The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-02-20
PURIFIED BY FIR.
BY JOHN RIDGARD.


tering behind the log cabin woman's
cry Get the gum ana "Here, Tige,"
and a great hawk driven from It's vic
tim, SCARED upward while the scattered
feathers of the almost denuded chicken
settled softly far and wide upon the
ground. The dog, with feet braced and
npfifted muzzle, gazed eagerly after
the retreating robber.
Out from the cabin door FASTENED an
old man, bent but supple. with gun in
hand. The hawk passed westward
over the narrow clearing and settled
near the top of gigantic pine which
stood just within the border of the
great forest beyond.
The setting sun struck full in the
eyes Of the marksman through the tops
of the trees as he levelel his rife and
transformed the long gray hair on the
bare head into strands of silver.
A moment he stood as from the .sculp-
tors hand, in pose the more beauti-
full in one so old; the crack of the
rife came sharply OH the air; the
hawk tumbled from its perch and
Tige dashed madly away To retrieve the
invader, fit subject for implement up
on the barn door as warning TO its
kindred.
ut was u hard shot to make with the
sun in your face the old woman said,
with trembling voice, and she rested
her wrinkled hand, hardened with toll,
upon the arm which was to her the
best, the truest, in all the world.
Yet it was hard world which the
old couple had known. In the evening
of their days they were occupying a
homesteadcr's cabin in the great TIM
Der belt of The Upper Peninsula of
Michigan, and from the bits of soil
lying between the stumps and fallen
timber of the clearing managed to raise
the potatoes and few vegetables which
were possible ia the short season of
that northern climate. An occasional
deer or partridge. furnished by the old
mans unerriug rifle, and their domestic
fowls, relieved the nonotony of salt
pork, of which, at the best, they never
had mere than a scanty supply.
1t grew dark early; clouds filled the
sky; the wind was rising and the great
trees bent aud swayed before the COM
ing storm.
Supper was over. The old man sat
smoking and his wife was engaged In
clearing away the few dishes and the
remnants of the meal, when, without
warning, the door was thrown open and
out of the darkness came foul and BIAS
phemous words.
A man of great stature stumbled over
the threshold, STOPPING his head as he
passed through the doorway. The broad
shoulders and deep chest bespoke
enormous physical strength; the SYM
metrical limbs, displayed through. the
closely fitting lumberman's suit, indica-
ted the greatest activity. The face, all
bruised aud swollen, as from some late
iisticuff encounter, was lighted by n
pair OF soft. kindly blue eyes. which,
even III drunkenness, evidenced a gen
crous and courageous nature.
Keeling across the floor he caught at
and steadied himself by the edge of
the table, and turning, sent back a
volley- of oaths to his laggard compan-
ion, whose name, DAN he prefxed
and suffixed with an eloQuence of vitu-
peration which was truly amazing:
I'm comm, Bum, as fast rs ever
kim" sounded an answering voice. and
when Dan appeared the reason of his
delay was apparent. He was n little
To- ~nI In 81. ltss., a
mans blouse, drawer-like trousers,
long stockings and rubber packs, or
shoes, and was loaded with great
turkey" that is long bag stuffed
with clothing, which was suspended by
cord attached TO each end and passed
over one shoulder. If possible, he was
drunken than the one who had pre-
ceded him..
Bum swung into the room from the
support of the table, delivered double
shuttle, gave whoop, sprang like a
panther into the air and planted one
foot against the low rafter overhead.
As he came down, Dan seemingly an
ticipated what was 40 follow, for he
turned his back and received kick
WHICH CduSeu the turkey W pouuu
far above his head, and as his bundle
settled, Dan settled with it and tum-
bled sprawling upon the floor.
The old woman, terrified. fattened
herself out of harms way against the
wall and the old man. advancing, plac-
ing himself between her and the
drunken men.
The good -natured giant. seeing their
alarm, visibly modified the exuberance
of his profanity and exclaimed:
I'm Bum Burton. and wouldn't hurt
a fy, would !, Dam
"you bet you weuldn't," answered
Dan.
But when they got me drunk, they
thought they'd lick me. didn't they,
Danf''
''Yes but they didn't" roared Dan.
II put 'em down, one top o toJher,
and when the big fellow smashed me in
the nose never sQueaied. did !, Dan y