The Law of the Land

the division claim agent of the Y. Y. lines, whose headquarters were situated in a squat building around which

h led out into the South, rails which even here paralleled the shores of the great river, as though dependent upon it for maintenance and g

bove the hot wharves rose the slope of close stone riprapping, fence against Father Messasebe, who now and then, in spirit of sport or of forgetfulness, reached out for his immemorial tribute of the soil. The sun was reflected from this wall down on the depot building and the wharf floor beyond. Across the water came the strumming of a banjo, and the low note of singing also arose from the rooms where workmen shuffled about with truck and hook,

art depicting the street crossings in the city of New Orleans; an engineer's elevation of a bridge somewhere on the line. Severely professional were these surroundings; as was indeed the central figure in the room, who now sat at his desk opening

Wilson," he s

dring employed himself in getting a sufficient number of chairs for this little body of visitors. Inquiries as to the health of himself and his family ensued, reciprocated politely by Eddring, who a

t down at the depot two weeks ago by the railroad kyahs. I declare, I felt so bad I sat down and cried; I couldn't get supper that day. We

that horse. Mr. Wilson drove me behind her the other day when I was down at your town.

en like, but you couldn't call it right lame. Now, Mr. Wilson didn't come up. I tol' him you was a mighty nice man and you wouldn't let a

my dear madam, you know I

hawse that's been in ouah family twenty years for any two hundred dolla

now, did we? All we wanted was to steam up there to the platform, and put off some groceries and let off a few passengers. We didn't want to kill anybody's horse. Now, I know Molly has been in your family

y dol

s just trying to be friendly. I want to feel free to come

ould do that, and only

rieved look sat o

I saw in the window down at the store this morning. I reckon I could, if I s

llars would buy them,

ls

ood judge of a horse. I want you to tell him I scorn to offer you money for this here Molly horse of yours-I scorn to do so. Mr. Wilson will make more than two hundred dollars in a day or so, the way cotton is going up this week. I just throw in this forty dollars-here is the voucher for it-so as to show you I am your friend. Now, if you ever want any shopping done up here any

n her face. On the stairway she sighed. "Well, he

me another visitor, this time a fat colored woman of mid

the claim agent, from Ms

r, Mr. Edd'ron," said the

n down at the street crossing yesterday. We sen

d'ron. Yas sah, my

Oh, p

nt dropped his own face into his hands. The weary look came back again into his eyes. At la

is morning. Here is ten dollars of my own money to help bury the boy decently. As soon as I can, I w

ased her sobbing a

Dat'll buhy him right fine, it sho' will, Mr. Edd'

and down the room, his head bent down

d see if there is any more mail. I don'

r the custom in business in that region. This time there entered the tall form of his whilom friend, Colonel Cal

ust came up to see about a little cotton

s you ought not to have any quarr

t got together half the hands I need yet. Some of my people cleaned out and we never did hear anything more of them. We've got plenty of niggers in jail down there yet;

aid Eddring. "What do you suppose started them, Colonel?

e one with brains; and not the kind of br

over at the hotel right now. Do you know, Eddring, that girl has grown up to be a plumb beauty! She's handsome enough to just scare you. Why, I never did know there was so many

nsafe thing for him to do was to see again this same Miss Lady, and yet against this decision

s that fellow Jim Hargis, from over near Jew

dog?" cri

epper-and-salt foxhound. "Do you see that dog? Well, Jim Hargis says that's the coldest-nosed ho

nt, "I reckon he neve

c look like a pot-licker if he

holler to him, while I run down stairs." And away wen

t, examining with frowning face the reflection which he witnessed. He ran a hand across the gray-tinged hair, turned up a corner of the mustache with a reflective finger, man-fashion, an

indow there came the sound of a song bird from a near- by tree; but these signs and sounds of an outdoor world John Eddring did not note. He felt nothing

these things cheap; and they say I don't buy them cheap enough-they want me to put in my whole heart, and honor, and principles. Here is my salary for the month." Pie drew the slip of paper toward him and sat looking at it

and half rose, leaning over

her head, and has had three meals a day. Well, it's made me old. I suppose I oughtn't to mind, but oh, damn everything! Damn everything, I say!" He scattered the papers with a blow of his hand, and

at length he caught the footfall. "Wh

t this salutation was as much startled as h

ught her by the han

ed, "I thought i

s. Eddring, "I didn't kn

sometimes. The fact is-we

inking of so

over the way business matters were going, and-well, the trut

y little office, which ever seemed to her poor housing for o

but I was down-town to-day, and I thought I would just drop in to see you."

been looking well la

arm still t

ust finished paying for our house, and everything is looking perfectly splendid all around. You didn't know I had a raise in my salary

or came into the faded cheeks, and the old eyes brightened. "Well, I'

are not apt to." His mother caug

man in your work." Here spoke the old South, its pride visible in the lift of the white crowned

know, in business," said he, "a f

lways chosen to

done the best I could. Now, as I was saying, I am feeling mig

y do you say 'the fact is,' and 'the

dingly difficult to lead astray. For the time she did not voice her thought, but approachi

it, mother?" said

at what you were

u see, I'

ou don't look a da

twenty-five, exactly twenty-five; and they're raising

r, smoothing down the lapel of his coat. "A rising man,

That's right. You know I'm

tell me that what you are saying to me is the truth? Just

away, that the keen eyes might not exami

, "tell me, what's the tr

He evaded once more the attack of her eyes, but again sh

, what is it? Is there a

red bravely. It was of no avail, and he kne

r, "you have not been

r happiness. "Of course I haven't. Who said I was? O, L

ed at him directly; "for of course I knew very well what was the matter.

in the face in return, and

world," said he. "But I

he? Where did you meet

't nee

ame-her famil

ily. I don't know w

oh

it's

could not

clenched hand upon the table. "Here is my world.

you did," said she. "John, tell

I? What have I to offer a girl

her arms and drew his

said she. "The

om, erect and active once more, a sudden triumph in his ca

! That isn't a good thing for a man to do. A man o

ybe it's the same as it was when I scratched my face on your breast-pin when I was a baby, when your arms w

o is of no family. Come with me. She i

is she,

her mother were over at the hotel. Could w

rs. Eddring, slowly, "and if they are friends

!"-then suddenly: "Tell me, mammy,

't a gray hair in it. Come o

raised a face flushed and conscious-looking. "The fact is, mother