"Oh,  Alfred!"  she  called,  "come  out,  quick!  I've
got  news  fer  you — big,  big  news!"

She  heard  him  grumbling  as  he  emptied  some  ears
of  corn  into  the  trough  of  the  stall  containing  Alan's
favorite  horse,  and  then  with  a  growl  he  emerged  into
the  starlight.
"That  fool  nigger  only  give  Alan's  hoss  six  ears
o'  corn,"  he  fumed.  "  I  know,  beca'se  I  counted  the
cobs ;  the  hoss  had  licked  the  trough  clean,  an'  gnawed
the  ends  o'  the  cobs.  The  idea  o'  starvin'  my  stock
right  before  my — "

"Oh,  Alfred,  what  do  you  think  has  happened?"  his
wife  broke  in.  "We've  got  the  bank  money  back!
Pole  Baker  managed  somehow  to  get  it.  He's  goin'
to  tell  about  it  now.  Come  on  in!"

Bishop  closed  the  door  behind  him ;  he  fumbled  with
the  chain  and  padlock  for  an  instant,  then  he  moved
towards  her,  his  lip  hanging,  his  eyes  protruding.
236


Abner   Daniel

"  I'll  believe  my  part  o'  that  when — *

"But,"  she  cried,  opening  the  gate  for  him  to  pass
through,  "the  money's  thar  in  the  house  on  the
table;  it's  been  counted.  I  say  it's  tharl  Don't  you
believe  it?"

The  old  man  moved  through  the  gate  mechanically.
He  paused  to  fasten  it  with  the  iron  ring  over  the  two
posts.  But  after  that  he  seemed  to  lose  the  power  of
locomotion.  He  stood  facing  her,  his  features  work
ing.
