CHAPTER IV.
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MR. DALTON.
"See here, my friend," said Old King Brady to the darky, "do you know anything about that little hut standing out there in the swamp?"
"Dat hut? Sho'. Nobuddy nebber go in no mo'. Useter be fo' Massa Dalton when he go out shootin' reed birds."
"Then it isn't in use any more?"
"No, sah."
"Does Mr. Dalton live here all the year round?"
"Golly, no. Only in de winter. Comes heah wif Missy Lizzy an' his nephew, Ronald. Me an' my ole gal keep de house fo' dem de rest ob de time."
"I see. Then you don't expect them here for a long time, do you?"
"Dey only jes' lef' heah las' month, an' went back to York. But Lawdy, whut should Massa Ronald do but come back all ob a sudden las' night wif dat ornary niggah cuss, Sim Johnson, an' git bilin' drunk, an' dey gwine out an' didn' come back till de roosters crowed dis mawnin'."