The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-19

ching" as Miss Melanie called it, lay
very still, quite still enough to war
rant Julia's theory of death. An old ar
my blanket was thrown over it, to the
utter extinction of any clew to its iden-
tity. The three women, who were not
constitutional towards, walked around
it several times without extracting any
more information on the subject. Miss
Melanie waxed bold enough to cough
very emphatically. Then Ollie sent this
request in direction Of the bundle
Il say, whatever you are, l wish you
would wake up and explain yourself. +"
Tho situation and the old army blan.
ket remained unmoved by her call. They
mounted the steps to obtain closer
view of the intruder.
| Il should advise shaking him, if any
one else will take the job" said Ollie,
laughing nervously. "I'm sure it is a
man. l can hear him snoring under
there"
Julia recoiled with disguised face.
Nothing on earth would induce mo to
touch him.
Miss Melanio advanced with her par.
asol pointed aggressively.
Il don't suppose he is really danger,
GUS. One might venture with this. If
it is o man, it must be some one from
the seat of war with something to tell
us. We just must make him wake up. "
She prodded the bundle gently with the
ferrule of her parasol. ooh, if you
please, we would like to have you wake
up at once, pleased"
Olivia was circumnavigating the
bench at respectful distance.
TRY the other end, auntie I'm sure
you are poking him where there ism
anything but blanket, and you might
sacrifice politeness to force this time"
Aunt Nellie never forgets her man
ners" said Julia sweetly.
Miss Nellie offered to resign in their |
fHvor. She extended her weapon to each
in turn.
TRY him yourselves, then. if you
think it is so easy to waken the dead. -
Hello, what s the matter over there!'
This question sent in quavering
voice from the other side of the street
made three women turn their faces full
Of welcome upon old Timothy Drew,
who was shutting across to their aid at
his very best pace.
Miss Melanie explained the situation,
observing discreet reticence touching
the f1utter she and her nieces had been in.
Some one has taken possession of
Mr.. Lester Potts store gallery, limo.
thy, and wish You would assist us to
arouse him SO that can order him to
move on, unless. indeed, as is Just DOS.
sible. it may prove to be some one from
the seat of war. He seems very sound
asleep"
Timothy advanced to the attack val.
orously, armed with the hludgeon lie ;
used persuasively on his unwilling dray ,
mules. :
Drunk, I reckon
Drunk? Why, Timothy, don't sup. I
pose you could find quart Of liquor in
all Applegate county, 8
II believe you, num- More the pity
too. say, you there, come out of thsl \
None of your fooling with me. You amt h
got lot of scary women folks to deal +
VAuh
As an appropriate climax to this in i,
cantation. bawled in his most vigorous
voice close to the blanket Timothy g.
gave that grimy article violent twitch, h
which sent it into the middle Of the y
street and left its wearer completely re. Y
vealed.
50 Nothing but darby" said Miss v
Melanie with distinct note of disap- !;
pointment in her voice.
BY this time the wearer of the blan- 2
ket had risen to a sitting posture and ii
was staring at his prosecutors ruefully. n
He was but half awake. He was in tat q
tiers, and the flesh hung as loosely on ii
his bones as on those of the starveling
mule that had fed for weeks Oh Mr.. I"
Potts benches. W
In view of his patent harmlessness
Timothy waxed magisterial in his man III
ner. ~
WHO are you, and where did you di
come from?'' ~
I'm Nose, an I come from whar I'll
they is been fightin. I'm mos starve n
to death, too; is that" in
VuaG MOse! whose MOSe!'
"Marse Reggie's Nose Him an me or
went to the wars together? I is had m,
plenty, folks. is seen enough fghtin
an scratchin to do me for the res of
ny days is mighty hongry, right now of
though" ~;
Miss Melanis lifted her hand to CON-. W. W.
nand attention. M
1--WE must have the courthouse bell of
Jung before we let this boy say another tel
word about the company. What he has re-,
o tell belongs to every woman in the ha
own. Timothy, you 30 ring the bell,
nd will run over to Mrs. Phipps' for wa
omething for him to eat"
Moses looked ruefully at his captors. Re
Il were on my way to find nanny
n Miss Marianne. want to tell them
bout Marse Reggie. I toll EN- in the to
ompany I'd como smack home, an got tha
whole bag full Of letters. Marse Reg. no,
lie he couldn't write. I went to our ole the
lace fust. Nobody there didn't know did
le. I'd like to fin my folks first" {
Miss Melanie was iuexorable. .
"They will all be at the courthouse. Won
hey will be there by the time you have he
cen fed. Everybody understands that rem
hen the courthouse bell rings fast Ma,
Of Importance has happened. left
ulia, you go to Mrs. Phipps for the an
'od. Ollie and will stand guard. I'm get
ire ho will give us the slip if I take be-
" eye off him minute" sna,
Moses fatuous smile seemed to in rs T
'rse her fears but lie was too tired "
I'd hungry to care much what became that
him, 80 he sat still while Julia walked wifi
,1AN Bell
va I"
L>S ~A> slee
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