The old man came hobbling down the weed-grown path. When he was in hearing distance Kitty called out, “Hi, Uncle Mose! It’s your friends. Call off the dogs.”
Uncle Mose came to the water’s edge and peered at them with dimming eyes before he said, turning to the dogs, “Shut up, you hounds! Quit dat racket! Don’ you know quality folks when you sees ’em?”
He finally had to get a stick to send the hounds slinking back toward the house. Brad pushed their boat closer to the shelving shore where the old man stood.
“After that reception I guess we’d better stay in the boat,” suggested Brad.
“I have good news for you, Uncle Mose,” Kitty said when they were close enough to speak without yelling.
“Yassum. I sho be pleased to hear it.”
“I got young Tradd’s address.” Then Kitty told him of meeting Tradd’s buddy on the troop train. “He gave me a dollar to buy you some tobacco so I brought it along.”
She stood in the prow to offer the gift while Uncle Mose waded a few feet into the water.
“And here’s a pipe I brought you, too,” added Kitty.
The weathered old face crinkled into a smile. “I sho proud o’ dis, Missie. Hit moighty thoughty o’ you to come way out here to brung it to me.” He crammed the gifts into his coat pockets.