The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-02-22

COLLECTING \ COLORED DEBT-An
amusing episode in the unWritten history
OF Montgomery occurred a few days ago.
A negro man named Melvin -, who
had but one hand (having lost the other
i'll some fOray, perhaps), was anxious to
possess himself of the old clothes left by
a defunct darkey of about his general
build, unfortunately he had no funds
which to recOmpense the disconsOlate
wOrtlFmOre than gold, and the hero Of
our story resolved to work his wits in
payment for the clothes. Accordingly
he approached the widow as though he
meant to purchase with filthy lucre and
offered her $40 for the lot. He "didn't
want 'em himself,' so he said, "but o.
man down the street axGd him to price
EN-" The sum that he offered being
deemed satisfactory, he went off to see
the man, and short time afterwards re-
turned with an answer that "the price
was all right The widow, however,
was absent when he returned, but her
grown daughter was in, ard the answer
was cOnfided to her. "NOw," said the
sable sharper, " if you amt got no iniec-
tions, III .ies take de goods down to do
man and get de money for dem and fOtch
it to you" The unsuspGcting femalen
bOlu IIIIlL lIidJ SIZE IljtSlII 4 ally q Bllplll
things, and he mOut take dc goods, sub
need hardly be told that the money was
nOt.delivcred according to promise, and
thereby hangs the tale.
One or the other of the deceived WO-
men applied for and obtained warrant
of arrest for the One-handed hero and
had it comfortably lodged in the hands
of an officer of the law. Butthe gay de-
ceiver, who was fullyup to snuff, steered
clear of all legal functionaries. The
officers could never find him; but day
before yesterday the daughter of the
widow "met by chance tile very ipdi-
vidual she had lOnged so much to see.
She endeavOred in vain to get the ten
dollars, after which she began to look
about for some one who could or would
assist her in bringing the offender to JUS
tice. But it was in the very outskirts of
the city and there was nOhelp NEAR. She,
and trust to luck for u solution Of the
difficulty. Seeing her determination, he
made for the open country, but she fol-
lowed him even there. A mile out of
town she met sort of African Victoria
| Woodruff, one Jane McBryde by name,
and related the whole history of the case
to her. Follow him up" said the strong
minded Jane, "and trust to me. Til
fOteh him to his milk" And she was as
good as her word. She saddled an old
mule, took her husbands double barrel
led shotgun, and pursued the fugitive.
Two miles from the city she oyerhauled
him.
"Whar's yer gwine dar? Whar's yer
gwine dar, yer tieving nigger?" she de-
manded.
"None o your business" was the curt
reioinder.
dat right now"
"GO way, 'Oman, andlet me lOne," said
! the knight of the single sleeve.
81 can't see it! YOu's runnin' off, like
q hOun' dog, to keep from payin' what
yOn owes; now eff yer don't turn right
round and get back to town | empty
bofe desc barrels clean inter yer; dye
hear2 Git, say"
And gitn he did. The aroused Am
azon marched him over every foot of the
road he had just traveled-kept, atevery
step, a sharp outlook on his manGuyres,
nor relaxed her vigilance until he was
safely lodged in the judicial grasp Of
| Justice Nettlet. After this "Jane" will
| have but little difficulty in securing the
post of collector of small bills-she has
such taking way.