The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-08-16
4 WAS a srRANtER. AND rE TOOK NE
IN"

ed itself A largo group was gathered
4 at the back door OF the homestead.
On the doorstep stood the Boer WON
an. hand on each hip. her face red
and fiery, her head noddIng iercely.
At her feet sat the yellow Hottentot
maid. her satellite, and around stood
the black Kaffir maids. with blankets
twisted round their half naked figures.
Two, who stamped mealies in a wood
en- block, heidi the great stampers In
their hands and stared stupidity at the
object OF attraction. 1t certainly was
not to look at the old German over
seer who stood In the center OF the
group. that they had all gathered to-
gethcr. His salt and pepper suit, griz-
, ely black beard and gray eyes were as
familiar 10 every one on the farm as
the red gables OF the homestead itself,
but beside him stood the stranger, and
on him all eyes were fixed. Ever and
anon the newcomer cast glance over
his penduloust red nose 10 the spot
where the Boer woman stood and
t&iled family
I'm not child" cried the Boer wo-
man In low Cape Dutch. "and | wasn't
born yesterday. No; by the Lord. no.
You can't take me in! My mother
didn't wean me on Monday. One wink
of my eye, and ! see the whole thing
I'll have no tramps sleeping on my
farm" cried Tant' Sannie. blowing.
mo, by the devil. no, not though he
had GO times six red nosesr'
There the German overseer mildly In
terposed that the man was not a
tramp, but a highly respectable lndi-
yidual. whose horse had died by an ac-
cident three days before.
Don't tell me-" cried the Boer WON
an. THE man isn't born that can take
me In. III he'd had money. wouldn't
he have bought horse? Men who
walk are thieves. liars, murderers,
Rome's priests, seducers, see the
devil in his noser' cried Tant' Sannie.
shaking her fist at him. "And TO come
walking into the house OF this Beers
child and shaking hands MS though he
came on horseback oh no. no."
The stranger took off his hat. tall
battered chimney pot. and disclosed n
bald head. at the back OF which was n
little fringe of curled white hair and
he bowed TO Tant' Sannie.
"What does she remark my friend?"
he inquired. turning his crosswlse look
ing eyes on the old German
The German rubbed his hands and
>hesltated.
"Ah - well = all - the - Dutch-you
know-do not like people who walk
in this country-ahr'
my dear friend" said the stranger.
laying his hand on the Germans arm.
II should have bought myself another
horse, but crossing. tive days ago. q
full river. | lost my purse-a purse
with $500 In IL. ! spent i've days on
the bank OF the river trying to lind IL
couldn't; paid a katIir 10 TO 20 In
and look for il at the risk OF his life
couldn't find IT,"
The German would have translated
this Information. but the Boer woman
gave no ear.
"No. no. He goes tonight. See how
he looks az me. poor unprotected
femalel If he wrongs me, who is to
do me right?" cried Tant' Sanne
81 think" said the German in an
UNDERGONE III you didn't look at her
quite so much II might be advisable.
he-might-imagine that you
liked her too well--in fact--ah"-
Certainly. my dear friend, certain
ly," said the stranger. II shall not look
at her"
Saying this, he turned his nose full
upon n small Katlir years Of age.
That small naked son OF Ham became
instantly so terrified that be fed TO his
mothers blanket for protection. howl
: ing horribly.
- Upon this the newcomer fixed his
eyes pensively on the stamp block.
folding his hand on the head OF his
cane. His boots were broken, but he
still had the cane of gentleman.
You vagabonds Sc EngelschmanF'
said Tant Sanne, looking straight at
him.
This was a near approach 10 plain
English, but the man contemplated the
block abstrnctedly. wholly unconscious
that any antagonism was being dis
played toward him.
"Tou might not be Scotchman or
anything Of that kind, might your
suggested the German. ut is the Eng.
Iish that she hates"
my dear friend" said the stranger,
81 am Irish. every inch of me-father
Irish, mother Irish. I'VE not n drop OF
English blood In my veins"
"And You might not be married.
might your persisted the German.
eff you had wife and children. now!
Dutch people do not like those who are
not married"
"Ah." said the stranger. looking ten
DERBY at the block. II have dear wife
and three sweet little children. two
lovely girls and noble boy"
This Information having been con
weed 20 the Boer woman. she. after
some further conversation. appeared
slightly modified. but remained firm 10
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