Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-24
SLEEPY CREEK FOLKS

| mountain path running rivulet and
swelled the smaller streams into foaming
cascades. Already the deep blue of the
river was taking on creamy tinge which
soon would turn to yellow.
1t looked as if it meant day indoors,
but what then? There are worse things
than day indoors at Sleepy Creek. One
can sit on the lee side of the veranda and
watch the mist clouds roll over Old Broad
back and spread through the ravines and
valleys of the lower slopes. There are
books to read, pipes to smoke, and there is
something soothing in the sound of the rain
on the roof, after all.
Pretty soon old Jim Moselv was seem
trudSing down the mountain path through
the rain, his oilskins glstening and his cob
pipe leaving a trail of blue smoke in his
wake: With visitors al Sleepy Creek it
would be bad weather indeed which would
keep Jim Mosely away, and he would have
to present mighty good excuse to the Wis
itors to account for his neglect in not com
ing down.
Did L tell you about the trip of me and
William Henry to New York last Chris
mas?' asked Jim, as he accepted the Wis
itors tobacco bag and filled up before tilt
ing his chair back against the wall "It
come about this way. At Thankspi,in.s
time there was a fellow up here from New
y ork deer and turkey hunting-a M
dracy; He came up with a letter from
Col. Parker. He was mighty nice man a
Sood hunter, and had fine snort IJo
shot three deer and fourteen turkeys. Rut
ne seemed to enjoy everything so nnch
re was real swell fellow l know, but he
never let on and just took things as they
come He would make a great 'miration off
me bacon and the corn bread and seemed
TO enjoy everything
"iIllam Henry and me took unite q
SHINE to him and he seemed to he ripht
iohd OF US. Finally, when he comes to on
ne says Boys. l want you two to como
u ,,.oAIl 10 New York Chris mas and stay a
7 will
passes and we will have a good time,
wen me and Jim Henry talked about il
sood deal, although to tell truth we never
expected to hear any more from it. thoueh+
ne was Just enthusiastic But sure enouoh
mere comes a letter from Mr. Tracy ahoIt
week before Christmas, with railroad
passes Tor William Henry and me. and $40
lot expenses, with full directions how TO
travel. -to" ~
wen, sir. then there was hustling. The
WhoIe nefghhorhood heard about it and
eiHeiyp1ay come in to give us a little ad-
wee. Me and William Henry got ont our
Droadcloth suits and breshed them nm Miro
I,ieh we bought some new boots and start
ed to break them in, for as | saws to Wi
nam nam henry, there amt nothing so aggra-
vatln' in the city as to be tronpin' aroma
IN pair of tight boots. warned William
henry not to grease them either. as we
Wouid nave to have them shined every day.
oordf nassed the morning express and ac-
coroIng to Mr. Tracys directions took
seats IN the parlor car. We had dinner ana
supper in the dining car and at 1920 that
night rolled into Jersey CITY.
sure enough standing by the gate was
a fellow in a blue coat with hutfons vol
low trousers and patent leather boots He
saw US about the same time and must hava
PICKED .h US out l am Mr.. Tracy's man. he
Saio' ana reckon you must be Mr. Nose
~. l lowed l was and he took our car
pet bags and led on. We crossed the ferry
TO o3d-23d isn't it? Well, we went out and
got into a fine hack with silk cushions
afraid to lean back on, so we sat Straight
up
Pretty soon we drew up in front of Mr..
Iracys house and anoth her fellow in Yellow
pants got out and opened the hack door
lor us Mr.. Tracy met us in the hall and
look US INTO the settin' room where there
was was me open fire in the CRATE I had
TINS lire made for you boys he saws, so az
to make you feel at home All nv folks
nave gone to Lakewood for the winter and
| we VIII be here by our Ionesomes' Then
aHother swell dressed fellow, with suit
OF ciothes like the polished villain wears
| on the stage, comes in with a little round
.aple bottle, some fizz water and glasses
| MT. Tracy never forgets nothin' however
| Inc sort sugar for Mr.. Mosely's toddy.'
men we all had a drink and sat talkin'
ana smoking fine seegars until bed time.
Inc gent with the fine clothes went I'D
nth W our t,, room with US 1t was a big room,
with TWO great brass beds in it and the
| nnest beds l ever see. There was a little
| bath room leading off from the he'd room
anu lne man showed us how to run the
| " 'There'll be time enough for that Sat.
| urday night says William Henry to show
| MIN we knew the customs. Then he showed
| US about the 'lectric light. and tho nmsh
| button and went out
Early next morning me and William
| Hehry got UP SO as to be on hand, but there
wasn't soul up. The house was plumb
| still and dark and here it was neari,, siY
| o'clock In the settin room we fond tba
| sugar and stuff and without waitin for Mr.
Tracy, we mixed our mornin's mornin
| we dldnt want to disturb anybody SO we
| slipped out the front door very quietly to
| take walk. AS we sneaked out q noIice
man come running across the street and
we stopped to say howdy He looked ms
| over susplciously and wanted to know what
we was doing about at that time of dav
| We were afraid to go far aWay so we sat
| down on the curb stone and chewed tobac-
| co, watching the town wake up until final
~ some OF Mr.. Tracy's folks come out to
! shake the door mat. He says that Mr.
| tracy left word for us to have breakfast at
| o'clock and excuse him, so we went in
and had one of the finest breakfasts | ever
EAT, eat, mere was two men to wait on Will
liam Henry and me and L shore did feel
| sheeplsh TO sit there and have those nice
looking gentlemen handling me vittles
All that day me and William Henry
Went ABOUT town with Mr.. Tracy's butler
seeing the sights and at night Mr.. Tracy
look us to supper at the Waldarf-Astoria.
He called it dinner, but it did not Commence
until o clock and lasted two hours.
That night after we had been asleep
two or three hours heard William Henry
whisper Jim 1 sat up in bed and William
Henry come acrost the room There's
somebody breakin into the house. he SAYS,
:! knows all the noises of town by this
time and that noise that woke me was not
natural 1t was a window pane cracking
we slipped out into the hall in our bare
felt and leaned over the stirway Sure
enough there was somebody moving around
| the library, with shaded light Me and
William Henry went down the steps and
along the nan to the library door. There
before desk was a fellow with mask
on and a chisel, prying open the desk. He
never heard US and before he knowed it,
William Henry and me was on top of his
back and we had him down. I tore off
piece of Mr.. Tracy's night shirt 1 was
wearing and tied his hands good and hard
| and his feet too.
Then touched the push button and kept
on touching. till finally a sleepy looking
servant come running in. swearing in
French when he saw the burglar. He got
Mr.. Tracy up quick and then we telephoned
for policeman. Mr.. Tracy said he had
| n fho