The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-10-27

Friday and the dreamer feeds bounti-
fully the first beggar who comes to
the door the troubles may be
averted.n
"Small chance of that" thought
Mrs. Leacox. "They amt likely to
come here any time, an they'd
naehally think twieet before they
took the resk of Friday" The rec
objection of the last tramp who had
visited her and of his hurried retreat
to the road followed by Dentist and of
his fearful maledictions as he fled
all this rose up in judgment against
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
the window, saw the pale-faced tramp
at 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 go 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 man! A victim of a cruel and
altogether undeseryed fale, hungry
with the hunger begotten of a three
days fast, just out of the hospital, and
weak and weary. 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.
Leacox. AN it won't be long afore
you're back there again, or / miss my
guess. Well, if you want suthin' to
eat, come in"
1t was ap ungracious invitation, but
the tramp wondered that it was given
at all. He 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 splutter in the frying pan
the coffee pot sent forth fragrant
aroma and a pan of biscuits was slid
into the oven. On the table Mrs. Lea.
cox set a large dish of preserved
peaches and pie and fresh golden
butter and pickles of appetizing ap.
pearance. Here was 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 tc
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 she'd ad-
joining the kitchen, and she instinc-
lively moved toward the broom hancle
with which she lifted the clothes out
of the boiler, but the words of the
gipsy queen recurred to her; Feed
bountifully the first beggar," and the
first beggar had not yet been fed.
Fate waited upon the feeding.
81 guess mebbe I've got an egg or two
left" she said, in choking voice.
Get 'em, then" commanded the
tramp.
She obeyed and broke the eggs into
the pan, and a 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?" he
asked.
"You want whisky, do you?" she
said. "You-well. there isn't any in
the house, but you can have some more
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, 81 want little financialsas.
sistance. You've got money in the
house. Well, need money. Bring il
out, or" and he made furious ges-
tnre that rendered the completion OF
the sentence unnecessary.
Mrs. Leacox rose at the same time be
did. Have you had all you want to
eat and drink?" she asked.
"I've had all the grub need. Now
bring out that money"
''Haye you been fed bountifully?'
persisted the woman.
81 tell you I've had all the grub
need" said the tramp. s'Now bring-.-"
He did not complete this sentence,
either, because he found himself under
the table, half-stunned. amid a wreck
of crockery that be had pulled down
with the cloth. Before he could re
cover from his surprise he was grasred
by the coat collar, lifted TO his feet.
shaken and thrown violently against
the door casing. He snarled ana
reaching in his pocket drew fort Ia
clasp knife. but, before he could raise
his hand the woman closed With him.
twisted the weapon from his grasp and
z