The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-12-24

Il tell You / have Killed him. he cried
and forcing her to follow him at the risk
OF another box, or something worse. Bat
the delay had been bad, for on their arrival
at the place OF encounter in front of the
ash barrel, there was nobody to be seen.
Now. take that for bringing me on this
FOOLS errand." cried the exasperuted Mrs.
Williams, dealing him II generous blow
with her ample hand, ''nnd maxim it ten
to one If don't catch the newmony with
out "a scrap of shawl. There-and there,"
Jim staggered away from her, rubbed
his eyes in amazement, searched the ground
diligently and even peered behind the ash
barrel. There WAS no trace of Ted Viii
liams or his ghost.
YOU'RE a fool" screamed Mrs Williams
after him as a parting sho: as she went
back to her rooms
Il guess l am" said Jim feebly; Zone
clean daft"
Just then "a low whistle struck his ear,
and something between whine anu n
groan.
Has mother gomez" asked a cautious
voice.
Jim flew around, looking on the ground
with big eyes, and then turned his ga. to-
ward the heavens.
Where are you, Ted!" he cried in dis.
tress.
in the barrel" said the voice Has
mother gone-Sure:'
"Yes-ycS. Jim rushed to the barrel,
cast in searching glance "You aiu't
dead, Ted" he inquired anNiously.
NO." said Ted, speaking with difficulty
in his close quarters. but you nearly fixed
me. And then must have come to, for
heard mother, and l jumped for my life in
here She'd finish me, certain. I'd drut her
you'd do it
Jim was working away at the RACED
portions of his companion's clothing
Cant you help your>elf:' he asked -
length, "everything gives way as soon ,s
pull"
II s'pose you'll fall On me soon's ever
get out" p.uted Ted, working his way over
the barrel top.
Never" declared Jim with immense
emphasis. I've touched you the last time
In my life. You may smash my posies a
dozen times, but | don't pitch into you"
Smash your posies:' said Ted now on
terra firma, what do YOU meun:'
Its no use for you 10 pretend you didn't
do it." said Jim in contempt, you said you
would, and you have; took the time when
you knew / wasn't at home to shy the
stone"
81 haint SHE'D stone at your window,
as true as live and breathe, declared Ted,
feeling of his back and legs.
well, a brick, then; makes no odds to
me what twas done with. There's the hole
In the glass, and my posy smashed You
same rs it was BEFORE
"Jim," said Ted, drawing quite near and
speaking eXcitedly, Il hain't done thing
to you nor your window nor your posy
Hope may die if l have
But Jim, not caring to hear useless talk
was half way home, which he presently
reached, and Mrs. Mulligan having sue
cumbed to her comforting tea, he threw
himself with his clothes on into his bed in
the little box OF n room, without CONVERSE
ton Of any sort to detain him.
Along in the middle of the night, Jim
was conscious Of Il terrible feeling at his
chest, as if all the pangs of guilty con-
science were at work within him. There
was nothing evil lie did not believe him
self capable OF committing at this moment
Blackness was around him, and hope ut
terly dead; and to enhance the dire distress
of mind, something sharp and stinging
was producing dreadful pain of body. 1t
seemed for all the world AS if the fangs Of
the law he had violated were fastened on
MIN duu-NeTe DeaTlllS MIN OH, perhaps 10
an ash barrel, deeper than the one in Raga-
muffin court, from which he was not soon
to get out.
''Ted"' he roared, in one mighty scream
Mrs. Mulligan at that sprang from her
comfortable feather bed, dreaming of
Christmases she had never had, and rushed
to him. But before she reached his side,
she changed her frightened cry.
"Shoo-scat! get out your Then she
threw herself into chair to laugh i'm
moderately.
Jim sat straight in bed to stare at her.
What was IT." he gusped, feeling Of his
chest and arms, unable yet to believe that
he was safe at home.
''The one who smashed your posy," said
Mrs. Mulligan, pointing tragically to the
window. This time she was after the
crumbs OF your supper in your pocket; n
big black cat who went out of the same
hole she made coming in"
"Oh' said Jim.-Margaret Sidney in
Boston Budget.