Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

ODD AND BEAUTIFUL. closure notice that he was insulted with in there, too—in the other compartment in the same envelope—for company, he says. An’ he’s goin’ to put that money and the docu- ment together right up to the judge over at the county-seat; he’s aimin’ to stop that mortgage sale by law.” | '“ Tt would be the first time the Palleys and the Blalocks ever went to law,” said Nancy gently. ‘ And the feud has lasted—”’ “Long enough,” Tom decided. ‘It won’t live into our generation. We're the only kids, and yo’-all a girl—so skippin’ us I reckon the next generation will see both sides of that old feud incorporated into one.”’ She laughed in quiet sympathy. turned serious. “TI can’t believe in this all-time fighting with a man’s own townfolks, Nancy. Used to could; can’t now. Oh, I can kill all right ‘myself when there’s an ocean ‘tween me an’ Caroliny—but not my home folks any more.” His tone “ You're wonderfully changed, Tom, since you're back.” “How come? More prissy, eh?” ““N-n-no. Improved—mostly.” “Can’t eat grease in my food now; is that it?” He chuckled. ‘“ Yes, I’ve learned and I been learned. They put a swagger- stick in my hand after I’d been joined three months—an’ I didn’t have to use a crutch to get back. Got no kick, I reckon.” ‘“‘ Have you done anything odd and beau- tiful yet, Tom?” “Only lovin’ you harder.” ‘“Pshaw!” A little pause, and she went on, demurely. -“‘ Want to do it—for me?” “* Everything.”’ “ Then, listen; be more careful in the way you talk. You can be now, since you've learned the difference. People don’t say ‘ How come’ and ‘ Yo’-all’ any more.” “Do here in Callabee.” “ But you know better, Tom, yourself. It’s only half the time you drop your d’s and g’s. I try to talk correctly; poor dad can’t—but you can, and won't.” “Tl sure try to, too,” he promised hum- bly. “It’s sorter a happenstance now when I talk looselike; yo’-all understand—” 66 Tom! ? \ Digitized by Go ogle 499 “Sorry.” He eyed her soberly—then asked her, slow and precise: “ Have—you— spoken to—your father?” “Every day. Yours—”’ “He swears he’ll never hear to it while this mortgage is brewing—but I’m my own boss, I reck—presume.” ‘“I—I think—” and Nancy was consid- ering it carefully, “ that dad would consent, if he could only find out where you hide your whisky.” : ““ Tryin’ to bribe me?” “Qh, it’s entirely your own business,” she replied with studied indifference. ‘‘T sure can’t see why the colonel holds off so,” Tom complained. ‘I’m near enough all right, folks say; an’ back home a soldier. I don’t ever lie or steal or—” “Then why don’t you ask dad for me?” “1 66 Eh?” ‘‘ Since you’re a soldier—” “Twill!” He = grinned sheepishly. * Come right near sayin’: ‘ Reckon I will’ that time!” ~ Just after twilight, on July 28, T@ Pal- ley crept into the Blalock yard from the rear; he lifted the.lid of the middle back- doorstep and replenished the half-pint flask. Then he circuited the big house, to where he knew the old colonel would be found on the porch—and to battle. A battle it was. The town-objector over- heard a little of the first of it, so he came closer and ducked down outside the hedge to hsten conscientiously. ‘““T ain’t a law-breaker,” Tom Palley had urged early in the conversation, “ ’ceptin’ to make a bit of white corn now and then. An’ I’ve been in the army—volunteer, like yo’-all was once, colonel. So what’s the kick on me?” Blalock turned away. ‘‘ My father’s holdin’ off because of the feud be- tween you two, but I feel sure that’s not your reason, sir. I ain’t never had a part In your quarrel.” ‘“‘U-m—no, suh!” the old gentleman re- plied. ‘‘ Whike I hate that devilish cuss living yonduh most wholeseuledly, I’ve nevuh blamed yo’-all fo’: his defections, suh.” The colonel paused to stroke his Roman nose judicially; then in absent- minded way he scratched the palm of his Original fre oO O HO ) CJ AN JN : ‘ TATE | = DOOK CO