Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-19
CHAPTER XVIII.


The next month was December.
Christmas day was made known to
the Fanshaws chiefly by the fireworks
which were discharged by the negroes
on the Hasbrooke estate. The dawn
came in with a great footing of horns,
beating of old pans, the discharge of
guns, the bursting of inflated hog
bladders. There was to be a cake
walk in the barn, a dance, barbecued
OK, glorious feast, Christmas tree.
The Fanshaws were not going to in
dulge even in an extra dinner. Ronald
had remembered his hands by pres
cnts OF money, but they We're going
to spend it in town. Something. how
ever, did happen to mark the day as
en- eventual one. Old Jade Fanshaw
was brought home in Bud Tarbell's
dump cart, on c pile of wheat straw,
covered by an old quilt. This oc-
Cured about 10 o'clock in the day.
Ronald remembered that it took place
just as the dinner bell rang at earn
leigh. Bud Tarbell told the little
group in the front yard that Jade
wasn't dead an they needn't be
skeerd." He explained that ne was
driving along mountain road looking
for sticks of lightwood when he saw
Fanshaw walking ahead of him as
sound as a dollar as far as he was
able to see. He looked away for a
minute and then he saw Fanshaw
down on his all-fours, crawling along
with head down like a grazing COW.
AT fust l was afeerd of i'm, fur he
was actin mighty curis," observed
Tarbell, ''but terrectly his knee j'ints
seemed to flicker an he come down
kerplunk in the mud on his stomach
Then l drive up an put i'm in my
cart
Mrs. Fanshaw was always a calm
woman; she went out at the gate,
waddled up to the cart, and shook the
human heap on the straw.
"Looky heer, what's a-ailin' of you,
!ade" she asked, seeing his eyes open.
Fanshaw sat up slowly, but he
looked like man with only shadow
of soul in him; his eyes glared in
CHASTITY sockets and their whites had
turned red. AS he looked round at
the group he seemed to recognize
them, but u shifting look of terror
was in his glance. He began to work
mis- lips, to the edge of which his
stubbly beard grew, but only unin-
telligible sounds issued.
His tongue is raralyzed," COM
mented his wife; ''look now that side
is drawed down to his neck. 1 de-
clare he's got a wad O. tobacco be-
twiNt his jaws clamped thar as tight
as cider press. Jade, spit that thar
truck out! Spit it out tell you'll"
And as he paid no heed to her com.
mands, she thrust her forefnger be-
tween his almost toothless gums as if
he were a child and pried out the
brown mass. ''Well!" she said, re-
signcdly, we'll have to git i'm in the
house, Bud will want his cart. Come,
you boys" Ito Ronald and DAVID
help lift i'm OUT
Dave sprang into the cart, and Ron
aid was about to do the same, when
Fanshaw's distended eyes fell on him.
The old man raised his hands as if to
ward Off blow and cried in words
now easily understood: "Take i'm
away; he wants to kill mel"
Ronald paused, but Fanshaw's ter
ror did not abate. He got to his feet
quickly and springing from the cart
he ran. his knees knocking together.
across the road towards the woods.
stop i'm, he's tryin' to kill me! He
wants me to tell i'm who he is, an
whar t'other is buried!"
A. remarkable change came over Mrs.
Fanshaw; she turned quickly to Ron
aid, and with an uneasy smirk, said:
Don't you go nigh i'm, Ron; he's
clean out'n his senses, an thar amt
no tellin' what quar- notion might strike
i'm
Ronald stood wondering, as Tarbell
and Dave ran after the old man. They
caught him by his arms and began to
half carry, half drag him towards the
house. But Fanshaw's distended eyes
were tillfixed on Ronald in alright and
he struggled and fought his captors like
a wild man.
I'm not agoin' to have i'm put me in
jail, he snorted. Hes done reported it
to Reddin', an together they are agoin'