“Wait till I finish, Hitch,” Dude begged. “Now, my view is dis: you go up to de house an’ cornverse Dainty till I comes in all wet an’ mournin’ ’bout how hurt I is. Atter I come in, you say to Dainty dat she better gimme a dram because I’s so crippled up. Of co’se, she will hab to be manners an’ gib you some, too.” “Dar, now!” Hitch boomed. “You shore is a smart boy, Dude. Dat plan is accawdin’ to de Bible, wise as suppents an’ harmless as ducks. But”---- Here Hitch broke off and looked down at his clothes. “It ’pears to me it ain’t proper to call on a lady when I is barefooted an’ ain’t got nothin’ on but a pair of pants an’ a red undershirt,” he mourned. “Dat won’t make no diffunce,” Dude assured him. “All de niggers wucks in de big mill dresses jes’ like you is now. Dainty will figger dat you is a sawmill hand. Talk right up to her, Revun”---- “I ain’t no preacher!” Hitch interrupted, growling like an angry bear. “I’s a prize-fighter.” “Dat won’t do,” Dude chuckled, as he looked at the giant’s mighty arms and shoulders. “Dainty is powerful sot on preachers. I ’speck you better be one as long as you is hangin’ aroun’ her.” “All right,” Hitch said reluctantly, as he started away. “I ain’t none too good or too proud to piddle wid dat job--ef I got to.” “Hol’ on, Hitch!” Dude exclaimed. “You ain’t gimme dem silk socks yit!” Hitch’s experience in Sawtown had made him cautious. After a man has parted with a certain amount of his wearing apparel, he becomes reluctant to separate himself from the rest in a civilized community unless he contemplates becoming a he-mermaid and living in the river. Hitch held out one sock. “I’ll gib you one sock now, Dude,” he said cunningly. “Dat’ll keep yo’ mind int’rusted. Atter I git de dram, I’ll leave de yuther sock on de flo’ or de mantlepiece, kinder keerless like.” Dude accepted the partial payment and stuck the gaudy sock into his derby hat and placed the hat on his head. On his way to the cabin, which lay across the pasture, Hitch Diamond also did some heavy thinking. “I wonder how much dram dat nigger woman is got,” he muttered to himself. “I bet dar ain’t enough for two. Ef she ain’t nothin’ but one of dese here soft, giggly, gal-wifes, mebbe I kin bamboozle her outen a dram befo’ Dude comes in.” Dainty met Hitch at the door. “My name am Hitch Diamond, Dainty,” he rumbled. “I met Dude out in de cow pasture an’ he tole me he done cormitted mattermony. I felt powerful bad because he didn’t send fer his ole preacher frien’ to come ’n’ marrify him. He sont me up here to take a look at you.” “Come in, elder,” Dainty giggled. “How is you feelin’ to-day?” “Lawd, honey, I feels a whole passel better since I sot my eyes on you. You’s prettier’n a little pig. But I been feelin’ powerful sick.” “Whut ails you?” the girl asked with instant sympathy. “I’s got a wo-begone spasm in my stomick an’ a empty feelin’ in my head.” “Dat’s too bad,” Dainty said. “Would a little drap----”