Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-05-30

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
ents OF money, but they were going
to spend 1t in town. Something, how
ever, did happen to mark the day as
an eventful one. Old Jade Fanshaw
was brought home in Bud Tarbell's
dump cart, on a pile of wheat straw,
covered by an old quilt. This oc-
Cured about 12 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 he 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 q
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
kerplunls in the mud on his stomach.
Then 1 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,
Jade?" 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 a. shifting look of terror
was in his glance. He began to work
his lips, to the edge of which his
stubbly beard grew, but only unin-
telligible sounds issued.
His tongue is paralyzed," com.
mented his wife; "look how that side
is drawed down to his neck. I de-
clare he's got wad o. tobacco be-
twixt his jaws clamped thar us 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 child and pried out the
brown mass. WELL" she said, re-
signedly, well have to git i'm in the
house, Bud will want his cart. Come,
you boys Ito Ronald and Dayid)
"help lift i'm out"
Dave sprang into the cart, and Rom
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
ne ran. his knees knocking together,
across the road towards the woods.
stop i'm, he's tryin' to kill mel 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 Rom
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 guar 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 stillfixed 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'
to have me swing for what never
done!"
Again Mrs. Fanshaw faced Ronald;
this time she stood between him and
his father. A frightened look of cum
ming lay in her heavy-browed eyes.
If was you, Rom" she said, hurried
ly, I'D go upstairs; he's tuck quar-
notion somehow that you are ag'in i'm,
an 1 wouldn't aggravate i'm"
Glad of an excuse to get away from
the narrowing scene our hero went up
to his room. Presently he heard the
clatter of hob-nailed boots on the porch.
The old man, now pacified, was being led
like dumb animal to his room. Then
all was quiet below. The silence lasted
till he heard Dawes voice outside
speaking through broken window.
pane to his mother.
I'm a-goin' to ride fur doctor" he
was saying.
TO BE CONTINUED.