Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-24
Don't talk to me about sin old Nelly

me so wild. What can l do for you
honcy?'
Whatever you do must be done soon, .
he said sullenly. "I saw some men
leave Hopefeld as started here; they
must be nearly across.
I amt got place on de yearth to
hide you, Phil. thouten you can git in
de chimley: they'll never dream o look
in dar You can stay in all day, and
steel off when night comes. ! guess you
d better go to de woods ag'in.''
81 won't do that-not unless want
ter go crazy
Sect you can crawl in de chimley.
Oar amt been no fire in it for month
o Sundays. It smokes SO bad l cant
use it nowhow. You can stan up, an
I'll put cheer in de fireplace, and pile it
up wild my ole clo'es ter hide yer legs"
"Look out, Aunt Nelly, and see'f they
are comm. "
she opened the door cautiously II
see three men at de landin,' Phil, but
dey amt a-coming dis way. Dey's gone
across Front Row.
They're off my track. They'll search
for me in the very slums meant to hide
in
s:For all dat, dis amt safe place fo'
you, Phill.''
"Do you want to turn me out of your
house?'
ssGod forbid, 20 po' boy! Stay and
git what comfort you kin. Stretch yer
self out on dat bed dar and try ter rest
Ill watch out TO YOU
He threw himself down and tried to
sleep, but in vain. His blood began to
burn and race through his veins; pain
struck at him with thousand whips He
held his hands over his mouth to keep
himself from screaming aloud.
| Toward noon he heard, as from some
far-of place, Aunt Mely's voice: "Phll,
honey, dey're comm back"
He sprang up and thrust his head
recklessly out of the door,
"Git back, PHIL" said the old woman,
sharply, 81 kin tell yer all der is to tell.
Dey's stoppin' now at house on Prone
made street; dey's drawin' water at de
we'll by the wood pile, an little gal,
is talkin' to DEM
morning; she saw the way come I'm a
lost man.
NO you amt. You jist git right in de
chimley, and I'll deal with 'em if dey
come Karin round dis house,
By the time he was well in the hiding
place the men had turned toward the ne.
gro quarter. Aunt Nelly sat down and
went to work quietly on patchwork
quilt, ready to receive them with proper
surprise and dignity. But when they
came the work fell from her hands, her
skin turned ashen-gray, she shook in
every limb, for Tom Jack was the first
man who burst into the room-Tom Jack,
strong in virile life, angry-eyed, a long
knife stuck in his belt
Aunt Nelly was shrewd old soul; she
recovered herself instantly and said moth
ing. s'Phil sartinly shot somebody" she
thought, 'and I'll jis' hol' my tongue till
| see how things is gwine to turn OUT
"Where is Phil Vickers?" said Tom in
a voice deep with passion.
"Phil Vickers? Why. amt seed de
boy sence | went over to his house five or
six days ago to get a settin' of eggs Miss
Bettyd been savin' up for me-"
"Now, come, Aunt Mely," said one Of
the party good-humoredly, "you needn't
lie. Little Sally Polk saw him come
right in yer do We left policeman
huntin' him in the city, and was on our
way back to Hopefeld when the child
told us whar he were"
so my soul! What's poor Phil done
that you're all a-huntin him like lot o.
houn's?'
"Phil's had little shooting affair, said
the good natured man.
who'd he shoot?"
"Who'd he shoot?" cried Tom. ''The
sweetest, brightest creetur' the Lord ever
made-lny sister Nancy jack
In the dreadful silence that followed a.
convulsive, gasping sound was heard
The next moment Phil sprang out, his
hair and clothes coverel with mould like
a specter from the grave. els this true,
boys? Did kill Nancy!' he said in a
harsh, hollow voice.
Jack sprang at him, his knife flashing
in the air. But he was caught and held
by one of the men with him: "Soltly.
Tom, softly! Let Phil have fair play.'
my sister in cold blood?"
AS you SEES, nc, ION, l. thought 1t
was you kissing Little Betty"
"That's an argument, Tom,' said the
third man, who had long, sad face, and
who fingered over his words as if he were
pattlng them" that's an argument as III
go down with the jury. It was night;
you an Nancy are alike in the face;
you've got no whiskers, you know, Tom.
How was Phil to know that it was Nancy
a shown herself off to little Betty.
dressed up in your clo'es fol- a Moody
Gras frclic?'
AS he heard curious change came
over Phil. His knees began to shake
pitiably, his body to collapse. He held
out his hand as if trying to steady him
self, and grasping only air, he fell slowly
to the floor, saying in a stifed voice,
Let Tom kill me; amt fl to live"
"The hangman, will do it for me, said
Tom with a snarl.
rs the poor gal deal?' said Aunt
Nelly.
mo, she amt dead-she amt dead
yit, . rejoined the sad-faced man. ssWe
couldn't get a doctor yesterday, the town
was in such a swivel. But DR.. Taylor, he
come over las night, an is thar now. He
amt foun' de bullet. He says Nancy'si in
cosmotose state"
Now, while this talk was gong on.