The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-04-02

up and saw me; the moon was just
rising behind the house and my form
was clearly outlined against the light
the moon threw before it. But my
shouting had also shown the China
man my whereabouts; he had recov-
cred himself and was again after me.
I could hear his quick, animal painting
just behind me. I ran on, he follow
ing, but hope now gave added speed
to my steps; help would soon be mine,
for crowd had gathered on the street
and seemed clearly to realize my dan
ger. Men ran to and fro, or eagerly
consulted together, and presently a
couple Of workmen came along drag
ging q fremen's ladder. This they
placed against one Of the houses; men
swarmed up it like flies, and in less
time than it takes to tell it the China
man was secured-str strangely enough,
he made no resistance and did not ap-
pear to be armed-and we were both
taken down.
Whom the crowd heard what the
Monaghan had done, they declared
they would lynch him then and there.
They tore him from the policeman
who had him in charge, dragged him
to the nearest tree, which was not far,
for our street was planted with trees;
q rope was brought from somewhere,
aud, despite the wretched mans
pleadings in impassioned Chinese for
mercy, was slipped around the
branches. At that moment broad
shouldered man broke through the
crowd and demanded the cause Of the
uproar. It was Tom. The mob
paused to explain; I ran to my brother,
chung to his arm, and between my in
coherent words and their explanations,
he at last gathered the meaning we
wished to convey, but still he looked
puzzled.
"Nellie? Did I understand you to
say, Dora, that it was Nellie this man
murdered?"
eyes"
"Why, I have come straight from
the house and Nellie was there as we'll
as she ever was in her life, only
anxious at your long absence and curl
Gus to know the cause Of tho dis
turbancc in the street."
'Thero must be some mistake" I
answered, II saw her blood streaming
from under our bedroom door. Per-
haps it was her spirit you saw"
"a pretty substantial spirit, then, I
must say, and one that can enjoy NUT
ton chops and fresh eggs as we'll as q
mortal. Come right along, boys"
turning to the crowd, "and see for
yourselves that my sister is all right.
Come, Dora"
He drew my arm within his own
and turned toward homo, the mob fol-
lowing with the Chinaman, the rope
still around his neck. When we
reached our house there was Nellie
safe and sound, standing on the steps.
Before we could say a word she cried
out:
"What arc they doing to All Sin?
Oh, what shame to treat poor
Chinaman SO" and impulsively she
ran down, and, while the Monaghan
made voluble explanation, pulled the
rope from his neck.
"Speak q little slower, All Sin, then
I shall be able to follow you nicely"
said Nellie, kindly. I forgot to tell
you that Nellie can speak Chinese
she used to teach in the Chinese Mis-
sion School.
"What does he say?" I asked. And,
'Tell us what the heather is saying,
young lady," cried tho men.
Nellie asked the Chinaman q few
questions, which he answered with
much gesticulation, for he was moro
excited than have seen a Chinaman
either before or since, as we'll he
might be; then she turned to us:
II think can explain All Sins
part in the ssadventure. When he
brought the clothes this afternoon I |
found some were missing. I sent
him back to get them, telling him I
would not pay for the washing until
he brought everything. He went
away and came back with the missing |
clothes in about half an hour. I then
paid him and sent him down to the
kitchen for some things for the wash |
| had left there. He got them, and
was about to 60 out when he remem-
bered that he had not asked me when
he was to coll again. Just as he
reached tho head of the stairs he saw
Dora getting out of the window,
jumped to the conclusion that she was
q thief, and followed her. I must tell
you" addressing the crowd, "that he
does not know Dora; she is usually
sway at work when he comes for the
clothes.
'Itjust happened that she got off
early to-day, and he saw her for the
first time this afternoon when she let
him in, so his mistake was not an un.
natural one. He did not dream that
yOunR lady of the hOusa would do