Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-11-20


ton came through but they worked on,
for the labor deadened the misery in
their breasts.
How long have we been here, mater
said Bart after a pause.
Dunno" replied Abel, ferceiy.
"How long will they Keep us in this
here placer said Bart. after another in
terval, and he looked from the beautiful
shore at the bottom Of the slope on which
they worked to the cluster of stone and
woodruff buildings, which formed the
prison and the station farm, with factory
and mill, all worked by convict labor,
while those in the neighborhood were
managed by blacks.
Abel did not answer, only scowled
fercely; and Bart sighed and repeated
his question.
'"rill we die" said Abel, savagely;
same as we've seen other fellows die
of fever. and hard work, and the lash.
Curse the captain! Curse"
Bart clapped one hand over his com
panon's lips, and he held the other be-
hind his head, dropping his hoe to leave
full liberty to act.
u never quarrels with you, Abel lad"
he said, shortly; "but il you says words
again that poor CELL, I'm going to fight
and that won't do. Is it easyW
Abel seemed disposed to struggle: but
he gave in, nodded his head, and Bart
loosed him and picked up his hoe, just as
the overseer, who had come softly up
behind, brought down the whip he car
ried with singing violence across rhe
shoulders of first one and then the other.
The young men sprang round savage
ly; but there was sentry close behind,
musket-armed and with bayonet fixed,
and they knew that fifty soldiers We're
within call, and that if they struck their
taskmaster down and made for the jungle
they would be hunted out with dogs, be
shot down like wild beasts, or die of
starvation, as other unfortunates had
died before them.
There was nothing for it but to resume
their labor and hoe to the clanking of
their letters, while, after promise of
what was to follow, in the shape of tying
up to the triangles, and the cat, if they
Quarreled again, the overseer went ON to
see to the others of his flock.
ITS worse than a dogs life!' said
Abel, bitterly. "a dog does get petted
as well as kicked. Bart, lad, I'm sorry
| got you that LASH"
NAY, lad; never mind" said Bart.
I'm sorry for you; but don't speak hard
things of Mary"
"Pll try not" said Abel, as he hoed
away excitedly; "but l hope this coffee
we grow may poison those who drink it."
Bart was close up to a dense patch of
forest-one wild tangle Of cane and creep
er, which literally tied the tall trees to-
gether and made the forest impassable--
when the shrieking Of a kind of jay which
had been fitting about excitedly stopped,
and was followed by the meodious whis-
tie Of white bird and the twittering of
quite flock Of little fellows Of a gor-
geous scvarlet crimson. Then the Shrek
ing Of several parrots answering each
other arose. while just above Barts head,
where clusters of trumpet-blossoms hung
down from the edge of the forest scores
of brilliantly scaled humming birds lit
| orally buzzed about on almost transpar-
ent wing, and then suspended themselves
in midar as they probed the hectares of
| the flowers with their long bills. Bart
| glanced at his fellow-convict and was
| about to work back. when there came
| sound from out the dark forest which
made him stare wildly, and then the
| sound arose again. Bart changed color
and did not stop to hoe, but walked rap
| idly across to Abel.
whats the matterY" said the latter
Dunno, lad" said the other, rubbing
his brow with his arm; but there's some.
| thing wrong"
What is it?"
That's what | dunno; but just now
| something said quite plain, Bart, Bart"
Nonsense! You were dreaming"
Nay. | was wide awake as | am now
| and as l turned and stared it said it
| again."
Poll parrot said Abel, gruffly. Go
| on with your work. Here's the over
| seer"
The young men worked away, and their
supervisor passed them, and, apparently
satisfied continued his journey round.
May have been a poll parrot" said
| Bart "They do talk plain, Abel, lad
| but this sounded like something else"
what else could it beY
SOUNDED like a ghost"
Abel burst into hearty iaugh--so
| hearty that Bart's face was slowly over
| spread by broad smile.
"Why, lad, that's better" he said, grim
| ly. 81 ar'n't seen you do that for months
| Work away"
The hint was given because of the over
seer glancing in their direction; and they
now worked on together slowly, going
down the row toward the jungle. at
which Bart kept on darting uneasy
| glances.
Enough to make a man laugh to hear
you talk of ghosts, Bart" said Abel, af'
| ter time.
| What could it be. thenP
| Parrot some lady tanned" said Abel,
shortly, as they worked on side by side,
escaped to the woods again. Some of
these birds talk just like a Christian"
"Ay," said Bart, after few moments
quiet thought; I've heed 'em, lad; but
there's no poll parrot out here as knows
me-"
KNOWS youT
"Well, didn't tell you as it called me
| 'Rart Rartp"