The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-02-02
Jake Murphy's Revenge

! LACK Jake Murphy was the
bigger, but 1t did not take
J longer than five minutes to


longer than five minutes to
z determine who was the bet
ter man. Even Mike Hudok. the big
Polander, saw it. He was viewing the
fray from an upturned beer keg in
front of Yankee Pete's saloon.
"Jim lick 'um, heap quick" he ejac-
ulated, and his words were prophetic.
In less than ten minutes Black Jake
was thoroughly and scientifically
licked" and he knew it. He would
have fallen on his face again as he
staggered up after the last knock
down blow, If some one had not given
him an arm to lean on. Through the
blood that blinded him he saw the
crowd In a red haze. But his Keeling
sight looked for but one object. and
his whole brain and soul were filled
with q fierce and devilsh hatred for
the man who stood near with bruised
face and barred arms-his conqueror.
Slocum's Patch had no sympathy
for Black Jake Murphy. AS rule,
the Patch displayed no excessive fas-
tidiousness as to the component parts
of its select society. 1t had even got
beyond Directing to the Polander and
Hungarian. But with Jake Murphy
and his father it refused to associate
on any terms more friendly than those
involved in imbibing Yankee Pete's
whisky at their expense. 1t could not
be asserted that either father or son
were at all discomposed by this par
tial ostracism. 1t rather seemed to
suit their sullen and morore DISPOSE
tions. They did not seek the allure
ments of Slocum Patch society, ex-
cept on the rather rare occasions when
together they sat down for drinking
bout at Yankee Pete's. Then all who
chose could drink at their expense,
and then for the few hours their
money lasted none were more popular.
Yankee Pete did land Office business,
and could well afford the broken
chairs and windows which usually or
namented his groggery next morning.
Black Jake said no word as he
turned from the fray beaten man,
and staggered off toward his home.
1t was a rough cabin of battened hem
lock boards. The two men had built
it themselves on a strip of company
land up on the hillside above the
Patch. They lived there alone, and
from one years end to another no one
else crossed its threshold. Around it,
in summer, the soft breeze murmured
among the scraggy hemlocks and oaks.
The wild violet and honeysucble gave
out their fragrance. From its door the
great Wyoming Valley stretched away
as In a panorama. Pitville's many
spires rose not four miles away, and on
a still Sunday morning the distant
chime of its bells was borne to the
ear. Half a mile distant rose the mas
s,ve timbers that marked the opening
of the new Woodford shaft, the big
gest and deepest in all that region:
where 1900 feet below the sinkers had
just struck the red ash vein and were
Finishing their contract.
The old man smoking his pipe on
his doorstep made no comment as his
son washed the blood from his face at
the little spring near the door. At last
he said:
'Who've yer been lickin' now"
mo one," growled his son; course
him, he licked me-"
The old man gave grunt.
"Who was itY" he asked.
"Jim Carroll"
"Sarve yer right. told yer to quit
foolin' round his gal. Easy huff ter
see she thought more o. his little finger
than o. yer whole carcass"
"God strike me dead ii l don't have
his life
1t was bitter threat that Black
Jake made, and the deadly hate that
filled his heart made it no idle one.
1t was midnight, but down In the
shaft midnight and midday were the
same. Looking up. faint speck of
white could be seen in the day time,
but no trace of light penetrated that
awful depth. Three men stood there,
waiting for their turn to go up. The
smoky lamps stuck in their oilskin
caps threw a duh and Pickering light
over their faces and figures. wrapped
to the chin in waterproofs. They stood
In water almost TO the knee. and the
ceaseless splash and patter of the fall
ing drops told where it came from.
Thirty feet above them. on plat
form protected by heavy timbers. 81
powerful pump made the confined air
throb with the heavy PUNK PUNK Jf
Its stroke. The pump runner sat there
motionless, smoking. 1t was old Muir
ply. Black Jake's father. Jake him
self stood below, and one of the two
with him was Jim Carroll.
There was fierce and evil louS in
Black Jake's eyes as they stood silent
Iy waiting for the bucket to descend.
That look had never left him since the
day Jim Carroll had licked him for
being too attentive TO his sweetheart
Black Jake was not the man to FOR
give or forget, and the bitterness OF
defeat was made still more bitter by
love. He was rough
and sullen man. but years ago he had
set his heart upon that girl, before
Jim Carroll ever knew her. Rus she
was young and he not over-confident.
He had waited too long, for Jim Car
roll stepped In. and now they We're
married. Black Jake set his teeth and
breathed hard when he heard it. He
said nothing, but his old father watch
ing him knew that CAROLS life was
in danger. Considered from an ah-
stract point of view. the old man had
no particular objection 10 his son put
49, T,ayrrn ont Of tho xvoy lt1f Sp,Np