"Y-y-yessir!--I kin tell yer where she lives--Yessir! She lives
right down there in that little house--I kin go down with you jes'
swell 's not! Why, there she is now, on the stoop!"
"Thankee sonny," said the big voice. "Here's for miggles," and
Miss Mattie caught the sparkle of a coin as it flew into the grimy
fists of Eddie.
"Much obliged!" yelled Eddie and vanished up the street.
Miss Mattie sat transfixed. Her breath came in swallows and her
heart beat irregularly. Here was novelty with a vengeance! The
big man turned and fastened his eyes upon her. There was no
retreat. She noticed with some reassurance that his eyes were
grave and kindly.
As he advanced Miss Mattie rose in agitation, unconsciously putting
her hand on her throat--what could it mean?
The gate was opened and the stranger strode up the cinder walk to
the porch. He stopped a whole minute and looked at her. At last.
"Well, Mattie!" he said, "don't you know me?"
A flood of the wildest hypotheses flashed through Miss Mattie's
mind without enlightening her. Who was this picturesque giant who
stepped out of the past with so familiar a salutation? Although
the porch was a foot high, and Miss Mattie a fairly tall woman,
their eyes were almost on a level, as she looked at him in wonder.
Then he laughed and showed his white teeth. "No use to bother and
worry you, Mattie," said he, "you couldn't call it in ten years.
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