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204   The Conjure Woman

all made the place an ideal one for a ghost story.
  "Chloe," Julius began in a subjued tone, "use' ter b'long ter ole Mars' Dugal' McAdoo, - my old marster. She wuz a lackly gal en a smart gal, en ole mis' tuk her up ter de big house, en l'arnt her ter wait on de w'ite folks, 'tel bimeby she come ter be mis's own maid, en 'peared ter 'low she run de house herse'f, ter heah her talk erbout it. I wuz a young boy den, en use' ter wuk 'bout de stables, so I knowed eve'ythin' dat wuz gwine on 'roun' de plantation.
  "Well, one time Mars' Dugal' wanted a house boy, en sont down ter de qua'ters fer ter hab Jeff en Hannibal come up ter de big house nex' mawnin'. Ole marster en ole mis' look' de two boys ober, en 'sco'sed wid deyse'ves for a little w'ile, en den Mars' Dugal' sez, sezee: -
  " 'We lacks Hannibal de bes', en we gwine ter keep him.  Heah, Hannibal,