Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-11-02

ohe oracle, tn'S snoulu happen on
Friday and the dreamer feeds bounti-
fully the first beggar who comes to
the door the troubles may be
avertcd."
"Small chance of that" thought
Mrs. Leacox. "They amt likely to
come here any time, an they'd
nachally think twicet 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 fed
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, bui
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 cruel ano
altogether undeserved faIe, hungry
with the hunger begotten of a thret
days fast, just out of the hospital, ant
weak and weary. Trying to make his
way back to Missouri, where his
wealthy relatives would receive hin
with open arms.
Just out o Jail, you mean," said Mrs
Leacox. "An' it won't be long afor,
you're back there again, or | miss my
guess. Well, if you want suthin tt
eat, come in"
1t was an ungracious invitation, bu
the tramp wondered that it was giver
| nv iiC was sum ihOiC SUI pa
when the hostess set herself about th'
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 begaI
to hiss and splutter in the frying pan
the coffee pot sent forth a fragran
aroma and pan of biscuits was slit
into the oven. On the table Mrs. Lea
cox set large dish of preserved
peaches and pie and fresh colder
butter and pickles of appetizing ap
pearance. Here was feast to temp
the most jaded palate, and the traml
really had not eaten for IA hours.
He looked around the kitchen ant
listened carefully to know whethe
any other creature stirred in the house
There was nobody else, apparently
IL was clear that the woman was par
alyzed with fear-that was the onl.
reasonable explanation of her liberal
ity. He thought that he would max
a trial of it. Haven't you any aigs t
go with that ham?" he asked, roughly
There was warning enough for hir
in the flash of her eye If he had bee
quick enough to see it. She had bee
washing in the little frame shed ad
joining the kitchen, and she instint
lively moved TOWARD the broom hanoi
with which she lifted the clothes on
of the boiler, but the words of tn
gipsy queen recurred to her: Fee
bountifully the first beggar," and tn
first beggar had not yet been fec
Fate waited upon the feeding.
81 guess mebbe I've got an egg or tw
left" she said, in choking voice.
sect 'em, then" commanded tn
tramp.
Sne obeyed and broke the eggs int
the pan, and few minutes later tn
tramp was eating ravencusly, while tn
woman stood behind him, regardin
him balefully with her teeth presse
tightly on her neither lip. After littl
she moved toward the door, but tn
tramp shouted TO her to stop wher
she was.
"Have you got any whisky" h
asked.
"You want whisky, do you?" sh
said. "You-well, there isn't any ]
the house, but you can have some MOI
ham, if you want"
He swore at her viciously, and tol
her to sit down and stir at her peri
Then he once more applied himself
the food, until at last even his 14-hor
appetite was satisfied, and he pushe
back his chair.
"Now," he said, smiling in an ugl
fashion, 81 want little financial a
sistance. You've got money in uh
house. Well, need money. Bring
out, Or and he made a furious ee
ture that rendered the completion I
the sentence unnecessary.
Mrs. Leacox rose at the same time J
did. "Have you had all you want
eat and drink?" she asked.
"I've had all the grub / need. NJ
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 sentenc
either, because he found himself und
the table, half-stunned, amid wret
of crockery that he had pulled dow
: with the cloth. Before he could r
; cover from his surprise he was grasp'
| by the coat collar, lifted 10 his fee
: shaken and thrown violently again
I the door casing. He snarled, an
; reaching in his pocket drew forth
clasp knife, but before he could raj
his hand the woman closed with hil
twisted the weapon from his grasp al
, drew her finger nails across his face
I that the blood ran. Then she had hi
, by the collar again and shook al
r buffeted him until he cried for mere
. upon which she opened the door al