his desk. The negro remained standing gloomily but respectfully by the
window.

"Cato, do you know anything of Mr. Dumont--Miss Dows' cousin?"

The negro's white teeth suddenly flashed in the lamplight. "Ya! ha! I
reckon, sah."

"Then he's a great friend of your people?"

"I don't know about dat, sah. But he's a pow'ful enemy of de Reeds and
de Higbees!"

"On account of his views, of course?"

"'Deed no!" said Cato with an astounded air. "Jess on account of de
vendetta!"

"The vendetta?"

"Yes, sah. De old blood quo'll of de families. It's been goin' on over
fifty years, sah. De granfader, fader, and brudder of de Higbees was
killed by de granfader, fader, and brudder of de Doomonts. De Reeds
chipped in when all de Higbees was played out, fo' dey was relations,
but dey was chawed up by some of de Dowses, first cousins to de
Doomonts."

"What? Are the Dows in this vendetta?"

"No, sah. No mo'. Dey's bin no man in de family since Miss Sally's fader