The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-05-07
....HEARTSIE'S 'TONEMENT...

reaching upward from whore he stood
on tiptoe on the ricketty step of corn
house hammered the big nails stead ;
and square and drove them homo. Hav-
ing fastened one end of narrow board
to the upper side of the wall he drew
II down diagonally across the dwarf
door and nailed it hard and fast, effect
ually preventing entrance. This done,
be picked up half dozen fowls which
laid tied together on the ground and
went to the open door OF the cabin.
brushing ruthlessly against he blooms
OF a red japonica bush in his haste.
All was dark inside The wood in the
fireplace was only smoldering, not
burning. The daylight of the gray
afternoon that stole in through the
heavy shuttercd window showed that a
woman sat in one corner.
Here. you there" called The man:
you understand that if you rip off that
board and use any corn out of that
house you go to jail-you and your old
man both. You understand
Il know, but you amt doing US
right" answered the woman. Yves
paid out for the things. not 'scusin' tex
ceptingl the picture what you fetched
last. Here's the papers what the mems
give Us, every time they been here
Il never authorized anybody to col
lect payment, and you owe me clear
Sl5, not to say interest, since April. I'll
send back in q week for that corn and
If you've laid a finger on it you'll be
sorry. Where's your husband:'
Il dunno; out gittin' wood. ! reckon.
Since you's Sc token the feather bed and
the pick of the quilts well have to keep
up steady fire to warm by
We'll, you make 'Riah understand
what | say: you hear
Mr.. Beckwith amt goin to touch
nothin'," said the woman in de-
pressed voice. But you'se mighty hard
on US old people. You amt leave us
even a pullet to raise from" eying
wistfully the feathered bunch hanging
limp and resigned by their yellow legs.
You couldn't low me dat speckled
hen? She's a sure layer and an awful
good mother. I'd save you a couple of
4
gree 10 IT."
The speaker came forward and re-
gardcd her creditor pleadingly, re-
pressed eagerness in her manner as
though she half expected he would
comply. She was tall. with a smooth,
shining. bronzebrown skin and good
features. showing little trace of the
thick lips. fiat nose and receding fore
head of the typical negro.
'Specklcd hen indeed said the man,
waving her off. I've got her now; the
chickens she mig ht raise l might never
see. I'm up to your tricks. Get some
of YOUR neghbcrs to raise on shares
with you. Don't meddle with the corn
house. now" he called as he drove off
in his rattling road cart The law
drove them nails and it will be the
worse for you il you draw any OF them
out"
Heartsie Beckwith stepped outside
after he was gone and looked at the
courthouse door with the teli-tale board
across its face. then she looked pathet-
ically at the open trap door of the little
fowlhouse opposite.
1T won't be no use to shut it to-
night" she muttcred. IVES ruinated,
plumb ruinated, and there amt nobody
and nothn' to turn to-
Half unconsciouly she looked in the
direction Of the long avenue of oaks
that stretched across the big fiat field
in front of the cabin. AS she stood thus
an elderly negro in a tattered coat
With his head tied up in motley co!lec-
ton of scarfs and strings, came up be.
hind her.
IS dat dcbil gone:' he asked in a
thin high voice.
Yes Mr.. Beckwth. Hes gone, and
everything gone with him, 'scusr n
the corn and that little handful of pea
vines in the corn house. what we ain,
to lay hands on. Everybody goin' tc
know now that wc's been shut up and
diSgraccd."
is you show him the papers what
the mems give you in 'Sidel.ation of The
'tstcrs and cotton and things what we
pay out on de clock debit"
Yes. But that make no differ. Ht
tell it as how We give the things to the
wrong men, rapscallion men hat he
amt send to fetch 'em. He WOuldn'
leave me so much as that speckled heI
what's such regular layer. It's wick
ed for anybody to eat a hen like that
what pays for herself over and owe
every year"
Come in out Of the damp, baby" wa
all that Mr.. Beck with said, and as the,
entered the cabin, where a light-wooe
knot in the chimney place blaZed u
abruptly in welcome, a braZen-tongue,
clock on a shelf struck thirteen in hun
ried, uneven tones. Mr. BeckiWth'
face frightened. It's got us in lot 0
trouble, but its mighty good company
he said, looking up a the tall clock i
its gaudy frame.
Peck! peck! as of a sharp bill strikin
on bare boards came from the inne
soom. Mr. Beckwith looked at his wifi
anquiringly.
The rumplus pullet" she explained
"Whilc the buckra and the dog wa
runnin' down the other fowls il fly i
there and squat down under the bet
so l just shut the door and amt sa
h;,,' hn vi II