Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-09-09
"a City Tragedy.

done nit this?" inquired Stomp pathet-
ically as / entered his room one day.
''Here is a man who hat to see me
come, und he cannot speak der words
nor hear, and he haf hurt der hand 80
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.
whats wrongP" I asked.
''More monkey bricks. "said Stomp.
"Pahl ! with der human race dis.
gusted am. come home and my din
nsr expect, und find dot, und he hat
give me disl"--saying which he flung
dirty scrapof paper across to me.
l unfolded II, and saw an cratic
scrawl, evidently written with blunt
pencil, and so much ssmudged and
smeared as to be illegible in parts. I
managed to decipher painfully few
words.
''Kommen sic gleich. Folgen----.
Sic haben mich gefangen. Bringen
sic elm anderer m-----. -.----pres
sirt. A. de B."
explain this drivel," said ], toss
ing the paper back.
Zach, drifel you shall gall it, my so
goot friend Dot is der language of
der gods"
Possibly, II answered. "It's Greek
to me, anyway"
: "The paper hat say" said Stomp
solemnly: "'Come at once. Follow
(brobabiy der bearer). They hai
caught me-. Bring another man with
you. Urgent. Und 1t Is signed "A.
de B. Dot is De Brenne, who hat
been gone from England six months.
I do not understand, but I 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 I will
tell you der story OF De Brenne."
eyes; Of course I'll come" said /.
SIN spelling for row.
'Dere shall be der very big rows"
said Stomp
All this time the deaf-and-d dumb
messenger sat motionless as o carved
statue. watching our faces DIS we talked.
I 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 spraug from his chair with a low
gutteral sound unlike anything ever
heard before. 1t gave me quite q
shock, and, turning rapidly to the
man, saw that the hair on the back
of his head was darkened aud matted
together. Stomp's eyes followed
mine. =
q 'Ya, I hat noticed" he said. 'Dere
will de der frst-glass rows. Hat you
revolver?"
I shook my head
Stomp unlocked a case on the man.
telpiece and handed me one, long.
barrelied 80 Smith & Wesson; the
fellow TO II he slipped in his pocket.
They're not loaded, |" said !, snap
ping the breech to.
Stomp grinned. II 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 makea fair target,"I re-
torted, little nettled, for I think
something ofmyself as revolver shot,
and Stomp's waist measurement is o
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
a 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 I spoke, der
writer Of der note, is great friend OF
mine. I haf known him many years.
He is very rich man; his uncle hat
left him oil the money. There is also
cousin OF De Brenne dot is named
Silvestre;s he haf Dc Bortuguest blood
in der veins, und is also der nephew
Of der rich uncle.
''Silvestre he haf hated my frient
peeanse he hat der money, und be hat
once, dwice, ind again sworn dot he
NTH him will be level. Once ders was
a shooting accident, den dere was
are Oil der cousin is very clever
man, tell youl At der last he was
80 enterprising that De Brenne he
came to me and say, Stomp, der at
mosphere is not healthy. think I
will travel on der continent for q
fiddle whiles.' Dot was six months
ago, ind now they haf caught him, und
there shall be rows. Der cousin
is scoundrel. So, / haf said"
The cab rattled drearilv along tho