The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-01-19

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"Sttck ter Tim, Mass Crafurd"
lied that he was in a most desperate
plight, and that the only hope of rescue
lay In the frightened negro up in the
haw bush. He changed his tactics
when the deer rested again.
'lsam, he said gently.
Yes. honey.
'lsam. come and help me, old fel-
low
Good Gawd. Mass Craffud." said
the negro earnestly. 'dere ain nuthin
| woodn' do fur you. but hits better
fur one ter die n two. Hits a long
sight better.
But there is no danger, Isam, none
whatever Just you come down and
with your knife hamstring the brute.
I'll hold him."
No. sab; no. sab; no, sahl" said
Isam loudly and with growing earnest
ness. No. sab. it won wukl No,
sahl You er in fur hit now, Mass
Craffud, en- ct can't be holped. Dere
ain nuthin kin save yer but de good
Lor, en- he ain go'n ter, less'n you ak
i'm 'umblelike en- er-b'liev'n en- es
mussy. | prayed wen l wuz down
oere. Mass Cratfud, dat did, en- look
wat happ'n. Didn he sen you like
er aingil, en- didn he git me up hyah
safe en- wholesum? Dat he did, en- he
nev'r spec dis niger war go'n ter
fling 'essef und'r dat deer arter he trou-
bic hisse'f to shove i'm up hyah. Stick
ter i'm, Mass Craffud, stick ter i'm.
Wo. deer; wo, deeri Look out fur es
hon! Stick ter i'm, Mass Craffud!
Dere. now-tank de Lor!
Again the major got a breathing
spell. The deer in his struggles had
gotten under the haw bush, and the ma
jor renewed his earnest negotiations.
"Isam, hesaid as soon as his condi-
ton would allow of conversation, IF
you will get down and cut this
brute's legs-l will give you your free
DOM"
lsam's only answer was a groan.
And so acres-of land" Again that
pitiful moan
And mule and a-year's I~ations."
The major paused from force of cir
cumstances. After awhile the answer
came:
Mass Crafud!'
'Well?"
You know dis niger ben hard
work'n en- homes en- look after you en-
yo'n all es life."
Yes, Isam," said the major, you
have been-a faithful. honest-nig-
ger" There was another pause. Per-
haps this was too much for Isam. But
he continued after awhile:
We'll, femme tell you. honey, dere
ain nuthin you got r kin git w'at'll
temp dis niger ter git down dere.
Wy" and his voice assumed a most
earnest and argumentative tone. :" deed
n hit d be 'sultin de Lor. Ain
he dun got me up hyah out'n de way,
81 don he spec me fur ter stay? You
reck'n he got nuth'n t all ter do but
keep putin lsam back up er tree? No
sab, he dun ten ter Inc, en- eff 20 got
emmy difficulty down dere you en- de deer
kin fight it ont. Hit my bizness DIES
ter keep er-prayin. Wo', deer; wo'.
deerl Steddy. Mass Craffudl Dere,
now-t'ank de Lori
Again the major defeated the beasts
struggles. and there came a truce. But
the man was well nigh exhausted and
saw that unless something was done in
his behalf he must 500 yield up the
fight. Something like a spasm of fear
flashed over his face. and in the glance
he cast about him there was the one
panic stricken appeal that all men yield
to at some time. 1t was hard to die
there by the terrible horns of the beast
astride him, whose eyes glared into his
and whose hot breath was in his face.
What a death!
But the next instant he was calm and
cautious. There came to his assistance
his fine knowledge of the negro charac-
ter.
'Isam, he said slowly and impress
sively. But Isam was praying. The
major could hardly trust his cars when
he heard the words.
"But, Lor, don let i'm perish TO
20 eyes. He's ben er bad man. He
cuss n sware, n play keerds, n bet on
horse race, n drink whisky
'lsam"-
En- he steal-goodness, he TEX ter
stealth like er duck ter water. Roast'n
yers. watermilluns. hick'n-nuthin too
bad fur inn
rIsam"-
Tain like er niger stealth, Lor.
Dey dun know no better ell can git
things emmy erway. while he got money,
but don let i'm perish rite TO yo'
eyes TEX i'm by de slack er es brich-