The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-11-09
CHAPTER III.

y
gan to sing together It was ditty
with nonsensical words but captivat-
ing melody, and the night air received
it with all acoustic kindness; with dis
elimination, too, for it carried the tune
full notes far beyond the reach of the
doggerel rhymes AT the end Of the
verse what sounded for an instant like
an echo, but which developed into a re-
frain by . third singer, came from the
distance The voice was high and
strong, with a strenuous JUNCTION seldom
heard elsewhere than at a religious camp
meeting. and with the unmistakable
twang of an Afro American VIII and
Deuce sang another verse and again the
approaching voice repeated the chorus
with ariose vim. The campers emerged
from their tents and wagons, the senti-
mental loungers at the tree stood mp,
their fathers Joined the increasing
group and all watched the persons who
were coming into view on mustang
ponies.
One Of these was the assertive vocalist,
aud she looked more like witch than
siren as she rode into the throng. She
was negress, with the sooty blackness
of a native African, but without the
usual accompanying ugliness of face.
Half century had not bent her stall
wart form, and as she alighted from the
horse she stood physically commanding
figure, even in gathering of men. A
bright handkerchief turbaned her head
and gaudy shawl wrapped her shout
ders.
ssTse glad to see yo'sels, an rs hopin'
my singin hasn't sturbed yo," she said
oratorically. when I heahs music /
CANT try to hold my gawp-deed Icaint.
Dough singin haint 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 q cowboy. He still sat
astride his horse. in silent scrutiny of the
company, and this singular eying of the
campers would not have passed unno-
ticed If the negress had not been EN-
crossing the general attention
whats your night riding forg' Boss
Donald roughly demanded to know
Are you sure you haven't stolen these
horses' / 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 utterance was quizzical. I'VE amt
chased-we chase He checked him
self abruptly, and added in docile
tore: "Oh. wen stop the night with
you If you want us.
Hes my son" the negress volubly re-
surned. Deed, folks, he's my son. Yves
trabblin' towa'd Oklahoma"
Fortune seekingfn Win Brown sug-
gested.
SAN fortin' telling, boy and she
chuckled over her own wit. ssWhowants
Queen Sheeb t prophecy? Err does yo'
ruther buy houdoo cha'm?"
The superstitious instinct Of gambler
spoke out in Jack High. "What you
got, auntie?' he asked.
sGenuwin houdoo luck chains, sab.
Nebber fail, sab, and she brought out a
handful of small bags. Made O. RATHER
skin, sab, an filed wild seben luckies-
hahd to get, sab, an cheap at dollah"
'sAll alilzeT and he examined the
charm bags with his eyes, seemingly
averse to touching the uncanny things.
"Jes' alike, sah-fr'm crows tongue t
dead chile's toe nail, dey's cherry one got
de right seben ingred'nts into em. An
dey was put t'gedder wifi de true houdoo
cer'mony at de tu'n OBJ de moon"
Jack chose one of them, put it into his
pocket, and handed paper dollar to
Queen Sheeb. Old Jugg Brown bought
one, too, and also paid for it with one of
the dollars won from Aleck Wiams. The
yellow man slid out of his saddle and
eyed the money as it was received by
the negress. His eagerness was very
demonstrative. He took the two notes
from her hand and held them up for a
close inspection, searching for some pc
culiarity of their print. Then he became
suddenly domineering in manner and
dictatorial in tone.
Il want you, and you,n he cried, indi-
eating the two men who had bought the
charms. ''This is counterfeit money,
and I've got warrant for your arrest Z"
aFor my arrest?v gasped Jack
Old Jugg was dumb with amazement.
Here's the document" the stranger
eaid, producing acrumpled but still legal
looking paper. s'It calls for John Doe
ard Richard Roe, and the names will do
for you. guess. I'm deputy sheriff
and government detective, and you'll let
me search you, if you please"
He went at the searching in such a
prompt, professional way that the as
founded men offered no objection. He
first took all the money from Jack High,
examining and marking it piece by piece,
and then he seized upon Old Jugg
Browns winnings in the same method
ical manner.
How do we know who and what you
arsss' Boss Donald interposed. 81 don't
believe I'll let a pair Of fortune telling
tranps fool with this camp"
"0ld Hannah is in the houdoo line, I.
was the fellows calm explanation. s.Tm
only d sort Of travelling partner. OF
course I amt her son. and of course the
yellow ON nay face Is butternut stain.
I've been sent to do this job neat, and
I've done it. Here's my credentials,
and he submitted metal shield and
document to Donald.
..Eut you're bluaderea, MI capable