Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1891-07-30
A TRAMP's STORY.
he Was Not Thoroughly Bad, Notwith-
standing His Appearance.

prospects more'n once NO, l don't
mind telling of one case, and ] remem-
Der at this moment, and sometime, I'm
sorry, and sometimes I'm glad. 1t was
to have been robbery, and 1t might have
been murder, though I've always kept
clear Of that.
Me and Bill Doolin-he's doin' time
IN the pen for lifting gentemen's va
Uses on the cars was set to rob house
in the suburbs. There was money
and plate, an only feeble woman and
two children, girls at that. in the place.
We wanted to get through with the job
afore midnight, so as to take train
that would carry US out of reach if we
were suspicioned, and we walked out
eight miles to the place, aud got there
early in the evening.
AT the depot we heard of a dog-a
blood-thirsty mastiff that was kept
chained day and night--only at night it
was taken into the house. So we had
to change our plans. There was park
in front of the house, and 1 got up o
scheme. One Of us would be taken
sick suddenly, and call out to attract
attention. The women and children
would run out to see what was the
matter, and then the other one would
slip inside and get the valuables As
the house was only an ordinary family
residence we believed this could be easily
done. The night was dark and there
was no street lamps, which favored our
scheme
"Bill insisted that ] should do the
sick act, and when the folks came he
was to slip in and rob the house. Up
to then it seemed easy enough. but
you've heard of burglars luck? No?
Well, it's a kind of presentiment that
gets hold of you just at the wrong mo-
ment and makes you weaken. Oh,
pshawl 1t was the soft spring night
and the pure country air that turned
my head, and all in jiffy, and you,
might say, got sick of the job and
wished myself out of it.
"Howsomever, ] was ashamed to
back down now, so / told Bill not to
start till l gave him a certain signal
agreed upon betwixt us, and then be-
gan to groan, and holler, and call for
help. There was no other house near,
the next building being a church, and
now | saw lights moving in the house
Then a woman came out on the veranda
She had lantern, and looked out into
the darkness to see where the cries
came from.
It's some poor man in dreadful
pain heard her say.
"She was followed by two children.
Bill was hidin' back of me in among the
trees, and he whispered loud;
Now's my time
No. said back to him, wait till !
give the signal.
Then groaned and carried on worse
than ever. l saw that the lady was
coming down the steps of the veranda.
The children began to scream.
Don't go, mamma, don't go; you
will be killedlp
Nonsense she said; suppose it was
papa lying their hurt and suffering Il
gave another yelD, wouldn't you be
thankful to anybody who would help
him?"
with that she came direct toward
me, and ! groaned and shut my eyes as
ii in great pain. She leaned over me,
and could see that she had good,
kind face
What is the matter with you, good
man? What can ! do for you?
Her voice was sweet and kind, aud
all the time could hear Bill making
motions for the signal, in the bushes
behind me. The two children, pretty
little girls. had hold of their mothers
gown, and were staring at me. There
was everything had planned for Just
within reach, and you'll never guess
what did No, can hardly believe it
OF myself
"'Are you in great pain? What can
do to help your she said again.
II opened my eyes wide and looked
at her
Take your children, and go back
into the house, and lock the doors,
ma'am. Don't wait minute, and don't
send anyone to look after me--you un-
derstand?'
"She did. She turned as white as q
sheet, but she was plunky, apaesx.:sseesEsf
come, children,,sa l'd % sr's 49, a. sS 40
49, y :sss : nc as's locks. Then there
was q roar like lion, and l knew that
she had let the dog loose inside to pro-
tect her.
"'What - 1t was Bill Doolin in
o white rage at my elbow.
HIS III. Not word or I'll make
it the worse for you
He saw my revolver in my hand and
looked ugly, but / was his pard and lie
darsn't go back on me. But he raved
and tore over what he called my girl
foolishness' in letting such snap es-
cape, just because woman had said
kind word to me.
But it wasn't that altogether. When
j heard that my old mother had died on
that very night, and at that same hour,
praying for her wandering, vagabond
boy with her last breath, knew there
was something more in it than either
Bill or me could make out Pm still on
the road. but l amt done time since
then for breakin' the laws, and never
will again, so help me-mother. Pre-
Press.
Finger Nails.
An eminent German bacteriologist
has recently been studying the impuri-
ties found under the finger nails, and
4 4 IL.