|
||||||||
Youre generally a fool! said Tom, gruffly. Come, now, Loker, none of your huffs, said Marks, licking his lips; you see, Mr. Haley s a puttin us in a way of a good job, I reckon; just hold stillthese yer arrangements is my forte. This yer gal, Mr. Haley, how is she? what is she? Wal! white and handsomewell brought up. Id a gin Shelby eight hundred or a thousand, and then made well on her. White and handsomewell brought up! said Marks, his sharp eyes, nose and mouth, all alive with enterprise. Look here, now, Loker, a beautiful opening. Well do a business here on our own account;we does the catchin; the boy, of course, goes to Mr. Haley,we takes the gal to Orleans to speculate on. Ant it beautiful? Tom, whose great heavy mouth had stood ajar during this communication, now suddenly snapped it together, as a big dog closes on a piece of meat, and seemed to be digesting the idea at his leisure. Ye see, said Marks to Haley, stirring his punch as he did so, ye see, we has justices convenient at all pints along shore, that does up any little jobs in our line quite reasonable. Tom, he does the knockin down and that ar; and I come in all dressed upshining bootseverything first chop, when the swearin s to be done. You oughter see, now, said Marks, in a glow of professional pride, how I can tone it off. One day, Im Mr. Twickem, from New Orleans; nother day, Im just come from my plantation on Pearl river, where I works seven hundred niggers; then, again, I come out a distant relation of Henry Clay, or some old cock in Kentuck. Talents is different, you know. Now, Toms roarer when theres any thumping or fighting to be done; but at lying he ant good, Tom ant,ye see it dont come natural to him; but, Lord, if thars a feller in the country that can swear to anything and everything, and put in all the circumstances and flourishes with a long face, and carry t through better n I can, why, Id like to see him, thats all! I blieve my heart, I could get along and snake through, even if justices were more particular than they is. Sometimes I rather wish they was more particular; t would be a heap more relishin if they was,more fun, yer know. Tom Loker, who, as we have made it appear, was a man of slow thoughts and movements, here interrupted Marks by bringing his heavy fist down on the table, so as to make all ring again, Itll do! he said. Lord bless ye, Tom, ye neednt break all the glasses! said Marks; save your fist for time o need. But, gentlemen, ant I to come in for a share of the profits? said Haley. Ant it enough we catch the boy for ye? said Loker. What do ye want? Wal, said Haley, if I gives you the job, its worth something,say ten per cent. on the profits, expenses paid. Now, said Loker, with a tremendous oath, and striking the table with his heavy fist, dont I know you, Dan Haley? Dont you think to come it over me! Suppose Marks and I have taken up the catchin trade, jest to commodate gentlemen like you, and get nothin for ourselves?Not by a long chalk! well have the gal out and out, and you keep quiet, or, ye see, well have both,whats to hinder? Hant you showd us the game? Its as free to us as you, I hope. If you or Shelby wants to chase us, look where the partridges was last year; if you find them or us, youre quite welcome. O, wal, certainly, jest let it go at that, said Haley, alarmed; you catch the boy for the job;you allers did trade far with me, Tom, and was up to yer word. Ye know that, said Tom; I dont pretend none of your snivelling ways, but I wont lie in my counts with the devil himself. What I ses Ill do, I will do,you know that, Dan Haley. |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||