Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-22


driver bowed politely, and would have
gone on, but the White-Hared Master mo-
toned him to stop. This he did hut with
no good grace, He pulled up his mules
and sat on the seat expectantly. with a
grin on his face that was half scowl.
You come from Milledeeville way?" the
children's grandfather inquired.
Who told your" the man asked quickly:
them children there?"
No" said the whfte-Haired Master.
froWning a little. Il was simply inquir-
The man laughed. We'll, 1 come from
that-a-way''
What news?" asked the white-Haired
week. The wide world is turned end
up ards. Murderin', riot, bloodshed. burn
know what?"
wen, down yon way they're t'arin' up the
railroad tracks while the brass ham nfavs
L ketchea EN- a doin' of it. an l danced
wi. WI EN- ronl the fire a time or two. an
.neh picked up this Vaughn and mules
and come on bout my business
Inc man wagged his head up and down.
ana rolled 1t from side to side and sh3ftaI
,ls sldhceS; and giggled in a very excited
manner The childrens GRANDPA Their tried
10 ma some basis for the mans strange
actions, tried to duplicate them in his
memory emory but failed. Then he asked
What have you in your wagon?r
Wen, fust an last. I've got some few
PED cloze and some few ruffage for the
huies: an, then-well. yes. there's a cat |
p pi't up. a reg'ler mouser. She growIs.
but there amt ncthin' the matter Wi err
In response to this statement the wagon
cover was lifted high enough for the child
to put its head out. It's little face was
distorted with fear or despair.
Me amt no tat!'' she cried: my NANNY,
say m her itty bitsy baby; my daddy
say I'm his big 'itty man: my nLnky taiI
me me biiy Bistit Oh, p'ease lift me outer
ne, 80 g; NE "ahter see my daddy an man.
my! The child had cried and screamed so
nuch that its voice had a harsh and un-
natural sound. 1t pierced the tender heart
OF the hlte-Haired Master like a knife,
ana reused him to fury of Indignation
Is mat what you call a. eat. you tritling
scouhdreIE he cried. He passed through
the gate, and was now close to the man.
mat 5 what, answered the man. with
cnuckIe He'll bite. and he'll scratch.
an ne II growl He also calls himself Billy
blScult. but do he look like a biscuit? You
Wouidh want me to call him ii chicken,
He stuck out his tongue as he said this,
ana looked about as foolish as 1t is DossibIe
LOT grown man to look and the grand
amer a., 5 incarnation changed to feeling Of
amazenent and disgust.
is the child yours?" he asked
Why, whose should he be. mister?
you'd be errytated eff you wuz a youngster
an had to ride all day in a kivered wag-
gin; now wouldn't your
the observation was just one, consider
ing the source; and though it lacked feel
ing and sympathy, the White Haired Mas
ter could make no reply.
This is a likely place to camp-in there
by the SPRING the man remarked EFF /
thought L mought be so bold as to ak
YOU may" said the wnue-Haired Mas
ter; Drive in the gate here and unhitch
under the trees yonder. There's fire under
the washpot. You'll find plenty of wood to
start it up, but be careful about it; don't
burn any of the fencing"
The man drove in as directed turned his
wagon round, the tongue pointing to the
gate, unhftched his mules, watered them
without taking the harness OFF and then
gave them two bundles of fodder apiece TO
MUNICH on. Then he got out his frying pan,
his skillet and his coffee pot and finally pro
ceeded to kindle a fire,
Buster John and Sweetest Susan watched
all these proceedings with great interest es-
pecia1iy as the man paused every now and
then to talk to himself. Yes, that's me-"
he declared over and over again: "Roby
Ransom, corridor /, room o"
He paid no attention to Buster John and
sweetest Susan, nor to Drusilla, who Joined
them as the wagon drove in the gate. and
he seemed TO have forgotten the child in
the wagon. But Sweetest Susan had not
forgotten it She stood by the wagon and
saw the little one looking at the man with
scared eyes
the children. The big trees had been a
fevor1te resort for campers in old times,
and the youngsters vaguely remembered
seeing strange men sitting around the fire
frying bacon that sent forth very savory
odor, but of late years there had been no
campers there. The campers and wagon
ers, like most of the able-bodied men, had
been camping out under the tents of the
army or sleeping, as Johnny Bapter put il,
under the naked canopies" Therefore
this mysterious man was the first camper
who had kindled fire in the spring lot
since Buster John, Sweetest Susan and Dru-
"A n to 20
circumstance.
Consequently they watched him closely.
and in comparative silence, their comments
being confined to low whispers. Sweetest
Susan's solicitude for the child in the
wagon, but her curiosity compelled her to
keep sharp eyes on the man, VINO went
nervously about his business, and very
aWkWardly, too as even the children could
see. Sweetest Susan's soEdtude was re-
warded, for, as she leaned against the
frame of the wagon, the child on the inside
reached its soft little hands out and patted
her gently on the arm. To Sweetest Susan
this was more than a caress, and she seized
the small hand and held it against her
cheek for moment. Then she made bold
to ask the man-she called him NJ RAN
som at Venture-if she might prlng the
little one some supper
who told you my manner" the man asked
with suspicion in his eyes.
II heard you call yourself Roby Ransom"
replied Sweetest Susan, very politely.
Supper for the young-un? Toby shore;
fetch 1t. l didn't allow I'd take in boarders
when I started, an l amt got any too
much vittles for myself
So Sweetest Susan and Drusilla went to
the house TO arrange for bringing the child
some supper, while Buster John Jagged be-
hind and watched the man till the bell
rang. Meanwhile the grandfather had told
his daughter Gthe mother of Buster John
and Sweetest SUSAN about the child in the
wagon, and that lady was in quite a fume
about 1t. At first she insisted on going
down and taking the child away from the
man; she was sure there was something
wrong.
There may be- said the White haired
Master, but we are not sure about 1t, and
we might make bad matters worse. There's
plainly something wrong about the man;
that much is certain; but the child may be
his, and 1t may be badly spoiled. No. 1t
would be wrong to interfere with him; I've
thought 1t all over
IF you'll take my advice" remarked his
daughter, you'll make the negroes tie the
man and lock him in the corncrib until we
find out something about him.
THAT would hardly be legal said the
old gentleman.
"Well, don't think there is much law in