The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-31


Somebody in distant part started and
walked across the floor toward the door
with an ominous step. A slate-colored man
appeared He was dressed in a ragged shirt
and trousers, the latter stuffed into his
boots Large tears were falling from his
eyes.
"How-d'-do, my friend" said the little
man. affably.
"My OF uncle, jim Crocker, he's sick ter
death, replied the slste-o0lored person. -,
''Ho" said the little man. Is that SOY
The latter's olotniug chung desperately to
him and water sogRed in bis boots. He
stood patiently on one foot for time.
"Csn you put us up here until to-mor-
rowe" he asked finally.
Eyes" said the slate-colored man.
The party passed into little unwashed
room, inhabited by.a stove, a stairway,
few precariolis chatfs and misshapen table.
''pn fry yer some polk and make yer some
coffee" said the Elate colored man to his
guests.
$50 ahead, old boy" cried the little man
cheerfully from where he sat on the table,
smoking his pipe aud dangling his legs.
my OF uncle, Jim Croker, he's sick ter
death" said the slate-colored man.
"Tbipk he'll der asked the pudgy man,
gently MIR
"NoT
He WON'T disl He's an OLD man, but he
won't die, yltl The black dorg hain't been
around yit"
"The black dog" snid the little man, fee
bly,. He struggled with himself for mo-
ment.
"What's the black dogg' he asked at last
Hes spsrrit," said the slate.colored
man 10 q voice OF somber hue,
90, he isl Wellp
"He hsnts these parts, he does, an when
people are goln' to die, he comes and sees
| and howlsh
''Ho," said the little man. He looked out
of the window and saw night making mill
| ion shadows.
The little man meved bis legs nervously.
Il don't believe in these things" said he,
addressing the slate -eolored man, who was
souffling with side of pork.
"Wot thingsN came incoherently from
| the ,combatant.
40, these-e -pbautoms and ghosts and
what not. All rot, say"
"lhat's because you have merely O stom-
ach aud no SOUL" grupted the pudgy man.
"Ho, old pudgkinsln replied the little
man. His back curved with passion. A
| tempest Of wrath was in the pudgy mans
eye. The fnal epithet used by the little
man was a carefully studied insult, always
brought forth at a crisis. They quarrelled.
"All right, pudgkins, bring on your pban-
TOM cried the little man in conclusion.
His stout companions wrath was too
huge for words. The little man smiled tri-
umphently. He had staked his opponents
| reputation.
The visitors sat silent. The slate-colored
man moved about in small personal at
mosphere of gloom.
| Suddenly a strange cry came to their ears
from somewhere. It was low, trembling
call which made the little man quake pri-
vately In his shoes. The slate-oolored man
bounded at the stairway, and disappeared
with flash of legs through hole in the
ceiling. The party below hoard two voices
| in conversation, one belonging TO the slate
colored man and the other in the quiveripg
tones of age. Directly the slste-colored
man resppeared from above and said: THE
OF man ia took bad for bis supper"
He hurrisdly prepared q mixture with hot
! water, salt and beef. Beef tea it might be
called. He disappeared again. Once more
over their heads. The voice Of age arose to
a Shrek
"Open the window, fool Do You think l
can live In the smell OF your soupfn
Mutterings by the late-colored man and
| the creaking of window were heard.
The slste-colored man stumbled down the
stairs and said with intense gloom: The
black dorg'n be along soon.n
The little man started and the pudgy man
]
sat waiting. The pudgy man listened 80
palpably that the little man wished to kill
him. The wood FIRE became excited aud
sputtered frantcally. Without a thousand
spirits Of the winds had become entangled
in the pine branches and were lowly plead
ing to be loosened. The slate-colored mau
tipped across the room and lit q timid cam
die. The men sat waiting.
The Phantom dog lay cuddled to a round
bundle, asleep down the roadway against
the windward side OF an old shanty The
spectre's master had moved to Pike county.
But the dog fingered as a friend might
linger at tbs tomb Of a friend. His fur was
like & suit OF old clothes. His jowls hung
and Tapped, exposing his teeth. Yellow
famine was In his eyes. The wind-rocked
shanty groaued, but the dog slept Sud-
denly, however, he got up aud shambled TO
the roadway. He cas- long glance from his
hungry, departing eyes in the direction Of
the venerable house. The breeze came full
In his nostrlls. He threw back his head aud
gave long. low howl and stArtad iutentlv