tough as dried beef; so I
swopped for a mighty likely nag."

"Have you looked at yo' swop to-day?"

"Yes, seed him a standin' out in the lot."

"Didn't see him walk, I reckon."

"No, was a tradin' licker for hounds at the time an' didn't stir him up;
an' when I come away jest now he was off in the pasture somewhar. Didn't
know but you mout want him."

"Ah, hah, an' in the hope that I do I reckon you've got a nigger
astradle of him stirrin' the spavin outen his j'int, hain't you?"

"Wall, reckon I better bid you good day," said the post-master, turning
to go, and as he did old Jasper's laughter and Margaret's contempt
followed him. "Got cheated hisse'f an' now he wants to come over an'
cheat you," she said.

"Yes," the old man replied, "but tain't no mo' than natral. I don't hold
it much ag'in a man when he tries to cheat me. It's the old Adam a
b'ilin' up in him."

"It didn't uster be thatter way in the good old times," she remarked,
and scratching his head he replied: "Yes, it did, or worse. Away back
they'd knock you on the head or stick a knife in you an' take what you
had. Now they cheat you without knockin' you down, an' that is a
improvement."

He was becoming too philosophical to suit Margaret, and she told him
that he did not seem to realize the loss of his daughter. "Don't I?
Wall, jest say the word an' I'll set down on a stump an' cry."

"Yes, but you wouldn't cry if it was me that was gone. Oh, anybody's
goin' would put you out mo' than mine, an' you was jest achin' for a
chance to show me."

"Then if you have give me the chance I must thank you for bein' so
accommodatin'. But I wish you wouldn't worry me now, Margaret. In one
respeck the goin' away of the folks was a blessin' fur the trouble that
has been a threatenin' for some time is shorely a comin.' Don't nag
me."

"Do I bother you, Jasper, an' trouble a comin' too? Well, I won't. I
wonder if I ain't as mean as I can be."

"No, you're all right. An' it must be me that's as mean as a old dog a
layin' in the corner of the fence with a bone. If I know'd how I'd go
an' meet that trouble. Thar ain't nuthin' much wuss then to set down an'
wait fur it to come sore-footed along the road, a lookin' fur you."

"But you won't do nuthun' outen the way, will you Jasper?"

"Nuthin'. I've shown all along that I was tryin' to keep out of a
diffikilty. Wall, I'll walk on around the place--by myse'f, Margaret,
fur I want to think."

He went slowly aw