I was barn on the narth coast of the h'island,
sar."
"Did you just arrive here?"
"Oh, Lard, no! I 'ave been a liver here for two year."
"A liver!" Kirk could not help smiling.
"Yes, sar! Sometimes I labor on the docks, again in the h'office.
Lahst week lose I my position, and to-day my room h'also.
Landladies is bad females, sar, very common."
"You've been shooting craps," said Kirk, accusingly.
"Crops, sar! What is crops?"
"You don't know what craps is! I mean you've been gambling."
"Oh, boss, I h'invest my money."
"Indeed!"
"Lahst Sunday nearly won I the big prize. I 'ad h'all but three
numbers."
"Lottery ticket, eh?"
"H'eight! H'eight chawnces in all," the negro sighed. "But dreams
is false, sar."
"So I've heard. Well, it seems we're in the same boat this
beautiful evening. I have no place to sleep, either."
"You are humbugging me."
"No, I'm flat broke."
"Oh, chot me true, mon."
"I am chatting you true. I'm an outcast of fortune like yourself."
"Such talk! You make I laugh this house."
"What?"
"You make I laugh," repeated the other in a broad Devonshire
dialect. "Praise God, you h'appear like a gentleman."
"I trust this little experience will not permanently affect my
social standing.
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