'Well, tell them to hurry up. I want to go to her at once—now! I can't live another week in this way. Tell them to hurry up.'
'Yes, I will; and you'll go with me to-morrow, won't you?'
He gave me again, a long, scrutinizing look. 'You're the sheriff, aren't you?'
'Yes.'
'Well, then, I'll go with you. But you must promise to make short work of it.'
'Yes, yes; I'll promise that. But lie down now, and be quiet. I'll be ready for you in the morning.'
'Well, well, I'll try to be patient;' and he threw himself on the small cot in one corner of the room. 'But you'll let old Joe stay with me, won't you?'
'Yes; certainly.'
'Thank you, sir. Joe, bring me a cigar—that's a good fellow. You're the decentest nigger I ever knew. It's an awful pity you're black. They told me she was black. 'Twas an infernal lie! I know it, for I saw her last night, and she was whiter than any woman you ever saw. Black! Pshaw! nobody but the devil's black; and she—she's an angel NOW!'
As we passed out of the room, Joe said to me: