Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-16
MONK

bookkeeper, and asked the general manager
for job.
| In appearance he was almost hideous, his
| face being wider than it was broad, sur
mounted by patch of woolly hair that came
| to the very edge of his eyebrows; 80 close, in
fact, that the point of beginning could not
| be determined of either
A cavernous mouth, containing rows OF
| fangs that were continually in sight, opened
| beneath nose of startling hatness.
A short chunky body, with long arms and
hands, that were seldom still, completes the
| best description can give Of monk"
| The only thing that secured him place
| was the shortness of hands, for the general
manager turned to me when the negro walked
| out, and said:
did you ever see such an evil face on q
human beinga"
My reply was in the affirmative.
Monk, however, much to my surprise,
| proved to be one of the best men we had, and
everything went on as usual, until about two
| months after his appearance.
Then we began to be bothered with petty
thieving from the commissary, which baffied
the sharp eyed clerk who held full sway in
that department.
l should have mentioned before that the
scene of this action was at large sawmlll,
where, as is the case with all large manufac-
| turers, we sold goods to our employees.
The robberies at first small and Of little
consequence, soon began to grow oftener and
on a larger scale.
Articles were marked and all such plans
worked, but to no purpose, for the thief
would leave the marked goods and take
something else. Finally it gotso boldly COM
mitted that the general manager secured the
help Of detective and put him at work on
the case.
After couple of weeks the detective came
in the Office and went into the private room
of the general manager.
After conference of a few moments, they
came out smiling
'We've got him." chuckled my employer,
'and who do you think it iss'
monk" replied, my first thought being
of the meanest looking negro on the place.
Correct" said the general manager, land
what do you suppose he did with the stuff he
took?'
That's more than can tell"
'Wel, the detective is to show us tonight,
and he says we will not hurt Monk for it, if
we are the people he takes us to be-"
That night the general manager, detective
and myself were secreted near the commits
sary, waiting for Monk to show himself.
About 10 o'clock we saw his ugly form
come sliding through one of the windows, in
company with two sacks of -four and numer-
Gus other bundles.
He stood still for short time after getting
to the ground, and looked carefully around;
then, as if satisfied that he was unseen, he
shouldered his load and marched silently OFF,
with US in the rear. He went about two
miles through the woods, and finally came to
a halt before q small cabin
Softly he orept to the door and listened, as
If to be sure no one was up.
Then he took one of the sacks Of -four and
laid it noiselessly on the front steps, and piled
some of the other packages on it.
This done, he went on with the rest of his
load.
His actions We're perfect mystery to me,
and the detective said
II want you to stay here until day, to
watch the person who takes that stuff away,
while this gentleman and l will follow him to
the other places"
l agreed, and began a lonely watch.
The hours before day seemed ages but when
the first rays of the sun gilded the waving
trees, was alert and at my post.
Just few moments after the sun arose, the
door was opened by little white girl, who
gave cry of delight as her eyes fell on the
provisions, and called to some one in the
house:
"Old Sanity has been here again"
In answer to her cry boy joined her and
the two lifted the flour and packages and
moved them into the house
When they disappeared, crept closer to
the cabin and peered through hole between
the logs, and this is what saw:
In one corner of the little 10x12 room, on
an old and torn mattress, lay the form of a
woman, covered with a tattered shawl and
apparently asleep.
The room contained no furniture, with the
exception of a rickety table and two home
manufactured chairs.
There was no o her occupant to the place,
save this woman and the two children, the
eldest Of whom was not over years
When I reached my post Of observation
the boy and girl were standing beside the
still form of the woman, trying to arouse her.
Nanny" the girl said, ''get UP and see
what we've got this morning; old Sanity has
brought as some real -four, and coffee and
sugar, and, oh, SO many nice things"
But the figure did not move
"Don't bother her," spoke the boy, ''she's
tired out; don't you know how she cried and
set up last nightF'
YES" smiled the sister, II will get break
fast, and then wake her; won't she be happy,
thought"
And those two began preparing a meal
that to them was al undoubted feast.
l still remained at the hole TO see what the
end would be, for felt that something would
happen that would require the help Of an older
person
It was not long before the girl had pot Of
hot coffee ready, together with few pieces
of crisp bacon and hoe cake.
She approached the pallet again and called
her mother, but still no answer
Brother" she said in low whisper, 81
b'lieve she Is worse.'
| could see the boTs face pale a. this, and
he went to the mattress and kn.lt beside it.
As he drew back the cover from the face,
be gave cry of sorrow.
what is itF asked the sister, sinking at
his side
The boy lookei at her in despairing map
ner. and sobbed
''Oh, sister, nanny is dead and gone from
usI'
The girl was speeches. With terror, but
soon recovered her voice, and replied IN
tone, choked With sadness:
.'No she amt, Buddy: she's jest cold like;
she got that way heap times
The boy shook his head and continued -
sob.
/ thought il about time for NE 70 show ny
self. and, pushing the door open. WALKED in
They were little startled az my entrance,
but the boy quickly asked, while look q
-orsa r,rr,rrs-3 his