“Who did you say was the beggar?” It was all Greek to Harry.
“Why, Marse George was—he was de one what was gwine hongry. De colonel 'lowed dat de bank was busted an'—”
“What bank?”
“Why de 'Tapsco—whar Marse George keep his money. Ain't you see me comin' from dar mos' ebery day?”
“But it hasn't failed, has it?” He was still wondering what the quarrel was about.
“Wall, I dunno, but I reckon sumpin's de matter, for no sooner did de colonel git on his horse and ride away dan Marse George go git his hat and coat hisse'f and make tracks th'ou' de park by de short cut—and you know he neber do dat 'cept when he's in a hurry, and den in 'bout a ha'f hour he come back ag'in lookin' like he'd seed de yahoo, only he was mad plump th'ou'; den he hollered for me quick like, and sont me down underneaf yere to Mr. Pawson to know was he in, and he was, and I done tol' him, and he's dar now. He ain't neber done sont me down dar 'cept once sence I been yere, and dat was de day dat Gadgem man come snuffin' roun'. Trouble comin'.”
Harry had now begun to take in the situation. It was evidently a matter of some moment or Pawson would not have been consulted.
“I'll go down myself, Todd,” he said with sudden resolve.
“Better lem'me tell him you're yere, Marse Harry.”
“No, I'll go now,” and he turned on his heel and descended the front steps.