He placed the dollar on the curb beside him and laid the copper cent on top of the silver coin, surveying them disconsolately. Glancing down at his feet, he observed a tiny red earthworm crawling in the loam of the gutter. He picked this up and laid it on top of the copper coin, thus making a pyramid of his fortune. “Huh,” he grunted, “I’d rather be a fishin’ worm dan a nigger wid one dollar an’ one cent.” Suddenly he looked at the fishing worm with a new interest. It was twisting and turning upon the copper coin evidently wishing to get off, but every time it touched the silver dollar it retreated to the copper coin again. [Illustration: Drawn by E. W. Kemble. The pie-faced sorrel with the snake-bitten leg.] “Dis worm ’pears like it’s skeart of dis dollar,” Shin muttered. He flicked the worm into the grass with his finger nail, slipped his two coins in the upper breast pocket of his coat, then arose and walked slowly up the street. At the nearest corner he met Whiffle Boone, dressed like a sun-burst, and on her way to the fair. “You ain’t lookin’ so powerful peart, Shinny,” she said. “Ef I looks like I feels, you better git de sheriff to put me in a cage,” was Shin’s reply. “Whut ails you?” the girl inquired solicitously. “Ef I wus to tell you whut ails me, you’d snicker right in my face,” Shin Bone declared irritably. “An’ ef you did, I’d shore spile all de nice clothes you is got on.” The girl sniffed and passed on. “Dar now,” Shin lamented. “I didn’t aim to start nothin’ wid Whiffle. Dis is shore my onforchnit day.” But a moment later Shin forgot all his troubles. Pap Curtain met him and shook hands with great cordiality. Pap’s yellow face was a glowing golden color from excitement, his shifty eyes were more uncertain than ever, and his sneering mouth had a still uglier twist. “Whut you bettin’ on to-day, Shin?” he whispered hoarsely. “I’s collectin’ tips, Pap,” Shin replied. “I got a shore thing, Shin,” Pap whispered. “Three hosses starts in de fourth race. Put yo’ bet on Skipper.” “I shore thank you fer dem few kind words, Pap,” Shin declared with delight. “How come yo’ heart busted open so free?” “Ain’t you figgerin’ on gittin’ married to my sister’s child?” Pap asked. “Suttinly.” “Well, suh, dat’s de reason. But fer Gawd’s sake, keep de secret in de fambly!” II SKIPPER’S FORM. “Dat shore he’ps me a lot,” Shin exulted, as he started rapidly down the street. “All I’m got to do is to bet on dat hoss fer a winner.” Then his rapid gait suddenly ceased, his knees wabbled weakly, and he leaned against a convenient picket fence. “O Lawd,” he groaned. “Dat jes’ makes my sorrer cut mo’ deeper. I ain’t got no mo’ money to bet wid now dan I had befo’ I got dat tip!” Sadly he turned his back to the fair and walked in the opposite direction, mumbling to himself.