The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-28


will you, Cephus? Get that tramp and
let him go in.'
"Not I. 1 won't ask a man to go where
[ won't risk myself"
Aunt Salome muttered something
about risking "a tramp's useless life" and
then went into the house and put on her
ample sunbonnet. She told Bob, the
colored servant boy, to put "Jim' into
the coupe and drive her down street.
"Iwould like to get some description of
the tramp" Aunt Salome reasoned to her.
self, "and I've great mind to let Bob
call him out of that saloon ahead. OF
course he ia there. That's where such
people 90. Then / can describe him to
the police"
Bob alighted and went toward the sa-
loon door.
swell, Bob" said Jerry Collins, the
saloon keeper, meeting him on tho door
step, 81 see you have got Aunt Salome
here Will she take nip?'
The saloon keeper raised his voice in
this closing clause, and roguishly wink
ed at several thirsty customers. Aunt
Salome heard it, and in disgust kept her
head ont of sight.
ooh, she wants to know il a tramp has
been here"
"No, I saw. though, trampish looking
sort of fellow opposite here, and I
thought he was going to make me call;
but he swung yellow flower In his hand
looked at that and then moved off"
Was Lumpie's flower guiding the
homeless one homeward?
ST won't give it up, he ought to be
here, vsaid Aunt Salome, as they neared
gambling saloon, knowing very well he
ought not to be there.
"Tramp been here" replied the pro-
prietor to the inGuiring Bob. swell, no;
yes. A big, rough heather came to my
door, twirling a yellow flower; but he
turned away, and lost sight of him."
Was the flower still guiding?
"What shall / do?" exclaimed Aunt
Salome. 81 can't report his looks as l
would like to the police, and yet must
have them jest watch our house. Landl
what is that noise? Bob, what is it?"
awful, marin, wasn't it? Hebben and
airth big way den! Fearful noise! See dose
folks runnip'P
what can it be?" screamed Aunt Sa-
The man she was hailing stopped in
the midst of vigorous run, and bawied
out:
They say it's Emerson's block that has
tumbled."
The man had no second edition of news
to give her, but rushed on headlong.
"Oh, Co phus, you there?' shrieked
Aunt Salome. Drive on, Bobp
And Bob drove on till they came to the
ruins, one mass Of fallen chimney, walls.
floors, roofs. There was dense black
crowd around the spot. Several of the
people seeing Aunt Salome, rushed to the
carriage.
she is safe, marin. He's all right"
"Ce-phus is?"
"Yes; we have him in the 'pothecary
store; but he had narrow escape" said
man. 81 saw the whole of it. You see
this building was not put up right, and
everybody thought it crazy, and Emer-
son wanted your brother to examine the
thing. People thought they saw the end
wall bulgin' out, and advised him not
to go; but down into the cellar he
went. While he was there the end
tumbled, and then we heard big cry for
help from the cellar. You see it was Ce-
plus caught under a timber. But you
must not wonder il no man dared go
down there; for people were calm out,
'Tother end is bulgin' outp At last there
came along big, strong moose-sort of a
fellow, rough-lookin' customer that no.
body knew, and he jest whisked down the
cellar quickly; and in about as short a
time as am tellin' this story, he got to
your brother and then passed him out to
us through a cellar window. By the
time we had crossed the street win Ce-
dhus"-
"Then Ce-phus is hurt?" interposed
Aunt Salome.
"No; he was kinder scratched, but re-
ally he won't need even plaster"
"And that man?"
"Well, as was sayin', we had crossed
the street with Oe-phus and all there
was left of the building tumbledl Twas
awfuli"
"And buried that man underneath"
"That's where he is, I'm sorry to say;
under that pile the people are tryin' to
turn over for they think they can fetch
him out pretty quick, guessin' about
where he is"
The next moment Aunt Salome wa
out of the carriage. In spite Of lot Of
nerves, she had lot of sense and heart