The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-02-08

1 never mao no new CLIO sc aIOre. ne
crooked, piteously.
A few frosty tears dropped on his
grizzled cheek. Liz took up q corner
of her apron and wiped her eyes. all
the ether women solemnly dipped
snuff.
They was sech fine ~clo'es!" unused
the old man. The coat he'd a silk liz
in. Doctor said it war silk. An the
purtiest buttons!"
An them clo'es could a. ben fixed
up fer Bud when dad got done with
EN-" said Liz.
The old man palsd with sudden pas
sion.
Il amt er goin' ter git done with
'em!" he said in a high voice. Bud
shan't hev 'em. Doctor woman give
'em ter me. l never he'd no new clo'es
afore. But 1 amt got EN- now. They're
stole"
He broke down into fearless eobs,
that shook the old chair.
Don't cry, Daddy" all the women
called in unison, and they shed a few
perfunctory tears and passed the sTuff-
box around.
You don't use tobacco in any form,
do yer. DOCTOR" asked one.
The doctor admitted that she did not,
and they looked steadily at her, trying
TO realize the phenomenon. Weeks
passed and Daddy still crooned over the
fire in utter detection. Old age, pow
erty and loneliness. unhappy trio, were
his sole companions. 1t was now be-
lieved thai the clothes would never be
recovered.
Out in the woods one frosty morning
a heavy foot crushed into the dead
leaves, and a big chestnut, falling,
struck the owner of the foot on the
nose.
lie raised his black face toward the
trcetops.
Hi! Dey's drappin' all de time now,
an dey;S a heap bctter'n con"
He sat down i'll his tracks and filed
his pockets and shirt front, eating
voraciously the while.
"Reckon I'd better be gwine now"
he said presently.
Raising. he picked his way like a cat,
through the u~nderbrush, climbing con-
stan5ly till he reached a spot where a
huge bowlder cropped out and over
hung the mountain side. Its crest
commanding the whole valley, n its
shelving underside made Il coy shelter,
Thick pines crowded up and concealed
the entrance. The convict had been
50 sharply hunted that he had been IN
able to escape from the neighborhood.
and it was in the boldness OF dcsp"ra-
ton that he had chosen his retreat 50
near the state road that he could hear
the voices of the country folk as they
passed TO and from town.
He sat down to cogitate. "Ef l could
sit word TO Rosy. or git to Rosy, I'd be
all right; but, Lordy. can't do nary
one on en-"
The train whizzed out from a cutting
and whiSticd sharply as it tore along.
The negro grinncd with pleasure. He
was so much a savage that this nom&dlo
existence. though hunted and tortured
By fear. was sweet to him.
"Howdy. gemmen." he chuckled, as.
pcering through the pine boughs, he
IT cOgnizcd some OF his feilOw-convicts
on the train. Don't you wish you was
ne? Plenty grub, heap o new clo'cs
and 10 work to do. HO, no."
He rose and drew out a bundle, I'M
did it, viewed its contents with a series
Of laughing explosions, and then pres
emily DOTTED his striped suit and ar
himself anew.
Mighty fine clo'cs fer a fac; cost .
heap o money"
He softly patted his limbs, twisted
his neck to get a glimpse of his back,
and creased all his black face into m
big smile. y mirror would have made
rapture perfect.
Rosy won't know me in desc yere,
TEX me fer q preacher jest from
c%onfuncc."
He changed back 20 his striped suit
and tied up his bundle. \ sharp wind
sprang up and drove before Il drops Of
rain.
"Golly.." muttcred the darkcy. Amt
t cOld?" I'll resk a fire arter dark"
Down on the doctors farm every.
body was hurrying to get the crops I'M
der shelter. The last load had gone in
v hen julie Fraley looked up At the sky.
The clouds were rolling up like n cur
tain, showing the far mountains a deep,
blue etched with an amber sky.
burned eff it's going TO storm, after
ALL" said julie.
Suddenly he Strengthened himself.
Bud" he called sharply. Look
' on-on the mountain. Amt the
sm0ke?"
Bud could see.as far as an Indian.
"Yes, thet's smoke"
"Ther' amt no house :har?|'
Nav. Nary house."
julie walked away briskly.
Two hours later five men parted the
outrageous pines and tip-toed eau
,iously toward a small opening under
/ great rock on The mountain side. \
yhiff Of warm air stole our to them.
y great bed OF Goals glowed rcdly, and,
with his feet 10 the fire, a negro in rom
let dress lay sound asleep. The men
their guns ready. One pointed his
.:ece upward and a shot tore through
he tree tops. The negro was on his
&c. in an instant.
We've got you!" said one.
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