The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-03-01

It's stubDy barrel, eyqnlsltely en-
Graved, and the absuriIy low price
marked Oh the ticket beside it COM
bined to make the pistol temptation
beyond my resistance. ] stepped
within and made it mine, thinking, as
] put down my money, OF it hanging
by blue ribbon beneath the scimitar
picked up by Polly heaven knows
where and how, that made warlike
one corner of her room.
When l gave Polly the derringer
she was delighted. When 1 spoke of
the blue ribbon she shifted.
"Well, hardly. ] shall carry it," she
said. That is, on dark nights when
L go out alone
''But it won't shoot" / objected.
"The nipples broken"
ut will scare, and that's just as
good. I shall carry it."
And carry it she did, again and
again. Once when L laughed ut her
she shrugged her shoulders inliffer
emily and returned:
"You can laugh now, but just wait.
Something will happen some time,
and I'll be glad I had it,"
Polly slipped the derringer into o
pocket of her long coat, took up her
purse and the letters she intended
mailing, and marched down into tho
darkness of the street. She had not
gone over half block toward the
drug store, whittier she was bound
for stamps, when a dark figure
emerged from au alley she was
passing and fell in directly behind
her. Polly quIckened her pace, and
her right hand slipped down into the
pocket OF her coat and found comfort
in grasping the pistols butt. The
man slouched up behind her.
please, lady, could you help a
, fellow out bit?" he asked grufiy.
Polly shrank from him in alarn.
'I haven't anything" she said, hu:-
ried!y, aud started to move rapid y
away.
/ He sprang about in front of her.
"Give me your pocketbook," he de-
manded, making au attempt to snatch
i. But Polly was on her guard, and
thrust the hand that held the purse
behind her back. He seized her by
tho left shoulder and attempted to
put baud over her mouth. She
slipped out the derringer and thrust
it directly into his face.
Take off your hands or TIL shoot, "
she ordered.
The man hesitated, then stepped
back. Polly covered him with the
pistol.
"I just think I'll keep you here and
,all for policeman. Don't you try
TO run. If you 10 I'll shoot"
The man stood silent and unmov.
ing.
Polly looked him over Indignantly.
"Now, aren't you ashamed of your.
self, You great big man, to try tc
hold mp woman?" she demanded
"You wanted money. OF course
Well, why didn't you take it from 8
man, then--some one of your Owl
size!"
Polly could see that one foot was
scraping uneasily on the sidewalk
and that he was looking down.
II had to have money" he said
doggedlv. 81 couldn't take it from .
man--I amt strong enough"
"Oh, come, now. You look big ant
strong"
eyes, but when a man don't eat
Polly saw his shoulders 60 up.
You're hungry?' There was
sudden note Of concern III her voice
II amt cariu' about myself" h
said, indifterently. Then he added
pulling his hat down over his eyes
cts the kids and---and-her"
ooh, there's wife and children,
s,il Polly, softly, and the derringe
want down, until it was pointing a
tn, mans knees. '*Why don't yo'
work."
"Why don't I work? I've tried
get work." He spoke bitterly. "pv
been tryin' for weeks. tried all tc
day. L couldn't go home withou
money and see them, so L" H
spread wide his arms. ooh, I don
give rap" He caught himself II
. sharply, then laughed recklessl,
cts all up. Shoot or turn me owe
, to copper
Polly gazsd at his vague form for
i full minute. Then the derringer fe
: TO her side, and she spoke decided,
Come down here to the corne
where there's q street lamp. wal
5 to see your face. Oh, you've got
: come, you know" she added, seeir
that lie hesit ,ted.
He moved forward. and side by sic
: they walked to where gas lamp w
making feeble effort to overcome Il
darkness. Then Polly saw long IA
that had been untouched by razor
week,>s haggard face with sunk,
eyes and cheeks and o chin that hi
E begun to droop. It was the face OF
broken and starved man, and the 10,
> OF recklessuess upon it became it i'll
The coat was buttoned and pin he
the collar closely about the neck.
[ ''You say there is a wife and CHI
:. dren?" Polly asked, slowly.
He nodded. ''But, see here"
!. demanded, roughly, "what are y
J. askin' me these questions for? Itail
d none Of your business"
s. "Oh, yes, but it is, Polly return ne
10 confidently. 'You see, 1 want
know. You said they hadn't anythi
4 they were hungry"
!. Again the head nodded. "And sh
:. sick" he added, briefly.
= 'You were trying to steal
II them?"
J. II couldn't let 'em starve," he .
. turned, alphabetically, yet defiant
''Of course not. You did just rig
The man that'll steal for his wife a
babies, il they're hungry, is enou
better than the man that won't" S
: nodded her head at him approving
~ He stared ut her in wonderme
: and his loosely hung under
- dropped down. "You think 81
reallyg' he asked slowly.