Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-07-18
FAITHFUL PETER.

One beautiful moonlight night two
men stood in grove Of liycnak trees
which grew on the eastern banks of
the St. John, short distance back
from the river.
One was undoubtedly man Of
wealth, and, by his dress, planter
of the neighborhood. He wore suit
of spOtleSs linen; boots, the tops Of
which reached above his knees, while
his head was covered with a broad
trimmed Spanish sombrero. He was
rather corpulent in build. and his en-
tire carriage betokened that he had
never wanted for the comforts and
luxuries OF this world.
His companion presented strik-
ing contrast. He was shabbily, nay,
even sloven Y and scantily attired,
aud the coarse garments hung upon
an attenuated frame which seemed
scarcely able to hold itself together.
The face was drawn and pinched,
and stamped with an idiotic and
somewhat sinister expression. He,
too, wore a broad-rimmed hat, but it
was made of rushes loosely plated
into shape. HIS feet were uncovered
save for a goodly coating of alluvial
soil through which their owner had
recently passed.
The two men had been walking
one behind the other, for the path
was narrow. but as they emerged into
small opening they paused and the
planter began:-
sit is u ticklish piece of work !
ask you to perform, Ephraim, but l
know that you possess the courage to
carry it through, and as it requires
no great physical exertion, thOSa
ague-shaken limbs Of yours will provo
equal to the occasion"
Il don't keer much what it be,
Squire, so as you pay well an don't
run no risk. amt skeered consid-
r'ablc of gators an snakes an sech
things as crawls about in the swamps,
nor much about nigger5. but the
Sheriff, Squire, when thinks of
him, my bones shake an rattle to-
gether like coffee beans in dry pod
when the winds a-blowin'."
"You need have no fear OF the
Sheriff." replied the planter, 'fOr l
shall give you money enough to take
you out Of the county, and for that
matter, out of the State when your
work is done. Now. listen, Clayton
Carroll, my half-brother, is rich
man,-in fact, he is enjoying prop;
cruy which by rights is as much NINE
as 1t is his, for we were born by the
same mother, but his father happened
to be wealthier than mine. All that
1 possess is portion Of what was my
mothers estate-'
But 1 hecrd"-broke in the
Cracker-'that you an the Colonel
was good friends, and that you would
git pile O. money when he died."
That may be-" returned the other,
grimly, "but while one is waiting for
a dead mans shoes his feet may be-
come sorely blistered. I'll tell you,
Ephraim''-wcnt on the sleek villain,
assuming a confidential manner that
greatly fattered his ignorant and
low-born companion. 81 have lost
heavily of late, in fact shall be ruined
unless my prospects brighten immedi-
ately and confidence is restored in
my financial Standing"
"Why don't you ask the Colonel to
let you have little money!"
II have asked him for too much al
ready, and know that 1 should be re-
fused"
"Wcn, what do you want me to
do?"
'Kill him." hisscd the villain.
"Eh? Kill him?"
'rThat is what l said. Surely you
are not afraid to do such piece OF
work, for l well know it would not
be the first job Of the kind in which
you were concerned"
The Cracker WINGED noticeably at
this allusion, but fastened to reply:
"Thcre's a heap of difference,
Squire, between bangin' a niger on
the head an chuckIn' him into the
creek for gator feed. an man like
the Colonel, yes, a heap O. differ
encc."
'Aud rs much difference in the re-
ward" was the cool rejoinder. "For
the one you received nothing, and
were obliged tc remain concealed in
the swamps, hunted thing, until
came to your assistance and straight
cncd you out in the eyes Of the law,
while for the other 1 will give you
gold enough to make you rich"
That's AL right, Squirc-but the
black man an i had had trouble to-
gcthcr-thcn again, we fout it out
man-fashiQp, an twas only by luck !
got the best o. him. But as TO the
T,l I ip' oni, h ~
"Nothing against him? Why,
wasn't lie the one who was most
active in the search for you, Offering
a reward for your capture?"
That's afore he knowcd the whole
story"
But he never would have known
the whole story until too late to save
your neck, If it had not been for me. "
Then as though tired of working upon
his companions gratitude, the planter
changed his tactics, and il an az
grcSivc manner said:
"Now, what shall it be, Ephraim?
VIII you agree to do this work, or
would YOU rather stretch d piece OF
hemp with ono end secured to the
limb OF tree, and thc other krotted
about that miserable neck CT yours?"
.I'm Altered it'll come to that,
any way" replied the Cracker, in
voluntarily raising a hand to tho
soilcd cellar OF his Shirt.
But what'll it be, Squire? Go Oh,
I'm liStenin'."
"a hundred dollars now, and I
thousand when the work is co;p picIe
'.Hcap O. money. How is it to be
ionc:"
"I'll tell you. The Colonc has had
trouble with steamboat captain
whose craft passes uD the river about
shutdown. He will STOP IS is his
custom, at the landing just above
lerc, until morning. Now then, il
that worthy brother Of mine is found
Gead 1T daylight, who will the peo-