Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-25
eRAssAoPPeR eers's REVENGE
A Tale Of Bleed. Love. Murder asa DARK.
mesa.

A dull thnd and then silenoA
''0ae blow for vengsancer
Thefe was ring Of triumph IN the
voice Of Grasshopper Pete as he waved
aloft blsod stained razor and shouted:
''one blow for vengeance! GingercAke
Jack is done forl'
Then Gineercake Jack, with . low,
curdling groan. crawled of In the dark
ness TO die.
The scene of the tragedy was dark
room in the rear OF the Bloody Razor
dance hall. on Thompson street
Grasshopper Pete was on the trail OF
bis enemies, and he had drawn first
blood.
A year before the opening of this story
Grasshopper Pete was . light hearted.
innocent negro. he lived down ia tho
Mississippi swaInps. on the banks OF the
muddy Yszoo. and earned q miserable
existence catching muskrats and mala-
ria
In an evil hour Pete fell in love. He
had often fallen in the river, but II was
the first time he had ever fallen in love.
and the sensation was new to him. He
felt little shaky at first. The doctor
said it was chills made him feel that
way. hut Pete knew it was love.
Samantha Sowders was the black OBJ
ject Of Pete's affection. He adored her.
and for time she smiled on him.
One night Pete was on his way down
the river to the cabin of Samantha to
propose. His boat was drifting along
with the current, when hs heard the
sound of voices and the dip Of oars. Pete
pulled alongside the other boat. and
turned pale as summer moonlight when
he saw his loved Samantha nesting in
the arms of Watermelon jim, yellow
negro with q blind eye. Gingercake
Jack and Snaky Dan were at the oars.
"Whar yoa gwine, S'man.hai' shouted
Pete in alarm.
Use gwino off fur to marry JIM" Sa-
mantha answered.
What you gwine to marry dat one
eyed niger for:"
''Kase he shoots craps an wins money.
You g'way from heah, niger; dis chile
amt 10 fool, amt"
"Shoot IL. catch Z. pull way, boys"
shouted Jim. and soon Pete's boat was
left far astern.
Pete's intended bride was gone like
will-o'-lhe-w isp, but as the sound OF
hooking laughter came to his ears across
the muddy waters of tho Yazoo chill
shook him mp and he swore To be re-
yenged.
He knew that Watermelon Jim. like
all crap shooting negroes, would go from
bad to worse, and in time would reach
Thompson street.
In his lonely cabin, with only the chills
and fever to keep him company. Pete
b;ded his time.
A year is supposed to have elapsed-a
twelve months in which fate was run
ming Grasshopper Pete's way.
A grand colored ball is in progress in
the Bloody Razor dance hall on Thomp-
son street.
Snaky Dan is the leader of the band.
Gingercake Jack is in the back room
watching for the police, and Water
melon Jim is chairman of the reception
committee.
The dance has been gay one. Seven
teen times razors have flashed in the
brilliant gasoline light, seventeen revel-
ers have been dragged into the alley
covered with blood. and not police
man has been seen.
Suddenly there is futter Of excite
,nopt in fi,a ballroom n srppreesad rnpr-
muir Of applause, as stranger is intro
duced He is announced as Blizzard
Bill, Of New Orleans, who plays policy
and carries seven razors.
Blizzard Bill is Grasshopper Pete in
disguise, and he is on the trail of his
enemies. By chance he wanders into
the back room, where Gingercake Jack
is watching for the police. In the dark
ness he recognizes his enemy, and with
three blows of his razor lays Jack low.
Back to the dance hall goes Pete, and
waving his bloody razor above his head
he shouts: 1.-The world is mine! Let the
dance go on!"
The dance goes on faster and moro
furious than before.
owing OeIo corners. SHOUTS Snaky
Dan.
He never shouts again. A razor crosses
his jugular, and the subsequent proceed
ings interest him no more.
'See heah. niger! What for you STOP
pin that fiddle for"
1t is Watermelon Jim who speaks this
time, and those are his last words.
Drawing three razors. Pete springs at
his hated rival The members of the
band tune up their fiddles. while Jim's
| remains are carried out into the alley
and tenderly laid in an ash barrel
''At last you are miner cries Pete, ~
he clasps Samantha in his arms. aud they
go out to mingle with the darkness
New York Evening Sun