uest had been that he find Checkers and restore to him his own.
This he had solemnly promised to do. He complained that he was
"poorly" himself, and expected to be carried off at any time, with "a
misery in his chest." And he went on to say that if Checkers had not
married again (perish the thought!), and would come back and live with
him and take care of him, he would make him his heir to the old place
as well, and to what little else he had to leave. He "did n't bear no
grudge" for the loss of the house, as things had turned out--he "liked
a lad of sperrit." However, whether he found Checkers or not, "the
preacher and them whited sepulchers" at the church "should never finger
a cent of what he left." There followed a tirade which seemed to show
that the church people had made it hot for the old man after Checkers'
departure, and doubtless more so after the death of Mrs. Barlow.

"What do you think?" asked Checkers as I finished.

"Think! I think it's the best of good fortune."

"Yes; with a horrible string tied to it. Of course I want my place
back; but I 'd rather be hung than go back to Clarksville."

"Stuff and nonsense!" I exclaimed.

"Yes; everything is; what is n't 'stuff' is nonsense. But, say, the
funniest thing of all is that he seems to think I burnt up the house.
How do you suppose he got such a notion?" This with a laughable
expression of innocence.

"Isn't it possible, Checkers," I said, "that this letter is a ruse to
get you down there and have you arrested for arson?"

He thought a moment. "No," he replied; "I hardly think so. No judge
or jury down there would convict me, anyhow, when they heard the
facts--still, it's about his size. If I had a little money I would n't
need to be in a hurry. There 's some friends of mine got a bottled-up
'good thing' they 're going to 'turn loose' next week, that's a
'mortal'--'Bessie Bisland'--she 'll back in. If I had about fifty I 'd
win a lot of money, quit gamblin', and wait till the old man croaked."

"Checkers!"

"Still, that might be risky; these old guys 'take notice' again
scand'lous quick. While I was foolin' around some Arkansas fairy might
get in and nail down my little job."

"Yes," I laughed; "upon all accounts, the quicker you get there the
better."

Checkers closed one eye and fixed the other on a spot in the ceiling.
"I wonder," he murmured, "how the walking is between here and
Clarksville?"

"Checkers," I said, "are you b