The Afro-American advance., 1900-09-29
the farmers wife and trsnhl.d he,

the farmers wife and troubled her |
exceedingly.. She laid her dish towel |
down after she had wiped the last
of her breakfast dishes and then went
out and chained Dentist up Most of |
the morning she brooded over the
sign and tried to imagine what par
ticular calamities were likely to be-
fall her, and, at last, looking out of t
the window, saw the pale-faced tramp
al the gate.
Her first impulse was TO take down
the big tin dipper and ladle out Some
scalding water from the iron kettle.
Her next was to so to the pantry and
take stock of the eatables there, but
before she could do either the tramp
was knocking humbly at the door.
Oh, but he was an humble and soft
spoken mani A victim of cruel ana
aitogether. .undeserved fate, hungry /.
with the hunger begotten of three
days fast, just out of the hospital. and I
weak and wear. Trying to make his
way back TO Missouri, where his |
wealthy relatives would receive him
with open arms.
Just out o Jail, you mean, said Mrs
Leaeox. An it won'tbe long afore
you're back there again, or / miss my
guess. We, you Want suthin, to
eat, come in.
1t was an ungracious invitation, but
the tramp wondered that il was given
at all. lie was still more surprised
when the hostess set herself about the
preparation for his meal. 'Bounti.
full the book says" thought Mrs. Lea
cox, and she had no intention of fail
ing to carry out the instruction liter
ally. Generous slices of ham began
to hiss and splitter in the frying pan,
the coffee pot sent forth n fragrant
aroma and pan of biscuits was slid
into the oven. On the table Mrs. Lea.
cox set a large dish of preserved
peaches and a pie and fresh golden
butter and pickles of appetizing APP
pearance. Here was a feast to tempt
the most jaded palate, and the tramp
really had not eaten for IA hours.
He looked around the kitchen and
listened carefully to know whether
any other creature stirred in the house.
| There was nobody else, apparently.
| 1t was clear that the woman was par
alyzed with fear-that was the only
reasonable explanation of her liberal
ity. He thought that he would make
a trial of it, Haven't you any aigs TO
go with that ham," he asked, roughly
There was warning enough for him
in the flash of her eye if he had been
quick enough to see it. She had been
washing in the little frame shed ad-
joining the kitchen, and she instinc'
lively moved toward the broom hanGle
with which she lifted the clothes out
of the boiler, but the words of the
gipsy queen required to her: Feed
bountifully the first beggar," and the
first beggar had not yet been fed.
Fate waited upon the feeding.
Il guess mebbe I've got an egg or two
left" she said. in choking voice.
"Get 'em, them" commanded the
tramp.
She obeyed and broke the eggs into
the pan, and q few minutes later the
tramp was eating ravenously, while the
woman stood behind him, regarding
him balefully with her teeth pressed
tightly on her neither lip. After little
she moved toward the door, but the
tramp shouted to her to stop where
she was.
Have you got any whisky?" ht
asked.
"You want whisky, do you?" she
said. "You-well, there isn't any In
the house, but you can have some IL ore
ham, if you want"
He swore at her viciously. and told
her to sit down and stir at her peril
Then he once more applied himself to
the food, until at last even his 14-hour
appetite was satisfied, and he pushed
back his chair.
Now" he said. smiling in an ugly
fashion, al want a little financial as
sistance. You've got money in thu
house. Well, / need money. Bring II
out, or" and he made a furious ges
ture that rendered the completion oi
the sentence unnecessary.
Mrs. Leacox rose at the same time hc
did. "IIave you had all you want e
eat and drink?' she asked.
/
bring out that money"
Have you been fed bountifully? -
persisted the woman.
81 tell you I've had all the grub
need" said the tramp. Now bring
He did not complete this sentence
either. because he found himself under
the table. half-stunned. amid a wrecl
Of crocl5ery that he had pulled dowr
with the cloth. Before he could re
cover from his surprise he was graspec
by the coat collar, lifted TO his feet
shaken and thrown violently against
, the door easing. He snarled. and
r reaching in his pocket drew forth {
, clasp knife. but before he could rails,
, his hand the woman closed with him
twisted the weapon from his grasp anc
! drew her finger nails across his face sC
that the blood ran. Then she had hin
r by the collar again and shook anC
r bufTeted him until he cried for mercy
p upon which she opened the door ant
Z thrust him forth.
E lie ran down the path TO the gat,
= without trace OF a limp and nevel
j. checked his pace until he was a goo'
1 quarter of a mile up the road. Mira
: Leacox stood in the doorway painting
Z from her recent exertion, but smiling
( grimly.
We'll, | fed him bouutfully, any
way." she said Chicago Daily Record