Jacksonville and Charleston, and had heard the cry warning the
passengers to leave, screamed close to her. "All asho', dat's gwine
asho'!" and seizing her arm he led her to the plank and pushed her on to
it, but not until she had shaken her bill in his face and said,
"Licke-e-dar, a dollar! All mine--he done gin it to me, an' I'se gwine
to buy a gown, an' a han'kercher, an' some shoes, an' some candy, an'
some--" the rest of her intended purchases were cut short by a jerk of
the plank, which sent her sprawling on her hands and knees, with a jeer
from Ted sounding in her ears. The "Hatty" was off, and with a feeling
of relief the stranger kept his seat on the rear deck, or staid in his
stateroom until Palatka was reached, where he went on shore, lifting his
hat politely to the passengers, shaking hands with the captain, and
giving a quarter to Ted, who nearly stood on his head for joy, and could
scarcely wait for the next trip to Enterprise, where he would find Mandy
Ann and tell her of his good fortune, doubling or trebling the amount as
he might feel inclined at the time.




CHAPTER IV

HOPING AND WAITING


The curiosity concerning the stranger at Enterprise had nearly died out
when it was roused again to fever heat by the arrival at the clearing of
a little girl, whom the young mother baptized with bitter tears, but
refused to talk of the father except to say, "It was all right and
people would know it was when he came, as he was sure to do."