The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-04-04

eyes with an impatient gesture. The gray
eyes had Il stcalthy and hunted look like
those of a wild animal.
lie was bdrefOoted and bare headed,
While his only garments were blue cotton
shirt and "a pair of coarse trousers much
too large for Inn and turned up at the bot
toms. They were supported by a leather
belt. still showing patches of tawny hair
and into this was thrust Il knife.
This boy was known far and wide as
''Swampy," and if he had ever borne any
other name ne, as well as al others, had
forgotten 1t.
He was the outcast of that thinly settled
southern neighborhood, his hand was against
oil men and TO him WAS credited all the
mischief and theiylng OF the community.
lie was rarely seen by daylight; but at
night he proWlud about the country side
aud shadowy gliInpses OF him We're always
followed by the discovery Of looted chick
ems roosts sprinGhouses or melon patches.
Many = JrUitleass trap was set tot MN,
and he had eluded many hot chase. lie
laughed to scorn ali efforts to bring him to
justice, and deied lis pursucrS from the
tr9cllle3s businesses of the great swamp, III
which he always found secure retreat,
1t was generally known that somewhere
within its black depths, amid whose tangled
canebralies panthers. bears and wildcats
roamed unmolcSted. where water moccasns
and alIgators abouuded, and where tempting
beds of greeneSt moss concealed deadly bits
OF shiny oOze old Jake MinderS had for
years maintained Il moonshiue still, though
no living man had ever visited or seen il;
and that here his son, The boy emily known
as 'Swampy,' had remained alone ever since
the dSa appearance OF the old man. vino,
either dead or n fugitive from justice, had
nov been missing Tor macy months
Gow SWampy lived none know nor cared.
His neighbOrs only sWoTe whenever they
spoke OF him, and wished he would cease to
i've at al or would follow his father to parts
unknown.
Even Swampy wondered why he stayed
where be did. The only reason he coUl!
give to himself was that he knew and loved
the Black Cypress, with knowledge ami
love belonging only To those who have passed
their lives in a single house. Amid It's
gloomy shadows lie had dwelt ever since he
could remember, and for aESht he knew ne
had been born III the swamp.
His life was as cherries ana lonely as can
well be conceived, bu.. although he never
worked and knew not the meaning OF the
word study" it was fairly busy one lie
had a living to get as we'll as any one else,
and he got it by hunting, trapping, Fishing
and stealing, ali of which Were TO him per-
fectly legitimate occupations lie had never
been taught that stealing was wrong, though
he had received from his father many les
Eoue Of 4 nature that he was not likely to
forget on the enormity and disgrace OF being
caught at it.
Thus when the boy was thrown upon his
own resources he stole whatever he cOnaid-
cred necessary 10 his comfort as naturally
es he breathed or slept, and was more than
proud of the knowledge that he had never
been caught ut IT.
The principal scene of Swampy's deprcda-
fions was Cypress Knoll, plantation that
bordered on the swamp III which he made his
home.
1t was near by. aboundod in the yc-y
things be most needed, #nH WAS less care
Tr'iy guarded than other places whose OWL
els lived Oh them.
lis owner, whose name Adds, WAS
compelled by business 10 spend most of his
time III q distant city, but the plaNt0ton l2It
IN charge OF al oYerscer, Vas Kept up alter
II fashion, principally. Swampy was
pleased to fancE. for his especial benefit.
Although there was much thiGving on TINS
plantation Of which Swampy was both limo
cent and ignorant. ii Was XII credited to him
In the reports made to its proprietor.
About n wepi, before tie line with which
this story opens Alr. Adds, accompanied
b. his wife aHl their O3ly child, little
fiye-year-oil daughter, arrived unexpected
/ at Cypress Knoll, Oh Il visit OF iuspec-
ton.
The proprietor soon discovered that he
haI been systematically robbed o. al sides,
but 50 far as he couii 11G oi!t every one
Was honest anG innocent save Dat ,iev,'}'
young dcbbI Of SWampy. Tell 80 sah.
hin so keen fer stealth da' he steal de
toof 0utci yo' head. an nobbor get cotch
bin plottjn' fer to carry off der whole
plantation fore him dun sot troo.'
So against Swampy was the proprietors
wrath directed, and vowins to bring the