It's just
secret, and I don't want too many people about. You can go
anywhere else except there. Koku is on guard."
"Den can't I be, Massa Tom?" asked the colored man
eagerly. "I kin guard an' detect same as dat low-down,
good-fo'-nuffin white trash Koku!"
Tom hesitated.
"I suppose I could get you a sort of officer's badge," he
mused, half aloud.
"Dat's whut I want!" eagerly exclaimed Eradicate. "I ain't
gwine hab dat Koku--dat cocoanut--crowin' ober me! I kin
guard an' detect as good's anybody!"
And the upshot of it was that Eradicate was given a badge,
and put on a special post, far enough from Koku to keep the
two from quarreling, and where, even if he failed in keeping
a proper lookout, the old servant could do no harm by his
oversight.
"It'll please him, and won't hurt us," said Tom to his
father. "Koku will keep out any prying persons."
"I suppose you are doing well to keep it a secret, Tom,"
said Mr. Swift, "but it seems as if you might announce it
soon."
"Perhaps we may, Dad, if all goes well. I've given her a
partial shop-tryout, and she works well.
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