Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-11

| from hps companion long enough to replace
it whete it belonged, but he was back again
in minute. 1t was 10 o'clock and the
camp Was nearly all asleep. Those who
were only doing as yet were first to heal
| the low, (soft commencement of a song.
| ''Thatt my daughters voice." Jack
High remtrked, with proprietary pride.
Other listeners, and especially those
whom the melody had awakened from slum.
Der, may bhve drowsily imagined that il
was superfel; but as the singing grew
louder and stronger, and the words of fa-
miliar, sentitental song were enunciated
the hearers RECALLED Deuce Low, and knew
that she was the vocalist. 1t was an agree
able disturbance of the quiet of the night
and when it ceased the unseen audience
clapped hands and made great outcry ol
delight Then, afraid that the hubbuh
would keep the singer silent instead of in
citing her to begin again, the men ceased
their noise and waited. The two fathers
found their boy and girl still at the tree.
Deuce sat leaning against the trunk, as they
had left her, and the moonbeams had not
ceased to glorify her face, into which an ex-
preston of tranquility had come. An in
effable tenderness had softened the pretty
lineaments, and all trace of disingenuous-
ness was gone. 1t was as though the woman
which she had hardly become had sung a
ceased to be, and so serenity of repose had
settled down upon the poor little ad-
ventures. The shadow of the tree had
shifted with the higher rise of the moon,
| leaving Will Brown out in the light; but
he no longer took care to screen his rapt re-
gard of his guest, and this may have been
because he perceived that he was not a con-
sequential factor in producing her placid
contentment.
"You nor me haint held es pretty pair
es them, whispered Jugg, his exultation
over the game asserting itself in his Ian
guage.
They'd be winners, sir-wlnners," Jack
asserted vivaciously.
my sons prince" and Jugg's pa
ternal vanity easily likened his gracefully
posed son to some vaguely remembered hero
of limelit theatricals.
"And my daughters a princess, re-
torted Jack, adopting the others spelling
out whim of speech rather uockingly, and
with immense emphasis on that syllable
which made the word exclusive to feminin-
ity.
The two men were not likely to be har-
monious in eulogies Of their offspring. They
were sileneed, however, by the youngsters
themselves, who began to sing together 1t
was ditty with nonsensical words but a
captivating melody, and the night air re-
ceived it with all acoustic kindness; with
discrimination, too, for it carried the tune
ful notes far beyond the reach of the dog
gerel rhymes. At the end of the verse what
sounded for an instant like an echo, but
which developed into a refrain by third
singer, came from the distance. The voice
was high and strong, with
strenuous unction seldom heard else
where than at religious camp
m utolr lrohI 10
Afric-American. Will and Deuce sang an
other verse, and again the approaching
voice repeated the chorus with arose vim
The campers emerged from their tents and
wagons, the sentimental loungers at the
tree stood up, their fathers Joined the in
creasing group, and all watched two persons
who were coming into view on mustang
ponies. One of these was the assertive
vocalist, and she looked more like witch
than a siren as she rode into the throng
She was a negress, with the sooty blackness
of a native African, but without the usual
accompanying ugliness of face. Half CEN
tury had not bent her stalwart form, and as
she alighted from the horse she stood
commanding figure, even In a
gathering of men. A bright handkerchief
turbaned her head, and a gaudy shawl
wrapped her shoulders.
'Pse glad to see yo'sels, an rs hopin'
my singin' hasn' 'sturbed yo," she said ora
when heahs music 1 cain't |
try to hold my yawp-deed cain't. Dough |
singin' hain't my perfes' n BILE 'ployment. |
Use houdoo fortin' teller
Her companion was a man of 80, with
shaven yellow face, but with none of the
facial characteristics of mulatto. His
garb was that of a cowboy. He still sat astride |
his horse in silent scrutiny of the company and |
this singular eyeing of the campers would not |
cC.al
been engrossing the general attention.
whats your night riding for?" Boss Don |
aid roughly demanded to know. "Are you |
sure you haven't stolen these horses? 1 guess |
you'd better stay with us till morning, to see if
somebody doesn't come chasing YOU" |
"Chasing us?' and the yellow mans first ut |
tersnee WAS quizzSa s.,a I'VE amt chased.ws
added in a docile tone: 30, we'll stop the night |
with you, if you want u.s."
He's my son. the negress volubly resumed. |
deed, f3ks. he's my son. We's trabblin'
FORTUNE seeking9" Will Brown suggested.
AN fortin' telling, boy" and she chuckled |
t prophecy9 Er does yo' ruther buy houdoo
cha'm?" |
The superstitious instinct of gambler spoke |
put in Jack High. What you got, Auntie?" |
"Genuin houdoo luck chains, sab. Nebber |
fail sah," and she brought out a handful of |
small bags. made o. rattler skin. sab, an |
IL.
cheap at a dollah."
"A1I alike?" and he examined the charm |
bags with his eyes, seemingly averse to touch
ing the uncanny things,
aJes' alike, sah-fr'm crows tongue T. dead
chiles toenail, dey's ebery one got de right |
seben ingred'nts into 'em. An dey was put
t'gedder wifi de true houdoo cer'mony at the
tu'n OBJ de moon"
Jack chose one Of them, put it into his
pocket, and handed a paper dollar to Queen
Sheeb. Old Jugg Brown bought one, too and |
also PAID for MT l. with % one Of the dollars won
of his saddle, and eyed the money as it was re-
ceived by the negress His eagerness was very
demonstrative. He took the two notes from
ton. searching for some peculiarity of their
print Then he became suddenly domineering
in manner and dictatorial in tone.
Il want you' and you" he cried, indicating
This is counterfeit money and have a war
rant for your arrest"
"Tor my aTrest?" Jack gasped.
Old Jugg was dumb with amazement
Here's the document" the stranger said
producing a crumpled but still legal looking
paper. ut calls for John Roe and Richard
Pm Deputy Sheriff and Government detec.
i've; and you'll let me search you, if you
please"
He went at the searching in such prompt,
1rofessio 1al way that the two men offered no
objection: He first took all the money from
lack High, examining and marking it piece by
piece: and then he seized upon Old Jugg
Browns winnings in the same methodical man.
her,
SLOW do we know who and what you are,"
Boss Donald interposed. Il don't believe Iii
ct pair of fortune-telling tramps fool with
his camp"
.'Old Hannah is in the houdoo line" was the
fellows calm explanation. "I'm only a sort of
travelling partner OF course l amt her son.
nut stain. I've been sent to do this job neat.
md I've done it. Here's my credentials" and