en he neber did think o' it
befo', ain't it?"

"Don't you worry. You air safe enough."

"Safe ernuff? I doan know whut you calls safe ernuff. You mout feel
like you's safe ernuff ez long ez you ain't lost bof laigs an' er arm or
two, but dat sort er safe doan suit me."

"I give you my word, an' you know whut that means."

"Yas, suh, I knows all 'bout dat, but er word kain't stop er bullet."

Over to the old negro he slowly walked and gently put his hand on his
shoulder: "My word can, old man--mine has, an' I will protect you with
my life."

"Yas, suh, an' I'll stay, but ef I gits killed I gwine hol' you
'sponsible. Mark whut I tells you." He turned to go and at that moment
Peters entered the room. The negro quickly shambled to get out of his
way, and halted in the door.

"Starbuck," said the visitor, "thought I'd drap over to see you ag'in.
And whut's that nigger always hangin' round fur when I want to talk to
you?"

"Lives here, don't he?"

"That ourt ter settle it but, I lay it won't," muttered the negro,
standing in the door. Peters turned toward him with the remark:

"That vote they give you don't count for much."

"No, suh, not till da counts it."

"Shut up."

"Yas, suh, dat's whut I's er doin' jest ez fast ez I kin."

"Peters," said Starbuck, "I don't like to ask a man his business when
he's in my house."

"I reckon business is the right word, Starbuck," and moving closer to
Kintchin he demanded: "Somebody got a mortgage on yo' feet so you can't
move 'em?"

"Wha'fo'?" replied the negro, ducking his head.

"You keep on a standin' thar when you see I want to talk to Starbuck."

"W'y, bless yo' life, you's so entertainin' I kain't hardly t'ar myse'f
loose. Wheneber you talks it puts me in de min' o' er fiddle."

"But it don't make you move yo' feet, you scoundrel."

"No, suh, ef I moved my feet when de fiddle wuz gwine folks would think
I wuz er dancin' an' da'd turn me outen de church, an' I doan want 'em
ter