The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-07-11

when he was surprised, first upon be-
holding Caper sit up, then curiosity i'm
PEELED him to remain and witness the
meeting with the workmen
And this was the result. He would be
put in the penitentiary or returned to
the poorhouse. Anything was prefer
ab.e-death was preferable to Barnes
vile poorhouse
"What have you to say for yoursalf?'
demanded Caper graspfng Dicks arm.
"Nothing to you" Then, addressing
the men near him, "Take ne to prison.
l am ready to 60 anywhere but to the
poorhouse. / am willing to let him tell
his story, and If the judge viii on =
listen to mine, whatever they do will be
right. That man swore he would kill
me- He tried to murder me, and I saved
my life by hitting him with a stone"
what a liar. Oh, what a liar that
boy is" said Zeke Caper, groaning
"Yes, yon can tell that by looking at
him." said one.
"See here, mates said one who bad
hitherto been silent, Il m not 50 sure
about that How'd any OF you like to
live at the PoorhouSc? Was you ever i'll
a Poorhouse?"
"No, / never was"
Another and another said the same.
"Well, l have been. I've been in
BarncsvillePoorhouse. and don Ike ii. J"
"Nobody does" growlcd Caper q
guess l made you work. ami it didn, t suit
You"
NO, you're cut there, Mr.. SHper.n-
tendent. / was there helpin' the plumb
ers-I worked there three weeks, and
the way you treat folks don't suit me-
nohow. You've got your own sweet
will Of them-and you wallop EN- right
and left. I'm in favor of giving the boy
a fair trial. If he calls me as witness
why, I'll go right willing, and tell all |
know"
'And what do you know" demanded
Caper, beginning to buster. "Who are
You that talks to me in this way"
There There. You see. You hear
him." retorted the man of spirit.
That's not a patching to the lordly airs
I've seen him put on. I've seen him
strike old men-yes | have, and women.
Ies-I saw this man lick little girl
they called her Joe"
ale was always abusing her until
took his mind off her, and then he's been
down on me ever since" said Dick, with
fire in his eyes.
Caper discovered when too late that
he had revealed his real disposition. lie
pretended his head hurt him, but no one
pitied him now.
Tell you what | believe, mates" said
the speaker, who manifested an indie
pendent spirit "If he'll wash himself
I've an idea he won't look much the
worse. Smear me with blood and I'd
look awful, too"
Caper cursed him beneath his breath.
"Look you, boy" said the man who
bcfriended him. "Do you want to go
back with him?'
I'D sooner die" exclaimed Dick
well, will we take you to GAINESVILLE
and put you in jail!"
Il don't care what becomes of me, >"
said Dick, desperately.
The workman talked apart with his
fellows. Caper meanwhile wa ked home
ward.
The man turned to Dick again.
you take my advice, now. Cut your
hockey. Run for your life. If that
fellow gets you in his clutches he'll pay
you off-he'Il do for you. If you're
caught near here, they'll put you in jail;
maybe send you to the penitentiary. |
know what it is to have no friends. You
get as far away as You can before morn
ing, and keep moving mind what say,
keep moving. | was only blowing
They wouldn't mind what I'd say in
court. He'd have it all his own way.
Dick looked alert He was impre ssed,
too, with the advice given him.
We'll keep quiet. Nobodyll hear
anything from us. He may tell. Hes
likely to get his clutches on you"
"I'm very much obliged to you," said
Dick.
you'll walk little ways with us, so
as to deceive him-then cut your stick.
This was the plan Dick pursued.
When he was quarter of a mile on the
road, he darted from the laborers, fed
across field, and once more disap-
peared in the fringe Of timber land that
he had sought shelter in earlier in the
day.
TO BE CONTINUED