The All-Story, March 1914 — page 168: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE DEVIL AND DR. inc Ike Jackson to impart, it was cer- tain to be entertaining. Sain also had been long aware of something uncanny about the found- lng. Fis suspicions, thitherto form- less, had been crystallizing since the in- cident in the sheep pasture. He had | and he knew he had shot atraishit, * You mean Uncle Pete s boy, Ike, parson?” he asked, therefore, by way of leading his caller on. “Tt is he to whom I refer,” the dergvman replied with impressive solemnity. “ Iam sorry to say it, Sam- uel, but | have grave reasons for sus- pecting that Ike Jackson is—’ ‘\. tremendous clatter in the yard drowned his voice. On its heels the boy in question burst open the door and rushed 1n. “Twas hurrying, so I knocked over the milk pails,” he explained. “SI was sent for Dr. Foster.” “What is it?’ demanded both men, struck by the signals of urgency the lad few. And the clergyman added: “Is Mrs. Coppins worse?” “No, it’s Necessity.” said Ike. “Ny mare Necessity? Has she met with an accident? This is Fndeeti griev- ous news!” exclaimed Dr. Foster. “No, it ain't that neither. Can’t you let me talk? I was coming through the pasture just now and she run up to me and said there was something she wanted to tell Dr. Foster quick. You'd better hurry.” ' “ Something she wanted to tell me?” A light of gratified comprehension broke on the clergyman’s face. ‘“* Ah, that is very good, very good, indeed, Ichabod. Did she give you any reasons tor haste?” “Said she might forget it if you didn’t come right away. So I didn’t sop to talk with her. That’s all I know,” the boy concluded. “T shall lose no time. Thank you, Ichabod.” and Dr. Foster was gone. Sam Tupper, who had listened to this conversation with deepening bewilder- ment, turned an angry face on the lad. Ir § FOSTER. 641 “Tke Jackson, what's this foolish- ness you're talking about the old mare sending for the parson, hey?” « She did, \[r. Tupper—honest she did,” affirmed Ike. “She said: ‘£ Re- quest that he lose no time.’ ” “But animals can’t talk,” the other declared, though the direct quotation, sO different fron Ike’s daily inter- course, was of itself convincing. “ Why, yes, they can, Mr. Tupper,” replied the boy. ‘* All animals can talk. That there ram could if he wanted to. Couldn’t you, Bucyrus? ” “I should smile,” replied Bucyrus, rolling an eye at Sam. The ijatter turned from one to the other in amazement. He was unable to make head or tail of the affair, and Ike was sorely tempted to carry the joke farther. Just now, however, he had something of serious consequence on hand, which forbade levity. “Say, Mr. Tupper,” he said, “I couldn't help hearing the parson asking you for that spruce over on the Higley lot to build him a new church with.” “Of course vou couldn't, Ike, when you were listening at the window,” Sain rejoined. “ What of it?” “ Don’ t you give it to him, Mr. Tup- per.” the hoy advised. Sam’s breath was almost taken away by the impudence of this nameless foundling in projecting himself into his affairs. Uf anything more had been needed to carry Dr, Toster’s cause, this was effective. “Why, you—you litth—what do you mean, Ike Jackson, by talking that way to me’” he sputtered. “ A man old enough to be your father!” “ That’s all right, Mr. Tupper,” the boy continued, unperturbed. “I know things that you don’t. Besides, Oxville don’t need no church.” “Don’t need a church? Now, you tell me what you've come here talking that way for, or I'll tan your hide, Peter Jackson or no Peter Jackson.” As he spoke he twisted a strong hand into the lad’s collar, and was impressed again, as he had been before, by the dif- COomicdooks.€©