The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-17

out MS supper. ne now tTuQ6tu hco'
lily up the hill, and at the top called
softly, ..Stripeyi s;tripey" but there was
no rustic of leaves near him. and even
his tapping on bottle that he TOOK 4
from his pocket brought no response.
At last Jerry gave up and crept into MS
dugout. This was the hole in the hill
side~-a hole he had dug two years be-
fore to live In until he could build ms
house. With his knife he had cut lit
tie shelf in the wall of the earth house
to hold his lamp. He had made lamp
by taking the lid of yeast powder can,
half filling 1t with drippings from the
frying pan and putting flannel rag
into 1t for wick. This odd little lamp
gave light enough for so small room.
Moreover, as Jerry said. You take
tallow dip now, and there amt nothing
can beat 1T for company-without It's
lizard"
Tonight Jerry let the light burn and
lay there blinking at it for hours. He
was worried about Stripey. and lone
some. Its awful cold" he said; the
poor little fellow ought to had his SUP
per. What's the good thinlSin' of DAYS
that wasn't no help to me when /
had emf"
Jerry was up early the next morning.
He hurried out to the edge of the huge
rock near the dugout There lay the
lizard. listening and watching. His
bright eyes saw Jerry at once, and the
little thing came gliding swiftly to the
edge of the rock.
That's right, Stripey; come a-runnin',
come a-runnin. Amt I a great Teller.
gittin' home SO late? But I've got as
nice a lot O. flies here as ever you see.
Just sail into EN-
The lizard darted into the wide
mouthed bottle in a manner that showed
he was making no experiment. When
the flies were all swallowed Jerry put
the lizard on his shoulder and went to
get his own breakfast. His stove con-
sisted of three rocks placed so as to
leave a space in the middle for the fire.
Owing to one rock being higher than
the others, Jerry was sometimes obliged
to steady the coffee pot with his hand
He had thought Of digging under the
high rock to let it down to a level with
the others. But his second thought was
Like as not that rock saves me a lot
O. money. I'm so forgitful I'd let the
coffee all boil away ii I didn't hev to be
by it,
After Jerry had rinsed his coffee pot
in the creek and set it on Stripey's rock
to dry he was ready to examine his
boards. There were only enough for
small kitchen-so small that Jerry felt
impelled to say, There amt any sense
in big rooms, anyhow, Is there, Stripey?
They jest keep a woman workin'. don't
they, little feller?"
Stripey crouched close against a
board, his tail drawn tightly to his side
chuckled admiringly. you've got the
idee, Stripey. Now my dugout's awful
short an narrow, but ! sleep like a top.
You see, after I'm in 1 keep my arms
ag'in my sides an my legs drawn up,
about as you be this minute. But women
folks is different; they want to spread
themselves. So, pard, We'll jest hev to
keep out o. Marys way. The kitchen
might look big to her if there amt
lot O. people in it. Well lie low, won't
we, an watch her flynn round? You
ought to see her, little Teller; she's spry
as you be-
Jerry had planned to put fiat roof
on his kitchen, but when he examined
the lumber he found there were long
boards for the front, but that the back
must be much lower. After a little
thought he said:
What a ninny I be. Left to myself
body knows slantin' roof is the best
for sheddin' rain. Mary would a
laughed, wouldn't she, Stripey, if I'd
a-give her a leaky kitchen to cook in?"
Stripey moved his head from side to
side in appreciation of the joke, and his
eyes twinkled merrily. He knew Mary
very well. for he was Jerry's only con-
fidant, and had heard the story again
and again.
1t was a great day for Jerry, the day
he began to build his little kitchen.
There was a strange lightness in his
heart. Once more the spirit of his youth
came back, as it did that morning when,
for the last time, he drove out of that
little town in Tennessee.
Jerry had no tools except a dull saw,
an axe. no sharper, hammer and
shovel. He had not gone far with the
work before he had to use the two wide
boards that had always served as the
door Of his dugout; and so for several
nights he slept with nothing to ward
off the wind.
"'Tain't that I mind the cold over
much,' he said to Stripey. "but faint
decent TO sleep where folks kin look in
on you. + tell you bout these things,
little Teller. COS l want you to know
what decent is You know, Stripey,
amt undressed sence the boards went
an jest can't sleep with my clothes
on. 1t stands to reason 1 can't"
The same day that Jerry made this
complaint, neighbor Payne called and
said: Here's a piece of pork my wife
sent you, Jerry. No, just keep the
SACK
Jerry was nearly speechless. 1t was
the first bit of provision that had ever
been given him. He put the pork in
his dugout saying, "Stripey, I'll have to
rig up spit somehow; perks no good
without it's turned round an round
over hot Goals"
Just then a happy thought struck him.
The sack was large gunny. Why not
make 1t into curtain for the dugout?
He FASTENED to drive four wooden pins
to hold the sack in place; then hunted
round for rope, but could find none.
Wen, l vow said Jerry; Il packed
>
now faint here. Where does a thing
go to, anyhow"
Suddenly he thought of the rope on
his trousers. The week before he had
ripped one trouser leg from hip to
ankle, and was obliged to fold the cloth
and wrap rope around it every morning
to keep it in place.
"I'll use this rope. Stripey. L lose
lot O. time, anyhow, tyin' it round my
pant leg. Then like as not after I bring
1t all the way down and tie hard knot
at my ankle down it comes COS / forgit
to tie a right knot at the top; to say
nothin' O. fixin' it four or five times a
day COS the cloth gifts ridgy. I'll jest
let the thing flap till Mary gifts here"
When the curtain was hung the two
friends crawled into the hole. Jerry saw
ing, Amt it lucky I'm so stopped
Stripey? A straight man couldn't hard
~ git in here" After they were in and
the curtain fastened down Jerry de-
cided: 1T is a big Improvement; it let's
in light and air and keeps the cold out
The boards made it awful dark Come,
git on my hand, Stripey, an take a look
out. Can't you see through them holes
fine? Why, I'd like to have gunny sack
doors all over my house, but 1 guess
Mary wouldn't hear to it. She'll want
boards like the neighbor women Well,
anyhow. j won't forgit that man in a
hurry. Did you see him before you
and frSv IIDsz