The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-01-27
VOLUME 9-No. ~.
Jim Fenton and the Crazy In
Ventors

| ! Jim Fenton and the Crazy In
( ventoT.
The following scene In an aims
house is from DR.. Hollands new
novel, 'sThe Story of Sevenoaks =
The next cell he. encountered held
the man he was looking for. Sitting
in the straw. talking to himself OF
some imaginary companion, he saw
his old friend. 1t took him full
minute to realize that the gentle
sportsman, the true Christian, the
! delicate man. the delightful compan-
ion, was there before him, wreck
cast out from among his fellows con-
fined in noisome cell. and hopeless
ly given over to his vagrant fancies
and the tender mercies of Thomas
Buffum. When the memory of what
Paul Benedict had been to him, at
one period of his life. came to Jim,
with full realization of his present
misery and degradation, the strong
man wept like a child. He drew an
old silk handkerchief from his pocket,
blew his nose as if it had been
trumpet. and then slipped up to the
cell and said, softly Paul Bene-
dict. give rs your benediction.
'Jim?' said the man, looking up
quickly.
!" Good Cod he knows me-" said
Jim, whimpering. 81 Yes, Mr.. Bene-
dict, I'm the same rough old fellow.
How fare YEP"
I'm miserabie.'i replied the man.
well, ye don't look as ef ye felt
fust rate. How did ye git in here Z"
"Oh, was damned when died.
It's all right, I know but it's terri
ble.''
"Why, you don't think you're in
hell, do YEP" inquired jim.
Don't you see?" inquired the
wretch, looking around him.
"Oh, yes; see l guess you're
right" said jim, falling in with his
fancy.
but where did you come from,
Jim? l never heard that you we're
dead.''
Yes Tn jest as dead as you are" !"
WE'LL what did you come here
for?''
"Oh, thought I'd call round"
replied Jim carelessly.
Did you come from Abraham 8
bosom?" inquired Mr.. Benedict ca
g6rly.
Straight" j"
"I can't thihk why you should
come to see me. into such place as
this :" said Benedict wonderingly.
"Oh, got kind O. Uneasy. Don't !
have much to do over there We know"
"How did you get across the gulf?''
4 jest showed over in birch, an
you must be perlite enough to return
the CALL" replied Jim, in the most |
matter-of-course manner possible.
Benedict looked down upon his
torn and wretched clothing, and then
turned his pitiful eyes up to Jim,
who saw the thoughts that were pass
ing in the poor mans mind.
"Never mind your clo'e es," he said.
81 dress jest the same there as l did
in Number Nine, and nobody says a
word. The fact is, they don't mind |
very much about clo'es there, any
way. I'll come over and git ye, We
know. an introduce We, and We shall
have jest as good time as Jim Fen
ton can give ye.''
Shall | take my rifle along?" in
quired Benedict.
" Yes, an plenty of amanition.
There isn't no game to speak Of
only few partridge; but we can
shoot at q mark all day, ef we want |
to-"
Benedict tottered to his feet and |
came to the grated door, with his
eyes all alight with hope and expec-
tation. "Jim. you always were a
good fellow" said he, 'Eand,'' drop
ping his voice to whisper, "Pll |
show you my improvements. Bel
cher mustn't get hold of them. He's |
after them, i hear him round nights
but he shan't have them. I've got |
a new tunbler, and"
"Well. never mind now," replied I
Jim. "It'll be jest as well when you
come over to spend the day with me. |
Now you look here Don't you
say nothin' about this to nobody. |
They'll all want to go, and we can't
have 'en. You an I want to git
red of the crowd, We know. We
alters did. So when / come arter
We, you jest keep mum, and we'll
have high old time. ."--Seribner for
February.