The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-08-12


his elbows, leveled his gaze still more in
tently upon that .'dummy." Great C@.
sar's ghosti it moved. Was it the wind
swaying bundle of clothes stuffed with
straw? Or was it-by the great boom
that swings over the river Jordan it rubs
it's hands. 1t is mani Never before,
during career checkered by almost dai.
ly surprises, had Eel River Dan ever ex-
pected such sudden shock of astonish.
ment. For te; Consecutive seconds by
the bar-room clock he was powerless,
speeches., well-nigh lifeless. Then he
raised his hands to his face and leaned
bis cheeks upon them while he studied
the apparition beside the stove.
1t was q little man, a hollow-chested,
cavern checked, mild-eyed, meek-looking
man. Plying had never been distin-
gushing trait in the composition OF
Don's nature, but as be gazed upon this
ragged, forlorn looking being feeling
akin to sympathy began to usurp the
place of surprise in his breast, and it
was in a tone almost tinged with kind
ness that he addressed the sickly va.
grant.
"Bin var long3"
"Eh?
The reply sounded like the gurgling
of blood through the sink pipes of dis
secting room.
"Ain't bin loafn' round thet yer stove
more'n a minute or two, hev ye2"
Dams tone was so insinuating and his
intention to avoid hurting the poor fel-
lows feelings so evident, that man With
perceptiye faculties developed to any de-
gree whatever would have understood
the kindly motive. But the rash mau at
the stove must have been morally OBJ
tuse, for he gurgled forth the exaspera-
ting reply:
"Ever since those other roostels lit
out"
"What!" Dams eyes we're dilated
with the intensity of his emotion. Wrath
was taking the place Of pity.
| The little man made no reply, but rub
bed them and held them palms outward
in frout-of the warm stove.
"Mebbe you wasn't payin' perticler
'tention to wat made 'em git up and
1dust2" 1t was a forced calmness that
permeated Dams manner as he made this
last remark.
"Dldu't know but what there was a
dog fight or something down street."
"Dog fight or somethin'," sneered
Dan, reaching glass. "Mebbe yer not
acquainted 18th me9"A
s.Who,re pon p. The man at the stove
| tmt not make this inquiry as II he had
any particular desire to ascertain the
identity of bis interlocutor. but gurgled
lit in a mechanical way, like phono-
graph or an automatic talking machine.
"I'm Eel River Dan, stranger, an I'm
bad"
II Dan imagined that this announce.
ment would discompese the vagrant he
was mistaken. 1t had no more effect
than so much wind, and the stranger
did not even appear to notice the re-
mark.
"D'ye hear, you cadaverous gaioot?
I'm Eel River Dan, an I'm on it bigger'n
a wolf"
"That's all right amt objectin'."
"You amt, eh? Well, / don't s'pose
ye be, an ats more, 1 amt intendin' ye
shell. Now look yer, stranger, ye think
| ii was dog fight or somethin' that
cleared this yer bar-room bit ago ?"
"Something o. that kind-I wasn't
particoleny anxious to hustle round an
find out, anyhow"
IL b'lieve yer lyin', stranger; but afore
| l perceed any further 18th your case, I'll
give ye the true bizness: them huskies
slid out o this yer place cause they saw
me comm in that yer door over thar
see the door, ?"
s'It's thar, reckon" answered the lit
tie man, Who had turned his back to the
stove, but who did not take the trouble
to resume his former position for the
purpose Of verifying the bad mans as
sertion that door absolutely existed in
that particular side of the apartment.
"Well, nv consumptive friend, faint
too late fur you to use that same hole in
the wall-you'll be in time to hear how
that dog fight you was speakin' about
come out, mebbe, ef yer uncomnonly
lively,n
'D,n't keer how il come out" an
swerel the hollow-cheeked individual, In
his most woe-begone tone of voice.
"Don't, ehp Yer sure ye don't want
to know which dog lickedi"
| "Ain't bettin' continental red on ma
Try dog tght jest no ~, an ain't goin' to,
/ tuurus--- Tuvr1 wos ghvos of -osnpfIu-
sis in the latter portion Of this speech,
but it WAS almost wholly choked by the
gloomy sadness OF the tone in which it
was uttered.
sits purity rough, blamed ef It ain't,"
solillocuized Dan, edging around toward
the end Of the bar. "I'd as soon tackle
raft o. measly babies, but it's got down
to a g'ound hog case, and eff don't do
somethn' purity soon the boys will be
kickin' me from one end of the country
to the other. It's got to be did. Theirs
no hell for it. say, sickly, mebbe ye'd
like tc say word or two afore it hap
pens"
"W'lt happens ?"
"Wty, what's goin' to happen when /
turn loose."
"Aift got nuthin' to say"
"AnF place, pertickler, ye'd like to be
hauled to- arter the matinee ?"
"W'at matinee ?" :,
"W'at matinee! The matinee that's
goin to open up in about one minute by
that yer clock,
"Don't know nothin' bout it."
"You'll know more'n you want afore
I git through with you. Amt got no
friendsthat'd plant ye decently in case the
Coroner had to sit on your"
"Nary friend"
"No money!"
"Nary dime"
"Got name, I s'pose-write it down
and I'll see that it's spelled right in the
papers,"
"Cheerful Harry"
"Age?" @
UFortv- -four."