The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-30

gazing straight at the silver treasures at
her side.
Gimme somethin' to eat9" he com
manded, rather than asked, without NOV
ing his fascinated eye from the silver.
Miss Spencer half rose, her eyes fixed
upon him, and terror written on every
feature Of her sallow old face Her Ups
felt parched with fear, and it was with
difficulty that she articulated her words
Il hain't got nothin' fer you, she
said.
Yer hain'tw replied the man with an
ugly chuclle. Eyes, yer look poor
"TH give yer some doughuuts or piece
o pie, eff you're really hungry said Miss
Spencer, hastily coming 10 the conclusion
that a charitable course might be the
safer one 10 pursue.
Without removing her eyes from his
face she backed slowly into the pantry
and reached into jar, filing her hands
with doughnuts
She walked back across the kitchen and
pushed open the screen door very Ut
tie way. But the man did not take the
doughnuts. With sudden movement OF
the left hand he threw open the screen
door, and, with a rough motion of his
powerful right arm, thrust Miss Spencer
out of his way and sent her Keeling
against the wall at the back of the little
kitchen.
The next instant he was inside the door,
trembling woman and had secured her
hands behind her
He dragged a folded burlap bag
form his pocket, into which he began to
thrust the articles.
Miss Spencer watched him helplessly,
her face pallid and her eyes proruding
with terror and dsmay.
Suddenly she saw something that the
tramp, with his back to the door and the
rattle of silver in his ears, did not per-
ceive. slight boyish figure in pep
per and salt suit was sauntering leisurely
up the path. Just outside the door 1t
paused, and in an instant seemed TO
grasp the whole situation.
With a catlike movement the screen door
was thrown open, and Phineas Rankin,
with the Lives Of the Apostles held
high above his head in both strong young
hands, dashed into the kitchen with one
spring.
Before the tramp could turn, the heavy
book descended with stunning force on
the back of his head, and he reeled back
step and fell heavily against che kitchen
table. In another instant he was on his
feet again, and turned upon the boy.
Phineas had raised the book for another
blow for it was his only weapon; but 1t
would have awaited little that time. At
that moment he heard a yelp and growl
and saw Gyp bound up the steps. Mrs
| Perkins had not forgotten Miss Spencer
request.
Miss Spencer closed her eyes to shut out
the scene of the next few moments, but
to her dying day she remem bered the saw
age yelps and growis of the dog, and the
maddened curses and yels of pain from
the tramp that filled her ears. Almost
without her knowledge Phneas removed
the handkerchief from her mouth and I'M
| bound her hands.
Go over to Miss Perkins" he command
| ed I'm lock up this brute, an the dog'n
| watch him till l can get the sheriff here -
| Hours after, when the commOtlon was
| all over, Miss Spencer had related the ep,
| isode to each neighbor separately, and she
! was trying to rest and compose herself in
/ her cool, quiet sitting room, a question en-
| tered her mind. and she wondered that 1t
| had not occurred to her before.
'Phineas," she asNed-he had come af-
ter his book. which he had left in the
morning, ana which he had found had not
| been improved by its encounter with the
| tramp's head-"Phineas, how'd you hap
| pen to come back this mornin', jest when
that man was here?"
well, Miss Spencer, as I was leavin'
! your house this mornin', the first time
called took one o. your Bartlett pears.
1t tasted mighty good, an after awhile
1t occurred TO me that perhaps we could
strike bargain. I'd give you the Lives
of the Apostles for a bushel O those
| pears
You can have bushel o. them pears,
Phineas,' said Miss Spencer, slowly.
| An I've ben thinkin'," she went on
meditatively. Il guess III buy a copy o.
your book for each o my Sunday school
/ class. That'l make fourteen COPIES An
Phineas, when ! die, them silver sconces
will go to my niece, Matilda Spencer,
she's my only livin' relative; but the sill
yer service an the spoons IL all be Willed
TO you"