"Yah, yah, yah!" cackled Uncle Tom. "Didun' 'low yo' was gwine tuh see me, huh? Why, chile, Ah done tole yuh when we pa'ted togethah, down dar in Arizony, dat I'd be waitin' fo' yo' when yo' come er prancin' 'long. Ah's yo' 'fishul mascot, Marse Matt, en Ah's been doin' er monsus lot ob mascottin' fo' yo' while Ah's been er waitin'. Notice any luck comin' yo' way, sah? Well, dat was me, jess er rootin', an' er rootin' all de hull blessed time. Seen Mistah Tomlinson dis ebenin', en he say whah yo' was. Ah'd been up heah befo', only Ah was subsequentious to dat odder caller."
Uncle Tom, beaming benevolently, slid into a chair and laid his old slouch hat on his knee.
"How's Eliza, and Topsy, and Legree, and Little Eva?" laughed Matt.
Uncle Tom had belonged to a road company. The company had been stranded, and Matt had helped some of the members to get back to Denver, Uncle Tom being among the number.
"Dunno nuffin' 'bout Legree an' Li'l Eva," answered Uncle Tom, "but Miss Eliza she done gone on tuh Chicawgo whah she done ketched anodder job on de stage. Topsy's waitin' on de table fo' a swell Denvah fambly, en Ah's been promiscussin' erroun' er-waitin' fo' yo' tuh show up. Ah's hia'd out tuh yo', sah, en while dar's lots o' white folks pesterin' me tuh mascot fo' dem, Ah recomembahs Ah's engaged tuh yo'. Yo's er puffick gemman, en ob co'se Ah's hooked up wif yo'. If yo' happens tuh have a lonesome dollah rattlin' erroun' en yo' pocket, Mistah Matt, Uncle Tom allow he could make friends wif it."
"There you are, Uncle Tom," laughed Matt, flipping a coin toward the old darky.
"When does yo'-all want me tuh trabble wif yo', an' be right on de spot eb'ry minit tuh take care ob yo' luck? Dishyer luck's mighty onnery sometimes, en hit takes er keen eye en er coon dat knows hits ways an' rambiffications tuh keep hit runnin' smoof. While dat 'ar no 'count Ebenezer Slocum was up heah talkin' wif yo', Ah was tu'nin' all dat ober en mah min', yassuh. Yo' see, Marse Matt, dat——"
"Ebenezer Slocum?" interrupted Matt. "Who's he?"
"Dat loafer dat was jess in heah wif yo'."
"Loafer!" exclaimed Matt. "You're 'way off, Uncle Tom. Why, that was Colonel Plympton, Secretary of the Stark-Frisbie Company."