The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-08


inc naturally. When mere pickaninny
he stole tho pies that bis mother had
baked TO sell To the plantation hands who
came 20 town IN large numbers every
saturday. Asa boy he stole from the
white men who occasionally employed
him TO run errands or TO DO odd Jops 90
long as he stole nothing oil great value
hc escaped with kicks ard cuffs, and loud
threats of the coal mines where state con
victs serve time. liz was tor much tron'
ble 10 prosecute a negro for stealing an
old coat, now and then chicken, an arm
full of stove wood, broom, a can Oh oys-
ters or some such triile, SO the easy gong
white citizens of Tuscaloosa merely Kept
watch when Zsb was around ana pointed
him OCT TO one another as thlef negro
who must not be trusted
When caught in the act of committing
n theft Zeb would lie and cry, ana
ploading hard for one more chance, Woulu
get off on his promise TO steal no more,
and then reassured no would beg piece
OF tobacco as "a token that no hard feei-
Ing remained. But after many escapes,
and as many broken promises OF reform,
Dcedy finally exhausted the patience OF
th. good people of Tuscaloosa 10y slipping
into the house of Judge Searcy and steal
ing decantor filled with rare old brandy.
He was caught rcd handed, so 10 speak,
sitting in the shade of magnolia tree
on the lawn leisurely slipping tne stolen
liquor. The judge cpulG not overlook
such combination OF Injury and insult
He obtained n warrant, and In due course
of time Zeb was arrested and locked In
cell in the county Jail At the fall
rerm of court he had To stand trial, ana
having no defense to ofer, ne was
promptly convicted and sentenced TO serve
oae wear in the coal mines where all con-
WIGS were employed under lease from the
state.
Work in the mines went hard with the
noxro because he mad never worked be-
fore but he survived it, and when his
term expired returned TO Tuscaloosa look
ing little the worse for the experience
The punishment had not reformed tho
regro however. On the contrary, 1t had
made him sullen and resentful. The
fact that he was now an ex-Couvict made
difference in the way he was treated by
the whites. They watched him more
closely than ever before, and the theft of
an apple or a peanut at the corner grocery
would insure hard kicks and cuffs and
plenty of them. Against this treatment
he dared not openy rebel, but at timos
he would face his tormontor with u snarl
much like that Of IA wild animal brought
10 bav by superior foe, and his eyes
wol Id shine bright with the hatred THAT
burned i'm his soul.
One day in June the town marshal
warned Zeb that he must go To work or
he would be locked up as vagrant The
negro did not clearly understand what
this meant, but in vague way he realized
that the hand of every white man was
against him; that he was an outcast, "A
thief, an ex-convict, Stunned by his own
race and doomed to work on the face of
the earth or in the mines under the earth.
Zeb walked down back street alone,
away from the corners where men and
bows stood and called him thief when he
passed by. Beyond the court house, in
. ha pf nf K.
stood splendid horse, saddled and
bridled. Th6-animal belonged to farmer
who had come to town on business. AS
ne stood looking at the horse sudden and
desperate impulse overcome Isb Deedy,
and made him savage. with the instincts
of his ancestors when they fought and
robbed, tribe against tribe man against
man in the wilds Of Africa With horse
he could get away from Tuscaloosa. away
from the kicks, cuffs and curses away
from the threat of the coal mines. He
glanced around and hestated There was no
one in sight and the cunning and courage
of the savage came back TO him. "A
moment later Zeb Deedy was riding
swiftly out of town, horse thief.
The stolen horse was valuable ono
and the theft was soon discovered. Be
fore the thief could reach the shelter OF
the swamps few miles away, Sheriff
Kane and a deputy were riding hard on
tho trail, pistols in their belts and reDeat
ing rifles held across their saddles for in
stan mt use.
The thief rode rapidly, knowing not
where he would go, ana thinking only of
getting rs far away as possible Then
the stolen horse cast shoe. went lame,
and, after limping on little way.
stopped short, and with mute appeal for
mercy refused To go on again. The thief,
frightened and discouraged looked back.
Across the cotton fields. mile away. ho
saw two hOrsemen approaching at n rapid
pace then he dismouDted and hurried
on. The swamp was in sight III lie
could reach that the horsemen could not
pursue.
Some sand hills rising sharp and clear
close by the side of the roadway inter
veued. and he could dodge behind these
aud keep out of sight Tie black thief.
skulking along the road, had reached the
second hill which stood up like IA mound,
forming frame and ted for wild vines
and flowers that grew In rich prOfuslon tu
;ts summit. Passing around to the other
side OF this hill he came upon n white
child, little girl who stood there with
her arms fill oi flowers while with wist-
fui owes she gazed at great spreading
bunch Of rcd roses growing nelr the sum.
mt of tho mound of sand. ~ feet heyGnd
her reach The sudden apl elranco of tbs
regro startled the child and she spranp
back with cry OF fright, while hcr roses
lGli hD JIc rEbhuu lb - itbl-
Don't cry little l,dy It's only Z,t
Decay DOB Won't hurt YOU, Don't cry
I'll pick up ali your roses for you -
lEc black horsethiof st0ouel cd gather
ei UP tile scattered wild flowers ana IN,
fright of the child passed away swiftly a,
a shadow.
II want thcm Went vou please get
'em for me, black many I'm Girl auC
mamma says | must not ollmh''
The child pointed 90 the ! ulch Of rec
roses at the summit OF the hill rs sh,
spoke, ana her face Frightened with htpe
Sho cane closer and tuuubCd tho rougl
black hand OF the hOrsethicf wish her sof
white ingors. She was the pct of til,
black men on her fatftr's plantation
hard by, and they had ALWAYS obcyed her
.'You got 'em for me, black man, yol
can climh.' she suid in "a tone that wa
half appeal. halt command as she saw tha
Deedy hc.i ated.
The hors ethief rocked back down the road
here was no one In signt He sprung ~
tho side of tie mound. clutthed the stronj
vines and climbing hand over hand, suol
reached the summit with care % ayoi,