"Dat? Him Kunnel Plympton? Yo's wrong, sah. Ah's mascotted fo' Kunnel Plympton er quatah's wuff evah race dey had run, en Ah knows him lak Ah knows mase'f. Dat fellah dat was jess heah, Ah tells yo' fo' suah, was Ebenezer Slocum, an' he ain't nuffin' mo' dan no 'count white trash, pickin' up er dollah whahevah he can lay his han's on hit. Yassuh. We-all whats hones', en wuks fo' our money, looks down on Slocum, we sho'ly does."
Carl had jumped to his feet and was standing in front of his chair, staring at Motor Matt.
Matt was dumfounded.
Why was Ebenezer Slocum impersonating Colonel Plympton? Slocum's actions were suspicious, to say the least.
[CHAPTER IV.]
A VILLAINOUS PLOT.
"Hab yo'-all been makin' any dealings wif dat 'ar Slocum, Marse Matt?" inquired Uncle Tom. "If he allowed tuh yo' dat he was Kunnel Plympton, den he's done complicated hisse'f all up wif whut dey calls petty la'ceny, en yo' kin sweah out er warrant en put him in de jug."
"I don't believe it's as bad as that, Uncle Tom," said Matt. "I'm pretty busy to-night, and if you can come around and see me some other time we'll have a little talk."
"Sho'ly, Marse Matt," replied Uncle Tom, getting to his feet and bending down to rub one of his legs that didn't seem to be acting just right. "De rheumatix hab been pesterin' me powerful bad evah sence dat 'sperience Ah had down dar in Arizony. Yo' ain't gwine tuh cut me out ob mah job ob 'fishul mascot fo' yo', is yuh? Yo' needs one all de time, sah, en Ah 'lows dar ain't a bettah mascot dan whut Ah is anywhah en de country. Ah mascotted two dollahs' wuff fo' Mistah Tomlinson, en——"