The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-20


scared me so that 1 screamed-at least.
il would have been a scream. only the
sound wouldn't come.
You needn't be scared he gasped out
in raSping sort of jerks II haven't the
strength to hurt you If / wanted to-
see"
he turned his eyes to his beast across
which his right arm lay stir and clothed
with blood.
think he understood that was shock
ed and sorry, for before my heart could
jump back TO the right place he dropped
the reins and touched his mangey cap.
i've been skUIkin' in these woods for
nigh onto week. Miss. and what with
starving and the pain I'm most dead
played out"
IF YOU will cut across that field and
follow the creek up to that house on the
hill. I viii see that you get good sup
per-
Il couldn't crawl there. much less walk.
and my time Cor supper is over for this
world, I reckon
He tottered as he spoke and I was Just
settling it that Calico and I had Il dis
o grceabIe job before US when he laid one
hand on the wheel-it looked Ike the
flesh of a dead man-and drawing his face
close enough for me to see the CHASTITY
work that suffering had made Of IL. whis-
pered:
>
life For the sake OF God Almighty, viii
YOU help me-?
All my life l had wanted 10 be a man.
and now, at last, the chance had come TO
act Ike one he asked for help in Gods
name, and in His name L answered
I was rubbing Calico down in his stall
pap and being the only men-leastwise
pap being the only man about the place
D.
the dear old fellow came into the stable
yard and pOked his head in the door
sis" he began, with wide, excited
eyes, did you meet big chap down the
road-rough sort with black whisEers?''
I had not, and l said SO
well. he rode by here while you were
gone, looking UP some burglar who rob
bed the Baltimore Bank and got down 70
this nefGhborhoOd with the money. and a
bullet to boot. I directed him down the
main road-how comes it YOU didn't
rneet?''
'I drove home by the mill road" an
swered, between rUbS. He can hunt all
he wants to. but he won't catch his bur
glar this night, pappy, my own dear
Think not2 Why2
Because he's in the barn loft, that's
why"
For the Lords sake, Sis, let me over
take him." and pap made one step-rlay-
be forgot 20 tell you that my father was
lame-bullet at Antietam-bUt before he
took the second on his erTand OF Justice 1
grabbed his cane and steadied him against
the stable door.
Pap" I cried, IT adore you but if you
make another move toward that gate you
have only an even dozen daughters TO last
you the rest of your life. I've promised
that Door fellow to help him. and, by
George, IN going to keep my wordt
Pap looked stunned. knew he would
THE law. Sis. consider the Law
Damn the lawl"
For the next instant pap looked more
stunned than ever. then the color flash
ed into his fine old face. and slappins me
on the shoulder fairly shouted: Spoken
like a mani"
Being naturally genteel. suppose I
ought TO have been ashamed of myself.
but 1 wasn't Even at this orthodox
stage of my career am rather proud OF
my downfall, il pleaSes me to think that
at that supreme moment / was con-
trolfed by heredity and but voiced the
unanimous sentiment Of the prehistoric
robbers. pirates and Adam only knows
what not OF ancestry that represented
my fOrebears before they settled into
Carriers and UphOIders Of the law.
When we stood together before the poor
fellow he looked so pathetically helpless
stretched out on the friendly straw. thai
him. and he dressed the bullet hole in
his breast, and bathed his hurt hand as
tenderly as if il had never been lifted in
crime
Pretty soon pap's notice took in the
gourd Of water that / had brought from
the spring and the carriage robe rolled
into a pillow. He didn't say anything Tor
a fun minute then he looked AT me in a
resigned sort of way. and whispered:
THANK the lord. Sis, that after all You
are only a WOMAN
I truly believe pap meant velI, but il
didn't sound handsome. considering how
hard I was trying at that particular MIN
ute 10 do my duty ike man.
ITS no use" mCaneu my burglar when
pap had done his best; I'm going fast,
boss, and I'm goin' hard. bUt she said
they shouldn't touch ne
Don't worry my lad" said pap, ten
Derby. Right or wrong, here you stay,
until"
1T won't be long. would have died
out there on the roadside-except for her
will YOU take this bag from my neck
il chOkes me. it cholles me-
Pap laid the bag ON tine floor close be-
side him. and the dying man stretched
out his uninjUred hand and caught II in
| his grasp.
Il want you TO take it back, boss. and
if there's any-reward L want il TO go
tO-her-
He died before sunrise. But we didn't
touch the reward. No Stree,
If you have ever lived in old St Mary's
County YOU would know the Garner stock
too well for thaI-5ut I'll tell YOU what
did happen.
When the story got around to the mort
gage man-it has always been "a satistac-
ton to remember that [ failed 70 Siay
/ him-he rode over and had . talk with
~h. q M WI
extended until the tobacco was shipped
and you had better believe l worked that
year.
I gathered ground leaves. stripped and
bundled the cured crop. and even helped
the colored hands to prize And when the
last cent was paid-it took two yearS~
why. I think that only private who re-
ceives promotion for rescuing his COun-
try's flag from the enemy. could do JUS
tice to my emotions when pan blessed
me and told me I had acted Ike o man.
MAMIE LANCASTER