The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-09-17
A City Tragedy

'Here is man who hat to see me
come, und he cannot speak der words
nor hear, and he hat hurt der hand so
dot he to write is not able"
Stomp was evidently in state Of
some excitement, for his nervous energy
was always in direct ratio to his in
ability to speak the Queens English.
"What's wrong?" l asked
"More monkey bricks, said Stomp.
"Pah! with der human race dis
gusted am. l come home and my din
ner expect, und I find dot, und he hat
give me dis!"-saying which he flung
\ o dirty scrap Of paper across to me.
] unfolded it, and saw an cratic
scrawl, evidently written with blunt
pencil, and so much smudged and
smeared as to be ilIegible in parts. I
managed to decipher painfully a few
words.
'Kommen sic gleich. Folgen-.
Bic haben mich gefangen. Bringen
sic Elm anderer m-.-pres-
sirt. A. de B."
Explain this driyel," said I, toss
ing the paper back.
each, drifel You shall gall it, my so
goot friendl Dot is der language of
der gods"
"Possibly, u answered. cts Greek
to me, anyway"
"The paper hat say" said Stomp
solemnIy; "'Come at once. Follow
probably der bearer. They hat
caught me. Bring another man with
you. Urgent Und it is signed "A.
de b. Dot is De Brenne, who hat
been gone from England six months.
/ do not understand, but l hat think
that rows there will be. This bagan
is der servant Of my frient. He was
born NIT dree senses only. You will
come with me? Und on der way 1 will
tell you der story of De Brenne."
eyes; of course I'll come," said I.
'1'm spelling for a row.
'Dere shall be der very big rows"
said Stomp.
All this time the deaf-and-dumb
messenger sat motionless as a carved
statue, watching our faces as we talked.
think that, in common with others
afflicted as he was, he had the power
of understanding our speech by the
movement of our lips. At any rate,
his face frightened when he saw
Stomp making preparations to start,
and sprang from his chair with low
gutteral sound unlike anything ever
heard before. 1t gave me quite a
shock, and, turning rapidly to the
man, 1 saw that the hair on the back
of his head was darkened and matted
together. Stomp's eyes followed
mine.
"Ya, I hat noticed" he said. "Dere
will de der frst-glass rows. Haf you q
revolver"
1 shook my head.
Stomp unlocked q case on the man
telpiece and handed me one, long
barreIed 80 Smith & Wesson; the
fellow to it he slipped in his pocket.
They're not loaded" said ], snap
ping the breech to.
Stomp grinnod. 81 have der shells
in my booklet. But der moral force is
der safest; you might shoot me in der
leg or der pinafore.
"You do make fair target" I re-
torted, a little nettled, for | think
something ofmyself as revolver shot,
and Stomp's waist measurement is a
record
He looked at the uncanny mes
senger, who, with another of his gut
tural sounds, nodded, and made swift
ly for the door.
When we got outside Stomp hailed
q four-wheeler, and glanced inquir-
ingly at our guide. "Piccadilly?" he
asked. The man grunted, and Stomp
repeated the word to the driver.
"Now, said he, as the cab numbered
along, 81 shall tell you der story.
This De Brenne of whom l spoke, der
writer of der note, is great friend of
mine. l hafsknown him many years.
He is very rich man; his uncle hat
left him all the money. There is also
cousin of De Brenne dot is named
Silyestre; he hat de Bortuguest blood
in der veins, und is also der nephew
Of der rich uncle.
"Silvestre he hat hated my frient
because he hat der money, und he hat
once, dwice, und again sworn dot he
with him will be level. Once ders was
y shooting accident, den dere was a
re. Oh! der cousin is a very clever
Ian, 1 tell you! At der last he was
jm enterprising that De Brenne he
re to me and say, Stomp, der at
. n,phere is not healthy. l think [
As' travel on der continent for q
Q nj, whiles. Dot was six months
,ip "IIld now they hat caught him, und
lall be rows. Der cousin
t"E' ''Eoundrel. SO, hat said. " 3
The cab ratified drearily along the
wet, half-deserted streets, and finally
pulled up at the entrance to a narrow
little passage at the back of Berkeley