The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-05-15


not actually strike me. Anyhow, said
| that If he wanted 10 know what he was
could tell him. did tell him in four
words. l omit the words.
Never in my life have / had such a
thrashing as 4 got then. lie hit only
with the open hand; IL he had used his
fists he'd have killed me. There was nc
getting away from him, and no giving
him ANYTHING back N was dirr-dona
all over my face and head until !
dropped in II heap, bleeding like pig
and nearly sick. Ii finished me.
you're boss" | said. You can give
your orders only wanted to see"
lie stood there smiling. as II he had
rather enjoyed himself.
"pick up your boots" he said. "and
| put them on"
On entering the window ! had my
boots hanging round my neck by tn
/ laces; they had fallen OIL when he first
knocked me over. While was putting
them on ne turned back his cuffs and
washed his hands nj the sink. When he
had finished he pointed to the sink.
There You are" he said. "You cal
repair damages"
was blccdig from my nose, and from
a cut lip. but the cold water soon
stopped that When had finished Ia
asked me if was all right.
pretty WE'LL" / said. "Tm bit
si,aky on the legs-that's all. You
gave me good doing
take the candle. then, and go in from
OF me into the study. ! expect you
know the way" OF course did. Show
me the outside of any house, and thu
inside is no puzzle TO me.
He picked up my knife, the revolver
and the small Jenny. and followed M
into the study. lie lit the lamp. gave m'
the knife back again, and locked thu
revolver and the jenny away in ;
drawer.
"And now" he said. "won't you 81
DOWN." He spoke to me as il were
lady visitor. l sat down, and he. takiri
a chair opposite me, began to fill littl
old clay pipe.
II ,ally can't make this out" he said
"you &c so small and clumsy. Iou'v
got a nasty temper, but you're not yer.
plucky What on earth made you thin
of trying 10 be a burglar"
II don't know" said "But there
one thing I'd like toask you. and no dis
respect. What made you think Of helm
n parson--a man of your build an
strength. and so handy with your fists
ask pardon. but you might have don
better"
He didn't seem TO take that ms chce
NJ ALL For moment he didn't answer
and sat smoking ms little clay. Then J.
sighed and said: II have sometime
thought SO myself. But il is quite cci
tain that YOU might have done beitel
How did You come to this''
Il had no bringing up, and rea
penny trashy novels"
lie tapped his foot impaiicntly on til
Garnet. "Wcll. wcll--go on"
; "'rhen was led away by bad con
panims and took to drink and gan
! hing, and not knowing what it was
have mothers tender"
He rot up and interrupted me. NO
/, drop all that" he said II want fact'
tell me the story of your life. How d
: Won come to this?"
Partly from admiring the man. M
e partly from whm, did not tell him Il
: story. and told him the plain truth to
n It was pretty strong. but left nothir
r out. and he never stopped me. When
q had finished he thanked me.
i Then" he said. looming of decor
G people. and with fair education and
i. good chance in life. you none the lie
j have been from your earliest boyhos
y just about as bad as YOU are now--bi
i all through--always bad"
1 THAT is about the mark" answerc
a Then | thought TO myself that it won
c he one Of two things either he won
g take me out and hand me over to the p
lice. or else he would ask me to join hi
o in PRAYER. l expected the latter. !
l. did neither. lie walked up and dow
the room. with his HANDS behind hin
il saving TO himself: And preach Sc
mons crmons-s sermons" Sudden
e he smiled again In that queer way
: his. you've kept me up very late,
;" said. "and in consequence I've becor
II uncommonly hungry. What do W
y say? Will you come and help me TO
us some supper? Very well. then. cor
d quickly. | don't want to wake the re
l OF the house,
n SO / went with him into the lxitch
I and carried things from there into 7
3t study. He laid the table-clcan. viii
cloth. silver forks and everything OF Z
ID best. There was cold game pie, ri
It Stilton, and a bottle OF Burgundy.
d never had better supper in my life.
II passed me everything wanted and fill
nv glass. For the life of me couldi
&c help grinning.
"Now then" he said, whats amusi
Is you?"
~ IL was only thinking. that's all.
seems queer way for person like y
10 treat chap like me. came here
~ crack this crib. you fairly get me. a
m. no word about the police--never
ke word. First you give me a thrash
1t and then you give me supper"
er We'll. you can't deny that you wa
as ed them very badly. What else shot
cr n parson have done? What did you I
TO pect? Tell me honestly"
" speaking honestly. ! expected M
! III Il