Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-06-13

mgn UremoIo.
1--WE wants that money, I sayl" he
lifted menacing fist. 1--WE ain goin'
hurt you, but we's got to have it"
A murmur arose from the crowd at
the door. An older negro stepped to
the leaders, side.
"She's done 'stracted," he said, in an
awed whisper. "Don' you tech her.
They's no tellin' who done it. Heah
dat musicl"
"We1l get it anyway" said the lead
err, backing off sullenly. "Here, you,
go to work! Yves only an hour, tel the
boss gets back"
The men obeyed, painting. They
emptied trunks and boxes; they tore
the clothing from the beds and
searched the mattresses; they flung
china and tinware from the cupboards,
cropping into every Granny. Marion
played on and on, still smiling. The
men rolled their eyes toward her like
suspicious dogs as they shuffled about
the room. The doors and windows
were packed with gaping faces. The
very air seemed blackened by their
heavy, loathsome breath. "Hell must
be something like this" thought Ma
rion. She Shifted her violin, and
struck louder measure.
Baffled and angry, the men gave over
their search, and turned to her again.
Not one of them dared approach her
unsupported; they shambled across
the cabin in a grotesque phaianx, each
man struggling to thrust his neighbor
to the front They stopped a yard
from her, as though repealed by wall
of glass.
1--WE wants that money!" The lead
er's voice broke in furious gutteral.
I'VE goin' send you down the river
laik we did the foreman, eff you don
give il UP. An you better be quick, my
lady missy!"
Marion looked at the row of demon
heads beside him. His own face was
that of vengeful ape; the sweat
drenched forehead, the blood-shot
ewes, the savage, froth-streaked
mouth, drew closer and closer. She
shook her head and swept an extra
flourish,
There rose a yell of rage from the
men behind. "Take the fiddle way
from her!" shouted a voice from the
door. MEX her give up dat money!
She amt got no hoodoo!"
The leader laid a brutal hand upon
her shoulder; the mob pressed closer
closer. Marion flung herself back
ward and drew one last frantic dis
cord from her violin.
The mob fell back as though the
note had smitten them to stone
"Lordy mercy" shrieked an old ne
gro. Hits the Conjur tune! Hit
brings all the Night Doctors, ridin' on
the wife Bats! Lemme go!" He
fought for the door through the mass
of bowling, panic-stricken men. Above
their wells and imprecations rose the
scream of the violin, beating their ears
like the trumpet of doom. Yet higher
than that rang another sound-agaln
and vet again-the echoing crack OF
revolver shots, punctuating the babe
of terror with merciless iteration.
+ Y II
ooh, father, father!" Marion gropec
for his tender grasp. She could not
lift her head nor open her eyes, bu'
she felt his kisses warm upon hel
lips.
you're not hurt, my darling, only
frightened. The men are all gone
running for dear life, with the sheriff
and q posse at their heels. But the
: loss of the money is nothing, so lon@
as YOU are safe. To think Of your hold
ING the superstitious brutes at bay Sc
long. with that folklore music! M!
dear, brave little grill"
You needn't worry about TIT
. money!" she spoke between wear.
pauses. "It's in the violin case. Blu
what became of the foreman"
4 eve picked him up on the river, a
we were coming back from town. ii
isn't badly hurt, but we feared tina
something terrible might have hap
pened to you. So captain-Im mean tn
n Manila Letter-went ashore, and tor
n up here on horseback, firing his re
6 volver to let you know"
4 ''The Manila letter."
r. Someone else's arms were clos
: about her now. She tried to lift he
Il head and look at the dear, bronze
o face. but it was altogether too near
p. admit of distinct view.
/, ooh, Lucien!" she whispered, afte
el little. "That you should have com
W to me now, just when needed you SO
Lucien, dearest, how did it happen"
d Lucien laughed. But there wer
d queer breaks between his words, to-
q 81 don't know, sweetheart, unless
% unless it was the doings of the Conjr
d Tune" ..,...
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