Page:Folks from Dixie (1898).pdf/270

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FOLKS FROM DIXIE

"Why, of co'se, Mr. Dunkin," said the elegant Alonzo, "I shell be happy to administah any instructions to you dat lies within my powah."

Mr. Taft was a perfect second edition of Major Richardson bound in black hide.

"But," he went on in a tone of dignified banter, "we shell have to keep a eye on you prosp'ous bachelors. You may be castin' sheep-eyes at Miss Callena."

"Dat 'u'd be mo' nachul an' fittener in a young man lak you," said Mr. Dunkin, deliberately.

"Oh, I has been located in my affections too long to lif' anchor now."

"You don' say," said the "prosp'ous bachelor," casting a quick glance at the speaker.

"Yes, indeed, suh."

So they chatted on, and in the course of time the deliberate Dunkin got such information as he wished, and departed in the happy consciousness that on the morrow he should do the proper and only the proper thing.

After he was gone, Alonzo Taft rubbed his chin and mused: "I wonder what ol' man Dunkin 's got in his head. Dey say he 's too

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