The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-16

'''NIsNsgN aower bells. : as IS
co form screen almost impervious to
light, a crouching figure peered eagerly
out
The form was that Of boy perhaps
sixteen years of age, but with a face SO
thin and shrewd that it might have be-
longed to man of sixty. 1t was
tanned freckled and weather-beaten,
and was Swallowed by thatch of sum
bleached hair, that the boy every now
and then pushed back from his eyes
with an impatient gesture. The gray
eyes had a stealthy and hunted look
like those of a wild animal.
He was barefooted and bare headed,
while his only garments were blue
cotton shirt and pair of coarse trousers
much too large for him and turned up
at the bottoms. They were supported
by leather belt. still showing patches
of tawny hair, and into this was thrust
knife.
This boy was known far and wide as
"Swampy," and if he had ever borne
any other name he, as well as all others,
had forgotten it.
He was the outcast of that thinly-
settled southern neighborhood, his hand
was against all men, and to him was
credited all the mischief and thieving of
the community.
He was rarely seen by daylight; but
at night he prowled about the country
side and shadowy glimpses of him were
always followed by the discovery of
| looted chicken roosts, springhouses or
melon patches.
Many.a fruitless trap was set for him,
and he had eluded many hot chase.
He laughed to scorn all efforts to bring
him to justice and defed his pursuers
from the trackless Businesses of the
great swamp in which he always found
a secure retreat.
| 1t was generally known that some
where within it's black depths, amid
whose tangled canebrakes panthers,
bears and wildcats roamed unmolested,
where water moccasinS and alligators
abounded, and where tempting beds
of greenest moss concealed deadly bits
of shiny ooze. old Jake Minders had for
years maintained moopshine still,
though no living man had ever visited
or seen it; and that here his son, the
boy only known as "Swampy," had re-
manned alone ever since the disappear
ance of the old man. who, either dead
or a fugitive from justice, had now
been missing for many months.
How Swampy lived none knew nor
! cared. His neighbors only swore
whenever they spoke of him, and
wished he would cease to live at all or
would follow his father to parts IN
known.
Even Swampy wondered why he
stayed where he did. The only reason
he could give to himself was that he
knew and loved the Black Cypress with
knowledge and love belonging to
those who have passed their lives in
single house. Amid its gloomy shadows
! he had dwelt ever since he could remem-
| Der, and for aught he knew he had been
born in the swamp.
His life was as cherries and lonely as
can well be conceived. but, although he
never worked and knew not the mean
| ing of the word study" it was fairly
| busy one. He had living 70 get as
well as anyone else, and he got it by
hunting, trapping fishing and stealing.
all of which were to hi n perfectly legit-
innate occupations He had never been
! taught that stealing were wrong, though
/ he had received from his father many
/ lessons of a nature that he was not like
! " to forget on the enormity and dis
grace Of being caught at it.
Thus when the boy was thrown upon
! his own resources he stole whatever he
considered necessary to his comfort as
naturally as he breathed or slept, ard
was more than proud OF the knowledge
/ that he had never been caught at it.
The principal scene of Swampys dep
/ relations was Cypress Knoll. planta-
/ ton that bordered on the swamp in
/ which he made his home.
/ Ii was near by, abouuded in the very
! things he most needed, and was less
/ carefully guarded than other places
! whose owners lived on them
Its owner. whose name was Adds.
was compelled by business TO spend
most of his time in distant city. but
/ the plantation. left in charge of an over
seer. was kept up after fashion, priu
+ cipally, so Swampy was pleased 10 fancy.
! for his especial benefit. Although there
| was much thieviag on this plantation
/ Of which Swampy was both innoceu.
/ and ignorant. ii was gil credited to him
/ IN the reports made 20 its proprietor.
About 2 week before the time with
/ which this story opens Mr.. Adds, &C
| conpanied by his wife and their only
child, little ave-year-old daughter,
arrived unexpectedly at Cypress Knoll.
on visit OF inspection.
| The proprietor soon discovered that
| he had been systematically robbed on
/ all sides, but so far Is he could find oct
I every one was honest and innocent
save Dat ticvin' young debbil q a
/ Swampy. Tell 20 sab. him 50 keen Ter
T stealth dat he steal dc toof octcr ys'
head. an nebber get ootch ef yo' stint
+ look out. Yes, sab. pears like him plgt-
( tin fer % carry of der whole planta-
/ :io2 fore MIN dun got ,roo.''
! 50 against Swanpv WAS the pro
l nriAtar's wrath directe5. ald yc1.a~ -