Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-02-04
Jim FentOn and the Crazy Inven-
tor

The following scene in an slmshouse
is from DIR. Hollands new novel, The
Story of Sevenoaks:'
The next cell he encountered held
the man he was looking for. Sitting
| in the straw, talking to himself or
some imaginary companion, hesaw his
old friend. 1t took him full minute
to realize that the gentle sportsman, the
true Christian, the delicate man, the
delightful companion, was there be-
fore him, wreck-cast out from
among his fellows, confined in moi
some cell, and hopelessly given over to
his vagrant fancies and the tender
merctes of Thomas Buffum. When the
memory of what Paul Benedict had
been to him, at one period of his life,
came to Jim, with the full realization
of his present misery and degradation,
the strong man wept like child. He
drew an old silk handkerchief from his
pocket, blew his nose as If it had been
a trumpet, and then slipped up to the
cell and said, softly: Paul Benedict,
give us your benediction.'
'Jim?' said the man, looking up
quickly.
Good God! he knows me- said Jim,
whispering. Yes, Mr.. Benedict, Pm
the same rough old fellow. How fare
yep
Pm miserable, replied the man.
well, ye don't look as eff ye felt fust
rate. How did ye git in here?'
'Oh, was damned when died. It's
all right, know; but it's terrible
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! guess you're right
said Jim, falling in with his fancy.
But where did you come from, Jim?
I never heard that you were dead
Yes, Pm jest as dead as you are.'
We'll, what did you come here for?
oh, / thought : I'd call round,' re-
piled Jim carelessly. o
Did you come from Abraham's bo-
som?' inquired Mr.. Benedict eagerly.
Straight
Il can't think why you should come
to see me, into such place as this!
said Benedict wonderingly.
%, got kind o. Uneasy. Don't have
much to do over there, ye know
'HOw did We get across the gulfT
Il jest showed over in birch, an
you must be perlite enough to return
the call, replied Jim, in the most mat
ter-Of-course manner possible.
Benedict loOded down upon his torn
and wretched ciothiug, and then turn
ed his pitiful eyes up to Jim, who saw
the thoughts that were passing IN the
poor mans mind.
Never mind your clo'es,' he said. Il
dress Jest the same there as l did IN
Number Nine, and nobody says word.
The fact is, they don't mind very
much about elo'es there any way. I'l
come over and git ye, ye know, and
INTRODUCE ye, and ye shall have jest as
good time as Jim Fenton can give ye:'
Shall / takemy rifle along? inqul-
red Benedict.
Yes, an plenty of amanition. There
isn'tnO game to speak of-only few
pa fridge; but we can shoot at mark
all day, eff we want to-
Benedict tOttered to his feet and came
to the grated door, with his eyes all
alight with hope land expectation:
Jim, you always were good fellow
said he, 'and,' dropping his voice to-a
whisper, IN show you my improve
ments. Belcher mustn't get hold OF
them. He's after them. hear him
round nights, but he shan't have them.
We got a new tumbler, and.
well, never mind, now replied
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 'em.
You an L want to git red of the crowd,
We know. We alters did. So when /
come arter ye, you jest keep mum, and
we'll have a high old time.-Scribner
for February.