University of South Carolina Libraries
t M5S MINERVA I and x fWILIJAM GREEN fflll) $y BJANCE5 BOYD CAi?O?N (CopyrUbt, by JUllly 4k W.ton Ca) Jimmy looked at that* proceeding* of BUlr*a In astonishment, not com Brihaamlai at all. Ho area rather ln allgnat that the older boy had not tn Mm and lnrltod hit par* Jimmy waa not the one to ait and be Ignorad when there In* 4otng. to he alld awk the bench before Miaa whet he waa np to. to follow, he ?wag behind Billy aui he, ? abort fat hand to tie ?rolled benignly down ig them up In hla the little boyo upon lougbt the touching Innocent and tender Id empty the pock Billy turned red at hla con a pi cu Jimmy grinned lomgregation. Miaou a half rose to leetood to remain where a timid woman What course she Besides, ehe had the Major's smile. Ions; ha we you been r*n waa anting of :e me an' Wilkee Booth born," ?naagV reaponded the orpeemtatt boy they iteered Jimmy. responding to the letter's >u, had cra??w?i ^ver her fatb fags before he realised what waa faming. She, too, went smiling no harm *t an to heat Dout the nuah an' try to th'ow folks offer the track long a a you can, but if It come to the point where you got to tell a out an'-out Oh, the say for me alwayi to tell (be truth, an' I Jeat nachelly do Liko the aay ever aence I'a born/' re? plied Bljly. fhe children twung awhile in si If nee. Presently Jimmy broke the quiet Vy remarking: Tont you all feel sorry for old If'its Pollie Bumpus? She lire all by herself, and she 'bout a million years old, and Doctor Sanford ain't never brung her no chillens 'cause she 'ain't got 'er no husban' to be their papa, and she got a octopus in her head, and she poor as a post and deaf as Job's old turkey-hen." "Job's old turkey-hen wasn't deaf," retorted Una primly; "she was very, vary poor and thin." "She was deaf, too," Insisted Jim? my, " 'cause it's in the Bible. 1 know all 'bout Job," bragged he. "I know all "bout Job, too," chirped Frances. "Job. nothing!" said Jimmy, with a sneer; **you all time talking 'bout you know an 'bout Job; you 'bout the womanlshest little girl they is. Now I know Job 'cause Miss Cecilia '?plained all 'bout him to me. He's In the Bible and he sold his birth? mark for a mess of potatoes and?" "Ton never can get anything right, Jimmy," Interrupted Una; "that was Esau and It was not his birthmark, It was his blrthstone; and he sold his birthstone for a mess of potash." "Tee." agreed Frances; "he saw Esau kissing Kate and Et au had to sell him his blrthstone to keep hie town the aisle, bar stiff white dress ?landing straight up In ths W.k Ilka g stratting gobbler's tall. She grabbed hold of the man's band, snd was promptly lifted to the tsble beside Iba other "orphans." Tears stood la the good preacher's ?yes as he turned to the tittering sndlence and said in a pathetic voice. "Think of it. way friends, this beautiful little girl hat no mother " Poor Mm. Black! A u und red pairs 4*f syss sojght hsr vew sad focused j jthemselves upon the pretty young I bman alttlng there, red, angry, and ! hamefacec Mr. Black wsa rislbly bused ani could hardly keep from laughing aloud As Frances passed by the Hamll *ona' pew la her promenade down the aisle. Urs. Utntlton leaned across her husband and made an attempt to clutch Mm; but sb was too late; already that dignified little "orphan" was gtlaing with stately, conscious tread Id jolt the others. This was too much for the audience. A few boys laughed out and for ths first time the preacher s suspicions were aroused As he clasped Line's slender, graceful little hand he saked: "And you hare no father or mother, little girir Tea, I hare, too," she angrily re? torted. MMy father and mother are alttlng right thers," and she pointed a slim forefinger to her crimson, em? barrassed parents. CHAPTER XIII. Job snd Pol Me Bumpus. "I never hare told a down-right falsehood, ssld Una. "Mother taught me how wicked It Is to tell atorles. Did you ever tell a fib to your mother, FrancosT" " 'Tain t no use to try to 'ceive my mama." was the reply of the other Mule girl; "she's got auch gimlet eyes and ears she can tell with 'em shut If you're fibbing. I gave up hope long ago. so I Just go long snd tsll her the plsln gospel truth when she asks sie. >auee I know those gimlet eyes and rare of hers 're going to wo. m It out o' me eomehow." M irown folka pin you down so close sometimes." ssld Jimmy, "you bound to 'rarlcete a little; and I always tell Ood I'm sorry. I tell my mama the truth most all time 'ceptlng when the asks quesHona 'bout things slut none of her business a tall, sad ahe all time want to know 'Wbo done It?' and If I 1st on It's ma, I kno* ahe'U wear out all the illppers snd hair? brushes they Is paddling my canoe, 'sides switches, so I Jus' say 'I do' know. m'--wh1ch ell time ain't per aactly the vruth You ever tell Mlaa Minerva ttoiles. Hilly?" "Aunt Cindy always ssys, twa'nt Coroner Flowers atated that It was mouth shut." "Mother read me all about Job," continued Lina; "he waa afflicted with bolls and bla wife knit him a Job's comforter to wrap around him, and he?" I "And be sat under a 'tato vine." | put In Frances eagerly, "what Qo.i grew to keep the sun off o* his bolls and-" "That was Jonah," said Una, "and ?t waani n potato vine; it was?" ? n;,. -r grt rnl .Tonth neither; Jonah * \ua\iM ui u waaie'e bei?" I ? ? "Frances I" "Stornmick," Frances corrected her? self, "and a whale swallow him, and how's he going to alt under a pump? kin vine when he's Inside of u whaler "It was not a pumpkin vine, it?" "And I'd Jus' like to aee a man in aide of a whale a-setting under a ?norning-glory vine.** "The whale vomlcked him up," aaid Jimmy. "What eorter thing is a octopus like what y'all say la in Mlaa Pollle Bum pus's head?" asked Billy. " Tain't a octopus, lt'a a polypus," explained Frances, " 'cause she'p named Mlaa Pollle. It's a aomeplng that grows in your noso and has to be named what you's named. She's named Miss Pollle and ahe'a got a polypua." "I'm mighty glad my mama ain't ot no Eva-pua In her head," was Jimmy's comment. "Ain't you glad, Billy, your Aunt Minerva ain't got no Mlaa Minerva pus?" "I aho' la." fervently replied Mias I Minerva's nephew; she's hard 'nough to manage now like she la." "I'm awful lood to Mlaa Pollle," aald Francea "I take her aomeplng good to eat most ev- /y day. I took her two pieces of pie this morning; 1 ate one piece on the way and bhe gimme the other piece when I got there. I Jus' don't believe she could get 'long at all 'thout me to carry her tho good 'Mnga to eat that my mama aend her; I takes her plea ?all the time, she aaya they're the best smell log ph a ahe amelt." "You 'bout the plggleat sjgffl they la," aaid Jimmy, "all time got to eat up a poor old woman's pies. You'll have a Frances-pua in your stomach flrat thing you know." "She'a got a horn that you talk th'oo," continued the HUle girl, serene? ly contemptuous of Jlromy'a adverse criticism, "and 'fore I knew how you talk Into it, ahe aAys to me ono day, llow'a your ma?* and stuck that old horn at me; ao I put It to my ear, too, And there we act; ahe got ono etid of tlM horn to her ear and 1 got tho other end tO my ear; so when I baw the first Christinas In hie eleven this wasn't going to work I took Tt and blew into It; you-all'd died a laughing to boo the way I did. But now I can talk th'oo it's good's any? body." "That Is an oar trumpet, Frances," said Lina; "it la not a horn." "Let's play 'Hide the Switch,'" sug? gested Billy. *'l m going to hide it first," cried Frances. "Naw, you ah't," objected Jimmy, "you all time got to hide the switch first. I'm going to hide it first my? self." "No, I'm going to say 'William Com Trimbleton,'" said Frances, "and see who's going to hide it first. Now you all apraddle out your fingers." CHAPTER XIV. Mr. Algernon Jones. Again it was Monday, with the Ladles Aid Society in session. Jimmy was sitting on the grass in his own front yard, in full view of Sarah Jane, who waa ironing clothes in her cabin with strict ordere to keep him at home. Billy waa in the swing in Miss Minerva's yard. "Come on over," he invited. "I can't," was the reply across the fence, "I'm ao good now I 'bout got Uglon; I reckon I'm going to be a ml8h'nary or a pol'tician, one or t'other when I'm a grown-up man 'cause I'm so good; I ain't got but five whippings this week. I been good ever since I let you 'auade me to play Injun. I'm , the goodeBt boy in this town, I 'spec'. Sometimes I get scared 'bout being so good 'cause I hear a woman say If you too good, you going to die or you ain't got no sense, once. You come on over here; you ain't trying to be good like what I'm trying, and Miss Minerva don't never do nothing a , tall to you 'cepting put you to bed." "I'd ruther to git whipped fifty hun derd times 'n to hafter go to bed in the daytime with Aunt Minerva look in' at you. An' her specs can see right th'oo you plumb to the bone. Naw, I can't come over there 'cause ahe made me promise not to. I ain't never go back on my word yit." "I hope mama won't never ask me to promise her nothing a tall, 'cause I'm mighty curious 'bout forgetting. I 'apec' I'm the most forgettingest little boy they la. But I'm so glad I'm so good. I ain't never going to be bad no more; so you m*ght just aa well quit begging me to* come over and awing, you needn't ask me no more,? 'tain't no uae a lall." "I ain't a-begging you," cried Billy contemptuously, "you can set on yo' mammy's grass where you Is, an' be good from now tell Je^^ment ? *t won't make no change in my busi? ness." "1 ain't going to te 'tlced into no meanness, 'cause I'm so good," con? tinued the reformed one, after a short alienee during which he had seen Sarah Jane turn her back to him, ?;but I don't b'lieve It'll be no harm Jua' to come over and set in the awing with you; maybe I can 'fluence you to be good like me and keep you from 'tlclng little boys into mischief. I think I'll Just come over and aet a while and help you to be good," and he started to tho fence. Sarah Jan-> turned around in time to frustrate his 1 plans. "You git right hack, Jimmy," she yelled, "you git erway f'om dat-ar fence an' quit confabbin' wid dat-ar Willyum. Fixin' to make some mo' Injuns out o* yo-aelfa, ain't yeh, or aome yuther kin* o' akeercrowa?" Billy strolled to the other side of the big yard and climbed up and got on the tall gate post. A stranger, coming from the opposite direction, stopped and spoke to him. "Does Mr. John Smith live here?" he Hkked. j "Naw, sir," was the reply; "dbn't no Mr. 'tall live here; jest me ari' Aunt Minerva, an' ahe turns up 1 r nose at nnythini^ that v :ars pan at" "And where coul ; I find your Aunt j Minerva?" the stranger's grii was in- j gratiating and egTe< able. "Why, this here's Monday." the lit? tle boy exclaimed. "Of course she's | at the Aid; all the 'omana rouu' here goes to the Aid on Monday." "Your aunt is an old friend of mine," went on the man, "and 1 knew she was at the Aid. I just wanted to find out if you'd tell the truth about her. Some little boys tell stories, but I am glad to find out you are so truth? ful. My name is Mr. Algernon Jones and I'm glad to know you. Shake! Put it there, partner," and the fasci? nating atranger held out a grimy paw. Billy smiled down from his perch at him and thought he had never met auch a pleaaant man. If he waa such an old friend of nls aunt's maybe she would not object to him be< use he wore pants, he tho'v^ht. Maybe she might be persuaded to take Mr. Jones for a husband. Hilly almo' loped that she would hurry horn* i m the Aid, he wanted to see the tw 'ogeth er bo. "Is you much of a cuBser* t 1 solemnly, " 'cause If you Ii you'll hafter cut it out on these premises." Mr. Jones seemed much Burprised and hurt at the question. "An onth never passed these llpa," replied tho truthful gentleman. "Can you churn?" "Churn?churn?" with a reminis? cent smile "I can churn like a top." Jimmy was dying of curiosity, but the gate was too far away for him to do more than catch a word now and then. It was also out of Sarah Jane's visual lino, so she knew nothing of tho stranger's advent. "And you're hero all by yourself?" I insinuated BUly'l new friend. "And ' the folks next door, where are they?" I "Mrs. Onrner's at tho Aid, an' Mr. ?. tri In offl< a tii it he did not hai i Garner's gone 10 Memphis. That Is they little boy a-settln' in they yard on they grass," answered the child. "I've come to fix your Aunt Miner? va's water pipe," said the truth-loving Mr. Jones. "Come, show me the way; I'm the plumber." "In the bath room?" asked the child. "I didn't know it needed no nxlnV He led the agreeable plumber through the hall, down the long back porch to the bath room, remarking: "I'll jeB' watch you work." And he i seated himself In the only chair. Here Is where Billy received one of greatest surprises of his life. The fascinating stranger grabbed him with a rough hand and hissed: "Don't you dare open your mouth or I'll crack your head open and scat ter your brains. I ll eat you alive." I The fierce, bloodshot eyes, which had seemed so laughing and merry before, now glared into those of the little boy as the man took a stout cord from hiR pocket, bound Billy to the chair and gagged him with a large bath towel. Energetic Mr. Jones took the key out of the door, shook his fist at the child, and went out, and locked the door behind him. Jimmy seeing no hope of eluding Sarah Jane's vigilance, resorted to strategy and deceit. " 'Tain't no fun setting out here," he called to her, "so I'm going in the house and take a nap." i She wllingly consented, as she wae through with her ironing and thoughi to snatch a few winks of sleep her? self. The little boy s!ipi>od quietly through the house, noiselessly across the back yard and into his father's big gar? den, which was separated from that of his neighbor by a high board fence. He quickly climbed the fence, flew across Misi Minciva's tomato patch and tiptoed up her back stops to the back porch, his little bare feet giving no sign of his presence. Hearing cu rtotts noises coming from the bath room. \vh?re Billy wr;s bumping the chair up an \ down In his efforts to re? lease his r.iouth, he made for that spot, promptly unlocked the door and walked in. B?ly by scuffling and tug? ging had freed his mouth from the towel that bound it at that mo? ment. "Hush!" he whispered as Jimmy opened the door, "you'll get eat up alive If you don't look out." His tone was so mysterious and thrilling and he looked so scared tied to the chair that the younger boy's blood almost froze in his veins. "What .you doing all tied up so?" he asked, in low, frightened tones. "Mr. Algernon Jones done it. I spec' he's a 1 obber an' is jes' a-rob berin* right now," answered Billy. "I'll untie you," said his chum. "Xaw; you better not," said Billy bravely. "He might git away. You leave me jes' like he fixed me so's you can try to ketch him. I hear him in the dinli room now. You leave nit> right hu re an' step over to yo* house an' phone to some mens to come and git him quick. Shet the do' ug'in an' don't make no noise. Fly, now!" And Jimmy did fly. He again took the garden routo and in a minute was at the telephone with the receiver to his ear. "Hello! Is that you, Miss Central? This is me," he howled into the trans? mitter. "Gimme Miss Minerva's beau. I don't know his number, but he's got a office over my papa's bank." His father being out of town, the little boy shrewdly decided that Miss Minerva's beau was the next best man to help capture the robber. "Miss Minerva what lives by me," lup shrieked. Fortunately Central recognized his childish voice and was willing to hu? mor him, so as she too knew Miss Minerva's beau tho connection was quickly made. "Hello! Is that you, major? This is mo. If you don't want Mr. Alger? non Jones to ho robbering everything Miss Minerva's got you getter got a , movo on and come right this minute. Ton got to hustle and bring 'bout a million pistols and guns and swords | and tomahawks ami all the mans you | can And and dogs. He's the fiercest j robbor ever was, and he's already ; dono tie Billy to tho bath room chair and dono eat up 'bout a million cold biscuits, I spec'. All of us is 'bout to be slowed. Qoodby." The plump, round gentleman at the other end of the wire heard this amaz? ing message In the utmost confusion to hold Inquest ?>r investigation, and consternation. He frantically fang the telephone again and again but could get no answer from the Gar? ner's home so he put on his hat and walked the short distance to Miss Mi? nerva's house. Jimmy was waiting to receive him at the front gate, having again eluded Sarah Jane's vigilance. "Hush!" he whispered mysterious? ly, "he's in the dining room. Ain't you bringed nobody else? Get your pistol and come on." Mr. Algernon Jones, feeling safe and secure for the next hour and hav? ing partaken of a light lunch, was in the act of transferring some silver spoons from the sideboard to his pock? ets when a noise at the dining room door caused him to look in that di? rection. With an oath he sprang for? ward, and landed his fist upon the nose of a plump gentleman standing there, bringing a stream of blood and sending him sprawling to the floor. Mr. Jones overturned a big-eyed little boy who was in his way, and walk? ing rapidly in the direction of the rail? road, the erstwhile plumber was seen no more. Jimmy quickly recovered himself and sprang to his feet. Seeing the blood streaming down the white shirt front of Mfss Minerva's unconscious beau, he gathered his wits together and took the thread of events again into hi^ wn Mttle rwnds. He flung hl?i?? ft r t v LfLce careless of Sarah Jane this time, mounted a chair and once more rang the telephone. "Hello! Is that you, Miss Central? This is me some more. Gimme Dr. Sanford's office please." "Hello! Is that you, doctor? This Is me. Mr. Algernon Jones done kilt Miss Minerva's beau. He's on her back porch bloody all over. He's "bout the deadest man they is. You'd better come toreckly you can and bring the hearse, and a coffin and a clean shirt i and a tombstone. He's wounded me j but I ain't dead yet. Goodby." Dr. Sanford received Jimmy's crazy message in astonishment. He, too, rang the telephone again and again, but could hear nothing more, so he walked down to Miss Minerva's house and rang the door bell. Jimmy open? ed the door and- led the way to the back porch, where the injured man, who had Just recovered consciousness, was sitting limply in a chair. "What does all this mean? Are you hurt?" asked the doctor as he exam? ined Mr. Jones* victim. "No, I think I'm all right now," was the reply; "but that scoundrel certain- j ly gave me a severe blow." Billy, shut up in the bath room and listening to all the noises and confu- j soin, had been scared nearly out of hla j senses. He had kept still as a mouse till now, when thinking he heard friendly voices he yelled out: "Open i the do' an' untie me." I "We done forgot Billy," said the little rescuer, as he ran to the bath room door and opened it. He was followed by the doctor, who cut the cords that bound the prisoner. "Now, William," commanded Dr. Sanford, as they grouped themselves around the stout, plump gentleman in tho chair, "begin at the beginning, and let us get at the bottom of this." "Mr. Algernon Jones he come to the gate," explained the little boy, "an' he say ho goin' to fix the water pipe an' he say he's a plumber. He's a very 'greouble man, but I don't want Aunt Minerva to marry him, now. I was plump tickled at him an' I tuck him to the bath room an' fust thing 1 knowed ho grabbed holter me an shuck me liko what you see a cat do a mouse, an' he say?" "And he'd more'n a million whis? kers," interrupted Jimmy, who thought Billy was receiving too rauch attention, "and he??" "One at a tinio," said the doctor. "Proceed, William." "An" ho say he'll bust my brains out? er my head if I holler, an' I ain't II? goln' to holler neither, an' If tie me to a chair an' tie my mouth up an' a showing th.it ought to be pleasing ?ock the do*? "And I corned over," said Jimmy, eagerly, "and I run home and I see Mr. Algernon Jones is a robber an' I 'phoned to Miss Minerva's beau, and if he'd brunged what I tolled him, he wouldn't never got cracked in the fac? like Mr. Algernon Jones done crack him, and Billy got to all time let rob? bers in the house so they can knock mans and little boys down." "While you stand talking here the scoundrel will get away," said the in? jured man. "That's so," agreed Dr. Sanford, "so I'll go and find the sheriff." Sarah Jtne's huge form loomed up In the back hall doorway, and she grabbed Jimmy by the arm. "Yaas," she cried, "you gwlne take you a nap is yuh, yuh 'celtful caterpil? lar. Come on home dis minute." "Lemme go, Sarah Jane," protest? ed the little boy trying to Jerk away from her, "I got to stay here and Dertec' Billy and Miss Minerva's beau, cause they*s a robber might come back and tie 'em up an* make 'em bleed if I ain't here." "Did Mr. Algernon Jones make all that blood?" asked the awe-atricken little boy gazing in admiration at the victim of Mr. Jones' energy. "You 6ho' is a hero to stan' up an' let him knock you down like he done." "Yes," cried Jimmy, as the black woman dragged him kicking and strug? gling through the hall, "we's all he? roes, but. I bet I'm the heroest hero they is, and I bet Miss Minerva's go? ing to be mad 'bout you all spilling all that blood on her nice clean floor." "Lemme see yo' big toe what was shot off by all them Yankees and In? juns what you killed in the war," said Billy to Miss Minerva's beau. The major smiled at the little boy; a man-to-man smile, full of good com? radeship, humor and understanding. Billy's little heart went out to him at once. "I can't take off my shoes at present," said the veteran. "Well, I must be go? ing; i feel all right now." Billy looked at him with big, sol? emn eyes. "You couldn't never go 'thout yo' pants, could you?" he asked, " 'cause Aunt Minerva jest nachelly despises pants." The man eyed him quizzically. "Well, no; I don't think I could," he replied: "I don't think I'd look any better In a Mother Hubbard or a ki? mono." The little boy eighed. "Which you think is the flttenest name," asked he, "Billy or William?" "Billy, Billy," enthusiastically came the reply. "I like mens," said William Green Hill. "I 8ho' wisht' you could cos?B and live right here with me and Aii^K Minerva." "I wish so, too," said the major CHAPTER XV. Btily, the Credulous. Af?er the advent and disappear^ ice of the exciting Mr. Jones, Miss Mi? nerva, much to Billy's Joy, had a tele? phone put in the house. He sat in the hall the day it was put In waiting for it to ring. Jimmy, coming up on the front porch and through the half-open door and seeing him sitting there, rang the door bell Just for a joke, ready to burst into a laugh when the other little boy turned around and ss.w who it was. Billy, however, In his eagerness mistook the ring for the telephone tell and joyfully climbed up on the chair, which he had stationed in readiness. He took down the re? ceiver as he had seen Jimmy do in his home, and, without once seeing that little boy standing a few feet from him, he yelled at the top of his lungs: "Hollo! Who is that?" ??This is Marie Yarbrough," replied Jimmy from the doorway, Instantly recognizing Billy's mistake. Marie Yarbrough was a Ufttl* B*rl much admired by the two boys, as she bad a pony and a cart of her very own. However, she lived in a different part of the town and attended another Sun? day school, so they had no speaking acquaintance with her. "I jus' wanted to talk to you," went on the counterfeit Marie, stifling a laugh and trying to talk like a girl. "I think ycu're 'bout the sweetest lit? tle boy there is and I want you to come to my party." "I sho' will," screamed the gratified Billy, "if Aunt Mlnerva'U lemme. What makes you talk so much like Jimmy?" "Who??that little old Jimmy Gar? ner? I hope I don't talk like that chicken; he's 'bout the measliest boy that is and I like you 'nother sight better'n him. You're a plumb jim dandy, Billy," came from the door? way. "So's you." howled back the delight? ed and flattered Billy. Jimmy thought he would pop wide open in hla efforts to K?>ep from laughing. "How'd you like to be ray sweet? heart?" he asked. "I's already promised to marry Miss Cecilia when I puts on long pants, but if we ever gets a vorce I'd 'nother sight ruther have you n anybody. You can be my lady frien', anyhow," was the loud reply. "I'm coming for you to go riding in my little pony and cart," said a gig? gling Jimmy. "All right, I's going to ask Aunt Mi? nerva to lemme go. Can't we take Jimmy, too?" This was too much for the little boy. He had held himself in as long as possible. He burst into a peal of laughter so merry and so loud that Billy, turning quickly, almost fell out of the chair. "What you dorn', a-llstenlng to me talk to Marie Yarbrough th'oo the tel? ephone?" ho questioned angrily. "Mario you pig's foot," waa the In to Bumter County citlaens.