“An’ jist the same wonderful jaynus that he was afore, only jist the laste bit more so,” said Barney, as his hand was grasped by Charley’s. “How are ye?”
“Hunky dory,” said Charley. “How are Mrs. Faylix O’Doolahan and the pigs?”
“What!” cried Barney, “did you know Mrs. Faylix O’Doolahan an’ the pigs?”
Charley roared outright, and Frank laughed heartily.
“I wrote to him,” he said.
“Oh, I moind,” said Barney.
“Massa Charley,” said a voice at the elbow of the Western lad, “I’se here.”
Frank turned to look at the speaker, and he was forced to laugh again.
There stood the most comical figure he had ever seen.
A full-blooded negro, black as the blackest of Africans, stood there, with an immense grin on his charcoal mug.