Lucky | Page 5

her endeavor to keep well out of sight,
one of them had espied her.
"Hello there, little 'un!" he cried, stopping his wagon," What do you
know? I am dogoned thirsty, and want a drink. There's water there I
should say, by the rushes."

Nana's heart beat wildly, but she was determined not to show her fear.
She pointed out to him a little spring that she had hollowed out of a
bank with her own hands, aided by a piece of broken milk crock.
"Gee, that's good!" exclaimed the man, when he had quenched his thirst.
"Little 'un, you are a trump. What's better than a drink o' cold water to a
man that's dry? Good-bye, chick. If you ever come to the city where I
live you must make me a visit, shore. I've two or several little girls like
you, and I think a heap of 'em. Here's a paper of goodies one of 'em
stuck in my pocket th' other day, when I left. I aint much of a sweet
tooth myself, and I'll give 'em to you."
Nana took the package with a half audible "thank' e, sir," as she had
been taught. The man went on, and the little girl sat down to examine
the gift. It proved to be ginger snaps. Better than all, the paper in which
they were wrapped contained a wonderful story, which suited her
appetite also. It was about a noble man who expended his immense
wealth in founding colleges and building schools for orphan children
such as she. Dr. Eustace was the gentleman's name. He cured the sick
too, with a wonderful remedy known as Dr. Eustace's Miraculous
Compound. Many a young man, the story said, had received a start in
business from this benevolent gentleman, whose chief thought in life
was to do good to his fellow creatures.
"I wonder if he would do anything for me," meditated Nana. "What a
good man he must be!"
Her dreams were cut short by the sound of a voice, singing lustily :
"Old Missouri, souri, soo,
Old Missouri ay,
Old Missouri is the place
For you and I."
There was a rustle among the rushes and a step near at hand.

"Wall, I never!" broke from the lips of the newcomer.
"Nana looked up sullenly. He was a neighbor, a bachelor, who lived all
alone on his claim, some miles distant. He had a broad jaw covered by
a thin, stubby beard, a hair lip, small fish-like eyes, hulking body, and
ambling gait. Nana despised him,?.nd took pains to show it.
"Wall, I never!" he repeated. " I go out to find wild game, and run right
onto a tame gal. Or bent you tame, little 'un? I swow I can't tell by the
looks of you."
Nana did not condescend to reply. Joe Slocum, for that was the man's
name, placed the butt end of his gun upon the ground, and leaned
against the barrel, regarding the child with much amusement.
"Wall, my gal!" he said at length in the same jocular tone," when air
you goin' to marry me?"
Nana immediately found voice.
"Marry you! I aint goin' to at all!"
"Yes, you air."
"No, I aint."
The man laughed exasperatingly.
"Your pap give you to me."
Her ire was now thoroughly roused.
"Go away!" she cried, stamping her feet. "I aint got any pap, and you
are tellin' lies."
"No I aint, and you'll be glad on't too, when you come to keep house for
me in my little shanty. I'm a good marksman, and you'll have plenty of
prairie birds to cook. It'll be mighty fine."

"But I aint, I aint," protested Nana.
"Yes you air oh, no you aint, kid, if you're goin' to look so glum about
it not till the time comes anyway. What air you a doin' of here?"
"None of your business. I've lost my ducks, and they have sent me out
to hunt ' em up."
"Let 'em alone and they'll come home, a waggin' their tails behind 'em,"
chuckled Slocum.
"Shall I find your birds for you?" he inquired presently. " P 11 warrant
I can."
He was off without delay, but returned shortly with a string of game
over his arm, which he flung at her feet.
"There you air. They went out in the mornin', I'll warrant, as noisy and
gossipy as a lot o' gals, but they come back as quiet a pack o' fowl as I
ever see."
Nana looked at them ruefully.
"I'll make it all right with the old man and old woman," suggested
Slocum.
Still Nana did not speak. She kept gazing at the mute, inglorious birds.
"What time will you go home?" questioned the man.
"At dinner time," and her hungry eyes wandered