The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-30

Mr.. Bobs didn't seem to relish this and
he began to grumble in tones too low to
be heard in the adjoining room. "Comp'ny!
Well, be jinge'd eff they amt afoot earlyi
That's all I've got to say, bejinge'd eff
faint And that was all Mr.. Bobs did say.
Sweetest Susan soon informed Miss Ell
vfry OF the facts as she knew them, and
then remembered that Drusila was still in
the wagon-and the cute little baby-yes,
and that awful man.
Mr.. Bobs was very much surprised to see
Sweetest Susan in that place at that early
hour, and glad, too, for he and the Aber-
crombies and the Wyches had always been
good friends.
you know what they say in the Bible
Elviry; fust war, and then signs of won-
ders. That's what they say, bejinged ef
faint" In few moments Mr.. Bobs WAS
put in possession of such facts as his sister
had learned, and the fifty odd queer con-
illusions her quick imagination had conjur-
ed into being.
1t was quite light now, and Mr.. Bobs, Sc
lecting stout hickory cane from his col
lection, sailed out, remarking, Hes got
to be heap bigger than me eff | don't find
out why he's creepin' round a-stealin' CHI
dren, and why he's crope into my premises
Bejng'd eff he amt.
But Mr. Bobs went out, the White
Haired Master drove into the lane and he
and Aaron came forward as rapidly as they
could Mr.. Bobs went to the wagon, turn
ed the heads of the mules away from the
fodder stack, and then looked into the wag-
on. Drusilla and Little Biscuit were sound
ly sleeping but nothing was to be seen of
the driver. Searching around the premises
carefully and continuously. Mr.. Bobs
presently heard voices in pine thicket not
far away, and there was Mr.. Roby Ransom
preaching sermon to the birds and bushes.
He was not preaching loudly, for he SEEM
ed to be exhausted, and occasionally no
Mr.. Bobs knew him at once as a crazy
man who had lived in the neighborhood
some years before, and who had been sent
to the asylum from an adjoining county.
Meanwhile the White-Haired Master and
the son of Ben Ali came up, and great was
their CONSERVATION for a moment when they
discovered neither Sweetest Susan nor the
wagon were to be seen. Fortunately, the
suspense of the grandfather was of short
duration. He heard Sweetest Susan can his
name, and in a moment she was in his
arms, and Miss Elviry found it necessary
to wipe her specs
Then came Mr.. Bobs with an explanation
of the whole matter, and he and the White
Haired Master and Aaron went to secure
the unfortunate Mr.. Ransom
''Roby, you better came and go with u.s.
I reckon" said Mr.. Bobs, kindly. laying his
hand on Ransoms shoulder; come, now,
you better go long of u.s.
But the unfortunate had worked himself
into state OF lTeUZy. lie RlaTeu At inc
three with CLASSY eyes. and then, shrel1ed
out something about the fiend Apollyon,
ran through the bushes and brambles into
the woods. Not even Aaron could overtake
him. He disappeared. and although search
ing parties secured the woods for miles
around, the unfortunate was never seen
again. His fate became legend. and the
legend developed into the collection OF
myths. which in that neighborhood are
passed about from mouth to mouth to this
day Those most affected by the whites,
tell of Robber Ransom. while those of the
negroes give blood-curdling tales about
Robityransom. Some of these tales are
curious, while all are marvellous. and parts
of other myths and legends have been IN
jected into them.
1t is hardly necessary to say that neither
the White-Haired Master nor Aaron made
any serious effort to find the lunatic after
he had once disappeared. They had other
things to think about. There was Sweetest
Susan's mother; they knew that every hour
that passed without their return was to ner
a long season of agony. The son of Ben
Ali indeed, made no delay in going. There
would not be room in the buggy for four.
in any event. and by taking advantage of
the netghborhood bypaths and short cuts.
he could reduce the distance by at least
mile and a half.