"Hello, Sol Uncas Mohicans!" I sung out. "How's genuine antique lamp mats these days?"
For about two seconds he just set there and looked at me, set and glared, with his mouth open. Then he let out a scream like a scared woman, jumped out of that chair, and made for the kitchen door, lame foot and all. I headed him off, and he turned and set sail for the one I'd come in at. He reached the front hall just ahead of me; but my boot caught him at the top step and helped him some. He never stopped at the gate, but went head-first into the woods whoopin' anthems.
The sandpaperin' chap came runnin' out of the barn, and I took after him; but he didn't wait to see what I had to say. He dove for the woods on his side. We had the premises to ourselves, and I went back and picked up the doctor, who'd been upset by the "child of the forest" on his way to the ancestral tall timber.
"What—what—what?" gasps the medical man. "For Heaven sakes! Why, he wouldn't try to walk when I asked him to. How did you do that?"
"Easy enough," says I. "'Twas an old-fashioned treatment, but it helps—in some cases. Just layin' on of hands, that's all. Now, Doc, afore you ask another question, let me ask you one. Ain't that critter's name Rose?"
He was consider'ble shook, but he managed to grin a little.
"No," says he, "but you've guessed pretty near it."
Then he told me what the name was.
I rode back to West Ostable with that doctor and took the evenin' train home. Jim Henry was waitin' for me on the store platform when I got out of the depot wagon.
"Well?" he wanted to know. "Did you find him?"