he entered the kitchen, and
told her that she had better send him about his business at once, as he
was a most unprofitable servant. But Mrs. Jukes only laughed, and
ordered him to sit down to the table and eat his breakfast, which she
had kept waiting for him.

"You deserve to sleep all day," she said, "after what you did last
night. I have cooked the biggest fresh egg I could find for your
breakfast as your reward."

"So Jake has told you all about it, has he?"

"Oh, yes, he told me everything this morning, and he's gone to the
store to get me some starch. But he went really to hear the news.
He's anxious to know if the word has got abroad, and what people are
saying about it. They generally meet at the store when anything of
importance is to be talked about. I guess all the men go to get
starch," she added with a twinkle in her eyes.

Jake returned from the store before Douglas had finished his breakfast,
and laid the package of starch upon the table.

"What's the news this morning?" his wife asked, noting the disappointed
look upon his face.

"Nuthin'," was the disgusted reply. "Not a soul in the store but the
clerk."

"Isn't that strange?" his wife questioned.

"Naw, not strange when ye come to think it over. Them night prowlers
wouldn't say a word; they're too dam scairt an' ashamed of themselves.
An' as fer Ben, why he'll be as close as a clam."

"What happened to the daily paper, or the special news agent, I should
say?" Douglas asked.

"Who's that?"

"Empty, of course."

"Oh, I fergot him," and Jake laughed. "I guess he overslept himself
this mornin'. But he'll be on his job before night, though, never
fear."

"Who is the Justice of the Peace in this place?" Douglas asked, as he
pushed back his chair from the table.

"Justice of the Peace!" Jake vaguely repeated. "I don't know of any
sich person in this parish."

"Yes, you do," his wife replied. "It's Squire Hawkins."

"The storekeeper?" Douglas queried.

"The very same."

"Does he ever try cases?"

"Try cases!" and Jake rubbed his unshaven chin, while a smile lurked
about the corners of his mouth. "I guess the only cases he tries are
the boxes which come into his store."

"But isn't he called upon to decide questions, such as disputes, and
other matters which arise in almost every parish?"

"Never heard of him doin' sich things. Si Stubbles does all that."

"Is he a Justice of the Peace?"

"Oh, no, but he looks af