Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-11-23

INV hau hlo iitbic IouuicS 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 1t 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 a
boat load of camping men came down.
But this was mere margin. Things be-
came cheerful about ten o'clock.
1t began with something white fut-
tering in the remote distance where
the three poplars marked the river
bend. ''Pocket-handkerchief," said
Bailey, when he saw it. mo. Too
big! Flag, perhaps"
However, it was not 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 singular thing happened.
There was 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 was coming along
the pathway through the corn. 'lt's
one of those niggers from the Fitzgib-
bon's, said Bailey; 'or may be hung!
| 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
man walked into the picture. He was
black bearded, dressed in fannels with
a red belt, and had 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
tasty regarding the white figure that
was 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
over 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
inaudible and went on Juggling in the
rope, looking over his shoulder at the
advancing white figure as he did so. He
came down the bank, and the rope
bent 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
a tall, fair-haired man standing up and
trying to see over the bank. The boat
bumped unexpectedly among the
reeds, and the tall, fair-haired man
disappeared suddenly, having appar-
ently fallen back into the invisible
i part of the boat. There was curse
and some .ndistinct laughter. Hag-
shot did not laugh, but hastily clam
bered into the boat and pushed off.
Abruptly the boat vanished.
But it was audible 1t sounded as
though they were excited and all tell
ing each other what to do.
The rum ing figure was drawing
near the bank. Bailey could see
clearly now that it was one OF Fitz-
gibbons orientals and began dimly
to realize what the sinuous thing the
man carried in his hand might be.
Three other men followed one an
other through the corn, and the fore
most carried what was probably a
gun They were perhaps two hundred
yards or more behind the Malay.
''It's man hunt, by all that's holyw
said Bailey.
The Malay stopped for moment
and surveyed the bank to the right,
Then he left the path, and, breaking
through the corn, vanished in that di-
rection. The three pursuers followed
suit, and their heads and gesticulating
arms above the corn, after brief in
terval, also went out of Bailey's field
of vision.
Bailey so far forgot himself as to
swear, Just as things were getting
livelyw he said, Something like
womans shrek came through the air.
Then shouts, a howl, a dull whack
upon the balcony outside that made
Bailey jump, and then the report of n
gun.
This is precious hard on an inva-
lid" said Bailey.
But more was to happen yet in his
picture. In fact, great deal more,
The Malay appeared again, running
now along the bank up stream. His
stride had more swing and less pace in
it than before, He was threatening
some one ahead with the ugly krees he
carried. The blade Bailey noticed
was dull-it did not shine as steel
should
Then came the tall fair man, brand
ishing boat-hook, and after him three
other men in boating costume, run
ming clumsily with oars. The man
with the gray hat and red belt was
not with them. After an interval the
three me with the gun reappeared,
st i'll in the corn, but now near the riv-
err bank. They emerged upon the tow
ing-path, and hurried after the others.
The opposite bank was left blank and
desolate again