Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1882-01-27
Written for the GaAPmC.
"CAN'T KETCn DE DE1IL."
by PRAIRIE BILL.

days, and brought together the folks FOL
miles around = mostly colored men.
| Ny employer was a man Of medium
hight, black hair, black eyes, lean
frame. but why as an eel. He was a
lover of jokes, and used to laugh hear
THY over the many tricks was in the
habit of playing off on different partie.
coming to mill.
The colored men of that neighbor,
hood began to look ON mo rs the devil
incarnate,' and if anything went wrong
say a new bride taken off horse
aud replaced by an old blind bride, a
horse hitc he'd wrong.fore. most to 8
wagon or buggy, saddle changed, OIL
mule or horse gone--it was invariably
laid to me. The colored men labeeld
me with the euphonious sobriquet OF
"Debil Bill"
1t was about eleven o'clock one Fri
day morning that an old coloredmsn
rode up and hitched his horse to tree.
He looked around anxiously. made a
few steps toward the mill door, halted,
then called out:
ooh! Nassa Langley; Nassa Lang
ley~
Mr.. Langley made his appearance at
the door, and seeing old Uncle Moses
standing as though in deep meditation
asked him what he would have at the
same time inviting him in.
mo .'anks, las.a Langley: want ter
git SOM flour, and would be much
obliged to yer if yell bring me some
samples ter look at" replied Moses.
"Why, Moses, what's the matter you
CAM come mp" asked the miller.
"Tell ye what It's, Msssa Langley; Use
got SOM powerful nice peaches on de
boss, an If dat Debil Bill gets hold o
dem, dis chile never see 'em agin," re
piled Noses.
was near the engine house cracking
walnuts and overheard Moses talking.
noticed the sack and about how many
peaches it contained, and matching it
the best l could, filing another sack
with ualnuts. Ipicked up an oil can
and walked srouId where Langley and
Moses were still talking. pretending as
though | wanted some lubricating oil,
but in fact to give Mr.. Langley a know
ing wink and pointed up stairs. He
understood me. and calling out said:
Moses, you will have to go up stairs
with me, for my flour Is all up there"
Moses spied a colcred fellow named
Joe with his form measured on a board,
summing himself with the felicity of a
rattle snake. Calling his name, Moses
said: "Joe. you keep yer eye on dat
hoss-Dehil Bill don't git away wild
dis niger"
Joe nodded a lazy acqulesce, and |
suppose that's the last he though of it
for he dozed of to sleep Instantly.
Moses stepped into the mill. and as
he started up the stairs spang to the
side of the horse, jerked the peaches of
and replacing them with the sack Of
walnuts lover peck. 1t was done IN
less time than 1t takes to pen 1t down.
When Moses got up stairs he planted
himself IN the door so he could keep
an eye on his horse After looking over
the samples of -four he chose sack,
and told Langley he would be round |
next day TOR it. Before starting down !.
stairs he cried out to Joe and wanted
to know if any one had beer near his
horse. Joe answered satisfactory.
Moses came down stars, went to his
horse, mounted aud rode away, not sus-
pecting the trick played on him.
Next day SATURDAY. Moses came
back the most gloomy, respondent,
woe-begone looking
negro you ever saw. When Mr..
Langly asked him what was the matter.
ne replied:
"slassa Lan!ey, no use talkin: you
amt ketch de debil.
Not appearing to understand Mr..
Langley said: "Uncle Moses you will
rave to unrayel yourself; can't COM
your meaning
"Well, Massa Langley" replied
Noses. 81 recon- III hey to splain my
elf. You know when ] came here
yesterday | had some fine peaches. Wei
when went home says to my wife: :
%ife Use got some o de incest peaches
e ever laid yer eyes onto: tell We day
m delicious. Aunt Mariah sent EN-
o yer. Day are peaches what am
,eaches-eet no sich things round
ere. When she looked into de sack
md found muffin but walnuts she said: {
Git ont, you fool niger, what yer
rant ter impose upon dis chile dat way
ur-des am no peaehes-day am wal
ats Tink If yell cut SOM O dat wool {
f yer head you wouldn't be so stupid
Wife, dem was peaches when | lef'
lunt Mariahs. sure's ye're born. |
now it, case ! cat some myself" repli- :
d Moses. y,
Uncle Moses mind seem to be wan l
erlng and in the greatest Of distress. !.