The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-13
A GRIN EXPERIENCE.
BY HAMLIN GARLAND.
PRIZE DEFECTIVE STORIES. No. 80.

i have been in most States OF the Union,
said my friend, and in all the larger cities
North and South, at all times OF the day
or night, and I've had only two moments
of fear that is, apprehension OF personal
assault.
One OF these is called to mind by par
agraph In this mornings paper. l was
on a lecturing tour In the West and was
spending an "off night" In a little town
in Southern Iowa. Tn ere was no possi-
bility OF getting away until the next
morning, and there was only one little
hotel. Still, / was not complaining. III
was glorious September The smell OF
ripening corn, bleaching stubple ana yell
lowing vines whelmed the little village In
its depths as the odor OF the sea closes
round and over a ship.
The day had been misty ana warm and
odorous, and the night came cool and
clear and aromatic. To the north lay the
grain fields; TO the south ripening forests
stood, and a swift, clear little stream
moved busily.
After my supper at the little hotel
(where was eyed with a certain suspi-
cion, il seemed to mel, went out into
the street which ran irregularly away In
to the perfect darkness OF moonless
night.
/ sauntered with lettering step enjoying
the quaint, abrupt turns in the street, so
different from most towns OF the plain.
1t accommodated itself 10 the river whose
dashing roar below added to my thirst
and a watermelon seemed the necessity OF
my life.
Suddenly a man appeared at my side. l
studied him through the dusk with eyes
OF inquiry. He was q heavy-set man,
dark faced and cleaning eyed. He wore
wide white hat, and as he spoke his
breath smelled strongly of whiskey.
"Hello! !" he said, and peered into my
face laug hing in embarrassment. "Ha, ha.
IA Nice evenin' amt it?'
"Very pleasant, surely, " l.replied. His
eyes seemed fixed upon small silver
badge "a club badge) which j wore. He
took hold of my lapel and laughed again
in a still more nervous way.
"Strollin around little, strsnger?"
lie seemed TO have taken me for some
body else, and now wished to gracefully
retire. To help him out l said pleasantly:
eyes, I'm looking for good water
melon
He laughed third time more :oolishly
than before.
"a watermelon"
"Yes. feel like mic juicy melon
| a native one. i suppose they raise 'em
around here?'
"No. We ship 'em all in" he said has
tily. "But now I've accosted you, by
mistake, I'll see you through. Come
with me.o
The fellows laugh turned to something
officiousness. i was convinced OF his In
toxicatlon; that this elaborate courtesy
was one of the thousand .orms drunken
ness assumes. However, i followed him
across the street toward the dull light OF
a pair OF windows.
1t was evidently fruit and cigar store.
As entered looked first at the counter
where tobacco was displayed and behind
which a young man stood staring at me
with keen. hard, unwavering eyes. A
ragged, uncouth group OF men stood Tor
sat- immovsbly as IL my entrance had smit-
ten them into wax figures. Their eyes
were very much alike, / noticed. They
did not change countenance or make a
motion. There as something uucanny In
their analyZing stare.
My guide shouted unnecessarily loud ut
appeared to me) SCOT any watermelons?"
No one replied, and he crossed the room
and said to the young man behind the
or he's a-scamp!'
There was touch OF explanatory em-
phasis on the word scamp. He was shak-
ing with suppressed excitement.
Suddenly OWNED what ii all meant.
They took me for detective. i had been
watched every moment since landing
from the train, and my unoonsciousness
had been taken for the GOODNESS and poise
of an experienced officer. / have the
habit OF carrying my hands in my over
coat pockets, and as i stood there faced
them with both hands thus hidden. l
weighed at that time $50 pounds, and my
| light overcoat flung open In front exag-
gerated my bulkiness. Altogether, i sup
posed i looked very dangerous and very
| cool, which / surely was not.
The pause was getting awkward, when
a man who was drinking beer and eating
crackers at a small table said oracularly:
"Melons amt done we'll in this county
tnn dap dry
My guide now collected himself. "No.
We ship 'em all in; that's what told
| the stranger.
He was a bullet headed man with broad
shoulders. He had a stubby beard over
! his jaws which added to the threatening
| expression OF his face. He shook with
excitement, which was not fear. His
eyes were sinister, and those of tall
faded-looking man who stood back to the
stove scared me. / have not looked into
such eyes many times in my life. l saw
| significance in the attitude of the tall
man. His only sign OF nervousness was
| the motion Of warming himself before the
freless stove and the exaggerated slow
ness of his splitting. They all seemed to
wait to see what / would do. l leaned
against the counter, keeping my right
hand in my pocket. j did not design to
do this. ] intended TO seem composed,
and succeeded in appearing dangerous.
dangerous men, proably criminals. They
were all between me and the door. j felt
in my bones the chill of approaching
trouble, but i kept my voice as steady as
possible. My hat brim concealed the anx
ious look probably had in my eyes.
"Yes, I'm looking for a nice fresh wa
termelon, / said in n wondrously frank
and winning voice. "And IL you haven't
any I'll try somewhere else. "
/ Strengthened up as II TO go, but my
guide, who stood between me and the
door, said:
Il guess, now I've run up agin you, I'll
see you through
Several OF the IN en- rose at this as at
signal.
The guide said to one OF the younger
men: ''Bill, you see il Beggs has got
any; wen wait here.
"Oh, thank you," put in. ''I can go
myself. Don't trouble
''No trouble tall, " said the tall man,
z.l fly.N 81 -.