Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/69



ATER that same afternoon Colonel Spottiswoode sat in his steamer chair, still thinking, still figuring, while Zack lounged against the rail and gazed upon the water.

"Zack! Zack!" he glanced up and asked, "if you had some money that you didn't want, what would you do with it?"

Zack grinned, "Well, Cunnel, you know how niggers is. Dey's mighty ginrous wid money what dey ain't got. But ef I had a lot o' money, I'd buy tickets to Missy's concert. She sho is one high qualified young lady, an' ain't got no bizness puttin' her foot to de groun'. Dem gent'men is plumb crazy 'bout de way she plays dat fiddle."

The Colonel straightened up in his chair. Presently he untangled himself from the steamer rug and began to pace the deck. Wheeling at the last turn, he stopped abruptly: "Zack, you've got more sense than a lead mule. Go find that little sharp-faced steward, and bring him to the writing room." Then the Colonel disappeared. 55