Chapter I: Foreword

I have known life and love, I have known death and disaster;
Foregathered with fools, succumbed to sin, been not unacquainted
with shame;
Doubted, and yet held fast to a faith no doubt could o'ermaster.
Won and lost:--and I know it was all a part of the Game.

Youth and the dreams of youth, hope, and the triumph of sorrow:
I took as they came, I played them all; and I trumped the trick
when I could.
And now, O Mover of Men, let the end be to-day or to-morrow--
I have staked and played for Myself, and You and the Game were good!

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I APPLEBORO 3
II THE COMING OF SLIPPY McGEE 19
III NEIGHBORS 37
IV UNDERWINGS 48
V ENTER KERRY 65
VI "THY SERVANT WILL GO AND FIGHT WITH THIS PHILISTINE."
1 SAM. 17-32 94
VII THE GOING OF SLIPPY McGEE 111
VIII THE BUTTERFLY MAN 131
IX NESTS 145
X THE BLUEJAY 172
XI A LITTLE GIRL GROWN UP 189
XII JOHN FLINT, GENTLEMAN 203
XIII "EACH IN HIS OWN COIN" 226
XIV THE WISHING CURL 258
XV IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT 283
XVI "WILL YOU WALK INTO MY PARLOR" 302
XVII "--SAID THE SPIDER TO THE FLY--" 319
XVIII ST. STANISLAUS CROOKS HIS ELBOW 343
XIX THE I O U OF SLIPPY McGEE 364
XX BETWEEN A BUTTERFLY'S WINGS 382

SLIPPY McGEE

CHARACTERS

FATHER ARMAND JEAN DE RANCÉ, Catholic Priest of Appleboro, South Carolina MADAME DE RANCÉ, his Mother CLÉLIE, their Servant LAURENCE MAYNE, the Boy MARY VIRGINIA EUSTIS, the Girl JAMES EUSTIS, Man of the New South MRS. EUSTIS, a Lady DOCTOR WALTER WESTMORELAND, the Beloved Physician JIM DABNEY, Editor of the Appleboro "Clarion" MAJOR APPLEBY CARTWRIGHT } MISS SALLY RUTH DEXTER } Neighbors JUDGE HAMMOND MAYNE } GEORGE INGLESBY, the Boss of Appleboro J. HOWARD HUNTER, his Private Secretary KERRY, an Irish Setter PITACHE, the Parish House Dog THE MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA THE CHILDREN, THE MILL-HANDS, THE FACTORY FOLKS, and SLIPPY MCGEE, sometimes known as the Butterfly Man

SLIPPY McGEE