The Penn's Grove record., 1889-01-19

enough, as he had no n to talk to ex-
cept the parrot, whom, with the craft
of a child of nature, he coaxed into the
utterance of a multitude Of e%xcruciat-
ing noise.
The room was filled, and a block OF
people stood outside also, between the
open window and the pine forest. All
Jaggard's intimate acquaintance had
been subpnnaed. Thus the Macdonalds
and John Waller looking somewhat un-
comfortable; but Mrs. Macdonald with
merely a tight mouth, as II she resented
such an Improbable waste of time.
Quash, with bracelets or and shedding
tears as fast as he could, was present
of course. Never did an innocent negro
offer so pitiable a spectacle as he. But
no one compassionated him. The only
pity at his service was what he might
expect from the cold barrels of seven
OIL eight six-shooters.
This lively gathering in the room
which it had been wont to consider
sacred to itself and its master-whom
it loved In bird -fashIon-at first fright
ened the parrot. 1t tried to obliterate
itself in the darkest coIner of its Gage.
By-and-by, however, it appeared to
take an interest in the proceedings. 1t
trod cautiously forward, inch by inch,
until 1t was as neal to the assembly as
its cage, permitted. Some n gave it
a lump of sugar, but it neglected the
sugar when the city marshal began to
speak. Quash interrupted the marshal
with a passionate reputation of some-
thing the marshal said. at this the
bird cooked its head, and redoubled its
attention.
The evidence was purely clrcumstan-
tial. Quash, when called upon 10 de-
fend himself. could say nothing but
commonplace. He lovod Mister Jag
gard too much to think of killing him
would rather put the knife into his
W black bosom, and 30 forth. He
shed additional tears, too. All Of
which was no defence at all. And so,
when he became silent, it was apparent
that lie would be judged guilty.
The city marshal was not satisfied.
He had e e a negro weep like
Quash, he said. 81 want to know
something about Jaggard's personal
habits" he observed. "Was lie likely
to commit suicide, for instancep Mr..
John Waller, you, l think, knew him
pretty WELL"
"Yes, l knew him well,' replied
Waller, standing up, and feeling very
sick,
You should have seen the excitement
of the parrot when it heard Walters
voice.
Snow, what do you think about this
business, MI. Waller?" asked the mar
shall.
"John did It'll John did i'll" scream
ed the bird, which then, with a splut-
TER of effort, reproduced the sounds
emitted by Jaggard when he died. The
noise of its wings against the cage-bars
drew every eye toward it; and, holding
fast to the side of the cage, it once
more stammered forth in low, clear
tones. but agonized. as if exhausted:
"John did It'll"
But what electrified the audience was
the unmistakable imitation of a death.
rattle and choke with which it favored
them. After the performance. it leap
ed lightly back TO its centre bar, and
with the toes leg demurely scratched
its head-feathers. There was no mis-.
constituting this performance.
The city marshal was the first to
give Waller a look of scrutiny. Sybil
and her mother were hardly less alert.
AS for Quash, his black face lit up with
a sudden glory. The assembled towns.
people, having briefly wondered, were
led by the tendency OF the eyes of the
marshal, the ladies, and Quash, to look
where they looked. What did they
see?
Waller, when he heard the bird
speak, was not immensely moved; but
the terrible iteration of the death agony
put a seal of ~veraclty upon the words,
and instantly he realized that his doom
was upon him. An acute pain took
him at the heart; he turned CHASTITY
pale, his eyes dimmed, so that he saw
the eyes of his neighbors and acquaint-
ances centered upon him as it were
through a mist, and lie reGled forward,
doubled upon the chair in front of him.
When they tried to lift HIM they found
that he was dead.
Il rather guess" observed the city
marshal, ''there's a kind of a link be-
tween the inquest we are holding to-
day and the one we will hold to-mor-
row, which it'll be awkward 10 lay
hands on.
Th,nuuh nr n~nIIInp an,s EIouSns