“Easy! go easy, my German friend!� Black Mayo’s voice rang out clear and mocking.
“I am not a German; that am I not!� screamed Smith. “I am an American citizen. I can my papers show. I am more American than you. What are your peoples here? Ach! what do they? This morning they did the last cent out of their treasury take, the expenses of old traitors and rebels to pay—�
The sentence was not finished. A quick blow from the shoulder stretched him on the ground.
“Hey! lie there a minute!� cried Black Mayo, with an impish light twinkling in his dark eyes. “Listen! Here’s a tune you’ve got to respect in this part of the world.� He whistled “Dixie� with vim and vigor, over and over again. Then he stepped aside and held out his hand, saying: “Ah, well! You didn’t know any better. Forget it!�
The man glared up at him, without a word.
“Oh! if that’s the way you feel about it—� Mr. Osborne laughed, shrugged his shoulders, and, still whistling “Dixie,� took the road that led to his home at Larkland.
Mr. Smith scrambled to his feet and looked after Black Mayo, from under down-drawn brows, with his thin wide lips writhing like serpents; then he went limping up the road.
The girls turned white amazed faces to each other.
“Ugh!� said Patsy. “Let’s go home. Do—do you reckon he’ll hurt Cousin Mayo?�
“Of course not. He can’t. How can he?� said Anne. After a pause she added: “He certainly will if he can.�