FOLKS FROM DIXIE
"Dat he do, an' ca'ies huh flowahs from ol' Major Richardson's pusservatory besides, an' you ain't makin' a move."
"Ain't Mistah Taf' nevah tol' you nothin'?"
"Tol' me nothin'! No, suhree. What he got to tell me?"
"Uh huh!" said Mr. Dunkin, thoughtfully. "Well, good-night, Miss Marfy. I 's glad I seed you; but I mus' be gittin' along. I got to delibe'ate ovah dis question."
"Oh, yes; you go on an' delibe'ate, dat 's right, an' while you delibe'atin', Mistah Taf he walk off wid de lady. But 't ain't none o' my business, 't ain't none o' my business."
Mr. Dunkin deliberated as he walked down the street. Could there be any truth in Martha Madison's surmises? He had talked with Alonzo only the day before, and been assured that everything was going right. Could it be that his lieutenant was playing him false? Some suspicious circumstances now occurred to his mind. When he had spoken of going himself to see Miss Callena, he remembered now how Alonzo had insisted that he had matters in such a state that the interference of Mr. Dunkin just at that point would spoil everything. It looked
256
