Page:Folks from Dixie (1898).pdf/275

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DELIBERATION OF MR. DUNKIN

Johnson was, to Miltonville, by jes' havin' a school, I wo'ks to have de school."

"Oh, dat 's de reason you commence to tek sich a int'rus', huh!" The expression slipped from Alonzo's lips.

"Don' narrow me down, Mistah Taf', don' narrow me down! Dat was one o' de reasons. Howsomevah, we has de school an' Miss Callena is hyeah. So fa' my wo'k is good. But I 'low dat no man dat ain't experunced in cou'tin' ort to tek de 'sponsibility alone."

"Of co'se not!" said Alonzo.

"So I t'ought I'd ax you to he'p me by drappin' roun' to Miss Callena's 'casionally an' puttin' in a word fu' me. I unnerstan' dat women-folks laks to hyeah 'bout de man dat 's cou'tin' dem, f'om de outside. Now, you kin be of gret suhvice to me, an' you won't lose nothin' by it. Jes' manage to let Miss Callena know 'bout my propity, an' 'bout my hogs an' my hosses an' my chickens, an' dat I 's buyin' mo' lan'. Drap it kind o' delikit lak. Don' mention my name too often. Will you he'p me out dat-away?"

"W'y, co'se I will, Mr. Dunkin. It'll gi'

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