The Opelousas courier., 1894-12-15

and had his little troubles perhaps
thirty-perhaps forty-years on the
earth, merely to make an ass of him
self for three minutes in front of my
window. Wonderful thing, Wilder
spin, if you come to think of it."
A day or two after this Bailey had
Brilliant morning. Indeed, towards
the end of the affair it became almost
as exciting as any window show very
well could be. We will, however. be,
gin at the beginning.
Bailey was all alone in the house
for his housekeeper had gone into the
town three miles away to pay bills
and the servant had her holiday. The
morning began dull. A canoe Went
up about half-past nine, and later q
boat load of camping men came dowa'
But this was mere margin. Things be.
came cheerful about ten o'clock.
1t began with something white f1ut-
tering in the remote distance where
the three poplars marked the river
bend Observation-Disclosures" said
Bailey, when he saw it. NO. Toe
big: Flag, perhaps"
However, it was not q flag, for it
jumped about. Man in whites run.
ming fast and this way" said Bailey.
That's luck. But his whites are pre-
cious loose"
Then a singular thing happened.
There was a minute pink CLEAN among
the dark trees in the distance. and a
little puff of pale gray that began to
drift and vanish eastward. The man
in white jumped and continued rum
ming. Presently the report of the
shot arrived.
What the devil.' said Bailey.
Looks as if some one was shooting at
him.
He sat up stiffly and stared hard.
The white figure vas coming along
the pathway through the corn. "lt's
one of those niggers from the Fitzgib-
bon's," said Bailey: ''or may l be hung!
I wonder why he keeps saving with
his arm
Then three other figures became in
distinctly visible against the dark
background of the trees.
Abruptly on the opposite bank a
nan walked into the picture. lie was
black bearded. dressed in fiannels with
a red belt, and had a.vast gray felt hat.
He walked, leaning very much for
ward and with his hands swinging be-
fore him. Behind him one could see the
grass swept by the towing-rope of the
boat he was dragging. He was stead
lastly regarding the white figure that
vas hurrying through the corn. Sud
denly he stopped. Then, with a pc
culiar gesture, Bailey could see that
he began pulling in his tow-rope hand
hand. Over the water could be
heard the voices of the people in the
still invisible boat.
What are you after, Hagshot?:" said
some one.
Hagshot shouted something that was
and went or Juggling in the
looking over his shoulder at the
white figure as he did SO. He
came down the bank, and the rope
a lane among the reefs and dashed
the water between his pulls.
Then just the bows of the boat came
into view, with the towing mast, and
tall, fair-haired man standing up and
to see over the bank, The boat
unexpectedly among the
reeds, and the tall. fair-haired man
suddenly, having appar-
fallen back into the invisible
part of the boat. There was a curse
and some indistinct laughter. Hag-
shot did not laugh, but hastily clam
oered into the boat and pushed off.
Abruptly the boat vanished.
But it was audible. 1t sounded as
they were excited and all tell
ng each other what to do.
The rum ing figure was drawing
rear the bank. Bailey could see |
now that it was one OF Fitz-
orientals, and began dimly
o realize what the %sinuous thing the
nan carried in his hand might be.
Three other men followed one an
'ther through the corn, and the fore
most carried what was probably a
.un. They were perhaps two hundred
ards or more behind the Malay.
Its a la hunt, by all that's holy!!'
aid Bailey.
The Malay stopped for a moment
nd surveyed the bank to the right.
hen he left the path, and, breaking
trough the corn, vanished in that di-
The three p%ursuers followed
nit, and their heads and g~esticulating
rms above the corn, after a brief in
erval, also went out of Bailey's field
+ vision.
Bailey SO far forgot himself as to
wear. Just as things were getting
he said. Something like a
shrek came through the air.
shouts. a howl, a dull whack
pom the balcony outside that made
alley jump, and then the report Of a
This is precious hard on an inva-
d. said Bailey.
But more was to happen yet in his
In fact, a great deal more.
he Malay appeared again. running
DIV along the bank up stream. His
ride had more swing and less pace in
than before. He was threatening
'me n ahead with the ugly krces he
The blade Bailey noticed
dull-it did not shine as steel
lculd.
Then came the tall fair man. brand
hing a boat-hook, and after him three
her men in boating costume, run
tng clumsily with oars. The man
it'll the gray hat and red belt was {
1t with them. After an interval the
rec me with the gun reappeared, :
i'll in the corn, but now near the riv-
bank. They emerged upon the tow
g-path, and hurried after the others. !.
BE opposite bank was left blank and !