Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-08-19

/ y
ing always side by side with those in
nocents.
Down she went. The street made
an abrupt turn. At the corner she was
startled by seeing, protruding from a
hole cut in a squaiid doorway, several
long, black fingers. They were with
drawn, and she saw, as she passed the
door, two blood-shot eyes peering out
like beasts eyes.
Nina, ninita! the good mother of
God sent you, and see what gain will
be yours!' Turning, Miss Stanley be-
held Rosita at her heel. She had a
plate to sell-a coarse, ironstone
china plate, Clipped and cracked.
There was look of intense agony on
her old face, and her wee hands shook
as she drew her treasure forth from
under her rebozo. The plate was i'm
possible, and Constance, breaking
that fact very gently to the little
dwarf, was astonished to see the tears
gather and fall over her shriysIsd
cheeks.
'For two days, senorita, have not
dared unlock that door," and she
nodded toward the mean portal where
The eyes had shone and the fingers
protruded restlessly. "'Little brother
has nothing to eat, except the few
tortillas the poor around here could
give, and many of these go hungry
from the suns coming up until the
suns going down"
Constance sent her servant and
Rosita to the plaza for some cooked
food, and, while she waited, she talked
in the doorways with Pepita and Lola
and Juana. They told her how Rosita
worked and starved for her brother.
"How old is he?" asked Constance.
"Quien sabe?" they said.
'Is he child or is he big enough
to work for her?" she asked, impa-
tiently.
"Ahl he is grandote, but also he is
loco, un maniatico. See, that is Jose
now who glares from the hole in the
door"
Miss Stanley listened to them with
that rapt attention we all give to tales
OF the mad. He dug deep holes in the
earth floor, burrowing like an animal,
sometimes he escaped in that way and
then there was fear in the narrow
street, and the police, after bloody
fight, would drag him shrieking back
to the one poor room Rosita called
home. She had always put food
through the door for him before ven
turing to open it.
Once, for long time, he had not
menaced the peace of the street. That
was when he killed the serene. A po-
llceman had jeered him as he peered
from the hole in the door, much as
people tease hyena snarling in a cage.
Inc mad have memories, for Jose, one
night when the moon was bic, crept
softly about the dark room, and, find
ing the key Rosita's small cunning
had hidden, opened the door, crept
again softly up the street to an adobe
doorway where was sleeping a serene,
his head on his knees. The police
nave day and night shift, but one
cannot expect mailman to know
everything, So it was an innocent
man who had his neck wrung as the
cook does chickens. They could
only guess what then happened. There
were only the pulsing stars looking
silently down and the great, calm
moon. However, it was evident he
must have dragged and worried and
and teased that poor piece of clay for
God knows how far or long.
They found him asleep by the dead
serene, and, although too polite in the
'Landof the MONDAY Sum to manacle
or chain, they took the precaution to
tie with stout maguey rope Jose's
slumbering bulk before six of the
largest policemen would venture to
carry him to the carcel. Jose's kind
OF people are treated with Difference in
Mexico. SO, after some time, the man
was sent back for the dwarf to feed and
care for, and Rosita' face took on more
wrinkles each day.
by the time Rosita returned with
the food, Constance, who understood
Spanish very well, had heard much of
the "little brother"
She declined to look through the
peep-hole at him ravening over his
dinner like a wild beast. Followed
by Rosita's wordy gratitude, she
climbed to the top of the street and
there met Mr.. Dysart.
Mr.. Dysart had but lately risen from
the following letter.
Dear Mollie: Tell father I am looking
after the mining business in great shape
/ = | fp bn
ernor's ball last night. Only one English
girl there, Miss Stanley, awful pretty girl
knew her brother, Dick Stanley at Trinity
Won a cup at the three-mile. He'sa pretty
good sort. Tell Bob if he can get that
liyer-colored dog of Ogethorpe for eight
guineas to buy her. Look out for Tobin's
foot. Don't let the old dufTer from the
Clancarty stables fool with it. Tell all the
cold folk" that Master Tony sent them love
and wishin' them good pratie crop. Love
to dad and yourself. Tony.