Now；　where　did　I　get　that　money？〃
  〃Take　it　easy；　Yancev。　　The　mountain　air　will　soon
  clear　it　up。　　We'll　go　fishing；　first　thing；　at　the　Pinnacle
  Falls。　　The　trout　are　jumping　there　like　bullfrogs。　　We'll
  take　Stella　and　Lucy　along；　and　have　a　picnic　on　Eagle
  Rock。　　Have　you　forgotten　how　a　hickory…cured…ham
  sandwich　tastes；　Yancey；　to　a　hungry　fisherman？〃
  Evidently　the　colonel　did　not　believe　the　story　of　his
  lost　wealth；　so　Goree　retired　again　into　brooding　silence。
  By　late　Afternoon　they　had　travelled　ten　of　the　twelve
  miles　between　Bethel　and　Laurel。　　Half　a　mile　this　side
  of　Laurel　lay　the　old　Goree　place；　a　mile　or　two　beyond
  the　village　lived　the　Coltranes。　　The　road　was　now　steep
  and　laborious；　but　the　compensations　were　many。　　The
  tilted　aisles　of　the　forest　were　opulent　with　leaf　and　bird
  and　bloom。　　The　tonic　air　put　to　shame　the　pharma…
  cop鎖a。　　The　glades　were　dark　with　mossy　shade；　and
  bright　with　shy　rivulets　winking　from　the　ferns　and
  laurels。　　On　the　lower　side　they　viewed；　framed　in　the
  near　foilage；　exquisite　sketches　of　the　far　valley　swooning
  in　its　opal　haze。
  Coltrane　was　pleased　to　see　that　his　companion　was
  yielding　to　the　spell　of　the　hills　and　woods。　　For　now
  they　had　but　to　skirt　the　base　of　Painter's　Cliff；　to　cross
  Elder　Branch　and　mount　the　hill　beyond；　and　Goree
  would　have　to　face　the　squandered　home　of　his　fathers。
  Every　rock　he　passed；　every　tree；　every　foot　of　the　rocky
  way；　was　familiar　to　him。　　Though　he　hid　forgotten　the
  woods；　they　thrilled　him　like　the　music　of　〃Home；　Sweet
  Home。〃
  They　rounded　the　cliff；　decended　into　Elder　Branch；
  and　paused　there　to　let　the　horses　drink　and　splash　in
  the　swift　water。　　On　the　right　was　a　rail　fence　that
  cornered　there；　and　followed　the　road　and　stream。
  Inclosed　by　it　was　the　old　apple　orchard　of　the　home
  place；　the　house　was　yet　concealed　by　the　brow　of　the
  steep　hill。　　Inside　and　along　the　fence；　pokeberries；
  elders；　sassafras；　and　sumac　grew　high　and　dense。　　At
  a　rustle　of　their　branches；　both　Goree　and　Coltrane　glanced
  up；　and　saw　a　long；　yellow；　wolfish　face　above　the　fence；
  staring　at　them　with　pale；　unwinking　eyes。　　The　head
  quicky　disappeared；　there　was　a　violent　swaying　of　the
  bushes；　and　an　ungainly　figure　ran　up　through　the　apple
  orchard　in　the　direction　of　the　house；　zigzagging　among
  the　trees。
  〃That's　Garvey；〃　said　Coltrane；　〃the　man　you　sold
  out　to。　　There's　no　doubt　but　he's　considerably　cracked。
  I　had　to　send　him　up　for　moonshining；　once；　several　years
  ago；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　I　believed　him　irresponsible。
  Why；　what's　the　matter；　Yancey？〃
  Goree　was　wiping　his　forehead；　and　his　face　had　lost
  its　colour。　　〃Do　I　look　queer；　too？〃　　he　asked；　trying
  to　smile。　　〃I'm　just　remembering　a　few　more　things。〃
  Some　of　the　alcohol　had　evaporated　from　his　brain。　　〃I
  recollect　now　where　I　got　that　two　hundred　dollars。〃
  〃Don't　think　of　it；〃　said　Coltrane　cheerfully。　　〃Later
  on　we'll　figure　it　all　out　together。〃
  They　rode　out　of　the　branch；　and　when　they　reached
  the　foot　of　the　hill　Goree　stopped　again。
  〃Did　you　ever　suspect　I　was　a　very　vain　kind　of　fellow；
  Colonel〃　he　asked。　　〃Sort　of　foolish　proud　about
  appearances？〃
  The　colonel's　eyes　refused　to　wander　to　the　soiled；　sag…
  ging　suit　of　flax　and　the　faded　slouch　hat。
  〃It　seems　to　me；〃　he　replied；　mystified；　but　humouring
  him；　〃I　remember　a　young　buck　about　twenty；　with　the
  tightest　coat；　the　sleekest　hair；　and　the　prancingest　saddle
  horse　in　the　Blue　Ridge。〃
  〃Right　you　are；〃　said　Goree　eagerly。　　〃And　it's　in
  me　yet；　though　it　don't　show。　　Oh；　I'm　as　vain　as　a
  turkey　gobbler；　and　as　proud　as　Lucifer。　　I'm　going　to
  ask　you　to　indulge　this　weakness　of　mine　in　a　little
  matter。〃
  〃Speak　out；　Yancey。　　We'll　create　you　Duke　of
  Laurel　and　Baron　of　Blue　Ridge；　if　you　choose；　and　you
  shall　have　a　feather　out　of　Stella's　peacock's　tail　to　wear
  in　your　hat。〃
  〃I'm　in　earnest。　　In　a　few　minutes　we'll　pass　the　house
  up　there　on　the　hill　where　I　was　born；　and　where　my
  people　have　lived　for　nearly　a　century。　　Strangers　live
  there　now　　and　look　at　me！　　I　am　about　to　show　myself
  to　them　ragged　and　poverty…stricken；　a　wastrel　and　a
  beggar。　　Colonel　Coltrane；　I'm　ashamed　to　do　it。　　I
  want　you　to　let　me　wear　your　coat　and　hat　until　we　are
  out　of　sight　beyond。　　I　know　you　think　it　a　foolish　pride；
  but　I　want　to　make　as　good　a　showing　as　I　can　when
  I　pass　the　old　place。〃
  〃Now；　what　does　this　mean？〃　　said　Coltrane　to　him…
  self；　as　he　compared　his　companion's　sane　looks　and
  quiet　demeanour　with　his　strange　request。　　But　he
  was　already　unbuttoning　the　coat；　assenting　readily；
  as　if　the　fancy　were　in　no　wise　to　be　considered
  strange。
  The　coat　and　hat　fitted　Goree　well。　　He　buttoned
  the　former　about　him　with　a　look　of　satisfaction　and
  dignity。　　He　and　Coltrane　were　nearly　the　same　size
  rather　tall；　portly；　and　erect。　　Twenty…five　years　were
  between　them；　but　in　appearance　they　might　have
  been　brothers。　　Goree　looked　older　than　his　age；
  his　face　was　puffy　and　lined；　the　colonel　had　the
  smooth；　fresh　complexion　of　a　temperate　liver。　　He
  put　on　Goree's　disreputable　old　flax　coat　and　faded
  slouch　hat。
  〃Now；〃　said　Goree；　taking　up　the　reins；　〃I'm　all
  right。　　I　want　you　to　ride　about　ten　feet　in　the　rear　as　we
  go　by；　Colonel；　so　that　they　can　get　a　good　look　at　me。
  They'll　see　I'm　no　back　number　yet；　by　any　means。　　I
  guess　I'll　show　up　pretty　well　to　them　once　more；　any…
  how。　　Let's　ride　on。〃
  He　set　out　up　the　hill　at　a　smart　trot；　the　colonel　fol…
  lowing；　as　he　had　been　requested。
  Goree　sat　straight　in　the　saddle；　with　head　erect；　but
  his　eyes　were　turned　to　the　right；　sharply　scanning　every
  shrub　and　fence　and　hiding…place　in　the　old　homestead
  yard。　　Once　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃Will　the　crazy
  fool　try　it；　or　did　I　dream　half　of　it？〃
  It　was　when　he　came　opposite　the　little　family　burying
  ground　that　he　saw　what　he　had　been　looking　for　　a
  puff　of　white　smoke；　coming　from　the　thick　cedars　in　one
  comer。　　He　toppled　so　slowly　to　the　left　that　Coltrane
  had　time　to　urge　his　horse　to　that　side；　and　catch　him
  with　one　arm。
  The　squirrel　hunter　had　not　overpraised　his　aim。　　He
  had　sent　the　bullet　where　he　intended；　and　where　Goree
  had　expected　that　it　would　pass　…　through　the　breast
  of　Colonel　Abner　Coltrane's　black　frock　coat。
  Goree　leaned　heavily　against　Coltrane；　but　he　did　not
  fall。　　The　horses　kept　pace；　side　by　side；　and　the　Colonel's
  arm　kept　him　steady。　　The　little　white　houses　of　Laurel
  shone　through　the　trees；　half　a　mile　away。　　Goree　reached
  out　one　hand　and　groped　until　it　rested　upon　Coltrane's
  fingers；　which　held　his　bridle。
  〃Good　friend；〃　he　said；　and　that　was　all。
  Thus　did　Yancey　Goree；　as　be　rode　past　his　old　home；
  make；　considering　all　things；　the　best　showing　that　was
  in　his　power。
  THE　SONG　AND　THE　SERGEANT
  Half　a　dozen　people　supping　at　a　table　in　one　of　the
  upper…Broadway　all…night　restaurants　were　making　too
  much　noise。　　Three　times　the　manager　walked　past
  them　with　a　politely　warning　glance；　but　their　argument
  had　waxed　too　warm　to　be　quelled　by　a　manager's　gaze。
  It　was　midnight；　and　the　restaurant　was　filled　with
  patrons　from　the　theatres　of　that　district。　　Some　among
  the　dispersed　audiences　must　have　recognized　among　the
  quarrelsome　sextet　the　faces　of　the　players　belonging　to
  the　Carroll　Comedy　Company。
  Four　of　the　six　made　up　the　company。　　Another　was
  the　author　of　the　comedietta；　〃A　Gay　Coquette；〃
  which　the　quartette　of　layers　had　been　presenting　with
  fair　success　at　several　vaudeville　houses　in　the　city。　　The
  sixth　at　the　table　was　a　person　inconsequent　in　the　realm
  of　art；　but　one　at　whose　bidding　many　lobsters　had
  perished。
  Loudly　the　six　maintained　their　clamorous　debate。
  No　one　of　the　Party　was　silent　except　when　answers
  were　stormed　from　him　by　the　excited　ones。　　That　was
  the　comedian　of　〃A　Gay　Coquette。〃　　He　was　a　young
  man　with　a　face　even　too　melancholy　for　his　profession。
  The　oral　warfare　of　four　immoderate　tongues　was
  directed　at　Miss　Clarice　Carroll；　the　twinkling　star　of　the
  small　aggregation。　　Excepting　the　downcast　comedian；
  all　members　of　the　party　united　in　casting　upon　her　with
  vehemence　the　blame　of　some　momentous　misfortune。
  Fifty　times　they　told　her：　〃It　is　your　fault；　Clarice…
  it　is　you　alone　who　spoilt　the　scene。　　It　is　only　of　late
  that　you　have　acted　this　way。　　At　this　rate　the　sketch
  will　have　to　be　taken　off。〃
  Miss　Carroll　was　a　match　for　any　four。　　Gallic　ancestry
  gave　her　a　vivacity　that　could　easily　mount　to　fury。　　Her
  large　eyes　flashed　a　scorching　denial　at　her　accusers。　　Her
  slender；　eloquent　arms　constantly　menaced　the　tableware。
  Her　high；　clear　soprano　voice　rose　to　what　would　have
  been　a　scream　had　it　not　possessed　so　pure　a　musical
  qual