The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1892-09-24

ulBut'
MOI he answered and passed on out
of sight into the dull tinted morning.
All day, sitting among his nets and
tackle. he reflected upon what he had
done and the possible result. 1t would
be silly in the extreme to keep the gold
piece forever in the cupboard when he
stood in need of so many things. Still
he did not feel like spending it iinme-
diately. A superstitious dread overcame
him whenever he contemplated parting
with it.
Generally speaking, he was success
full fisherman, but today he got scarcely
anything, and he came hoi:>e i'll the even
ing tired and out of temper. Upon one
point his mind was made up. He would
not 90 near the tavern. He resented be-
ing pressed to spend the money In drink.
But the other fishermen, when they
found he did not come, sent a delegation
to his house. About six men raped
loudly on the door, more i'll spirit Of
mischief than downright vexation. but
it was sufficient to rouse Lame Caspar
to furious opposition.
What DO you want" he shouted,
| fiinging the door wide open and con-
fronting them with fierce hostility
depicted on every line of his counte-
nance.
1--WE want you to treat. Aren't you
coming to The Bul?"
mo; I'm sick. Go away and let me
alone" And he tried to shut the door.
But the men resisted the action
Sick. nonsenser' cried one. "Whati
come over you, MARI Have you turned
miser?"
Lets see your gold piece anyway,
said another. 1--WE never get suci
things. Let's see what it looks like,
and he tried to force his way into tn
cabin.
Eyes, let's see the gold piece! shoute'
the others in a chorus. But Caspar
features grew hvid with passion. ii
strobe forward with clinched list.
"Out of here every mothers son of ye!
, he shouted. "rll not spend penny t
make We more drunken than ye are. Ou
of here, say!''
, The men drew back surprised ut TIL
strange outburst. For moment no on
e smoke. Then one said, with slow dell
/. GRAFTON: Come away, lads, come ava!
9 From the way he talks it looks as If he
e stolen the money instead of coming hol
estly by it. One would think he was
: thief afraid Of being found out"
e With a stifed exclamation Gasp;
}! raised his hand to strike the speaker
/ blow. But his uplifted arm dropped
n though stricken with palsy. His fa'
:, wb,teued. He turned away with
: Croan and sat down.
- Come. mates" cried another volc
and tie men vanished in the darkness
How long he remained sitting, Ian
a Caspar did not know. But long are
y when he looked up into the obecnr
and silence, the word Thief RAJ
:. through his brain like the clashing
- discordant bells. He a thief! Yes,
= had stolen the gold piece. He was
Al thief!
~ He did not go fishing on the followil
= day. A sudden resolve had come
him. he would clear his conscience
- =. finding the little boy and returning
iiS money. He did not mean to confess
90 ruilt. He could not bring himself
10 such humiliating avowal. He wo'
n' say he had found the gold piece &C
ia dentally.
us Toward noon he clambered up
ne steep pathway leading to the hotel
ie' the cliff. He trembled with nervo
en- ness as he neared the great white oui
W. ing. with its flying flags making spots
10 vivid color against the pine groves
lui yond. He glanced eagerly about amt
Ide the groups of people who We're seated
he the yeranda, but he could not dis
re- guish any one resembling the little 3
inc Then he went inside and, hardly abl'
'eo control his voice, put few tilnid ~
tons to the clerk. who eyed him su
sht ciously. "a little boy. with eyes
;ed ored like the sea. and bright hair
sue floated ON his shoulders-where was
Iali "His narney' the clerk inquired
i.o businesslike way.
ne 81 don't know his name. but | wan
'est find him. 1t is--it is something I'M