Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-04
DAILY SHORT STORY
BAT
BAT
1862. by the S. s. Mcclure
Company

ICOpyrlglr, ISUZ. py the D >. MCCLURE
Company
Bat Pinaud stood on one of the hills
which overlook Portland. Behind him
were the forest and his past, the little
cabin by the river, with his dugout
hauled up on the bank, his traps and
fishing poles and battered muzzle load
ing rifle; before him-what?
The afternoon sun flung its luminous
arms into the city, while the forest be-
hind was becoming dark with its own
shadows. The future had come to him
in the gold of his evening, but it was
the future of his dreams. Already he
had forgiven the past.
OF his possessions he had brought
only his feeble" and the letter which a
passing trapper had left at his cabin.
The one was to go with him into his
future to be "educat. poleesh;" the 9th
er was the magic key which would
open the'way.
This had been the one grief OF his
life-that he was "no educat. poleesh."
Music to him was only n common, nat
ural thing. like breathing, without
notes or science. What. matter If he
could wake the hermit thrush and ORR
ole and bobolink to ecstasy, or bring
moisture to the hardest eyes, or light
ness TO the most sluggish feet, or gen.
tleness to the heart that had bruised
itself into callousnesS? 1t was only
what came to him naturally, without
off mr. hn
tell you, with deprecatory wave of his
hand-"Non, non, m'sieur; not'in' but
poor little Canuck who love de feeble"
He had had no chance "for learn de
true music
But now it was all here in the letter
which he held so tightly in his hand.
and, though white frost was stealing
thIckly into his hair and rheumatism
taking possession of his limbs, he went
down the slope as eagerly and diff
IDENTIFY as a schoolboy on his first jour
ney into the world of learning.
Only once before In his life had the
unexpected come to him, $1,000 from
the very estate that was responsible
for this letter. Half of it had gone
promptly as an incentive in "feedle
contest" and. little Pierre, who had
carried off the popular vote and so won
the prize, was now at the Boston Con-
servatory of Music for his ''educat.
poleesh." Bats thoughts reverted to
him as he went down the slope, and he
resolved that some of this greater for
tune should flow over into the future
of the poor shoemaker's son.
When he reached the sidewalks of
the great city. he went more slowly,
for he tried to take his hat off to every
woman he met and to smile at every
child and to assist all those he thought
overloaded with bundles. When wo-i
man happened to glance at him. he
dropped his gaze to the sidewalk, and
when n child looked at him he stopped
as though ready to enter into CONVEX
sation. Once he patted dog, and the
dog turned and followed him. At an
other time he picked up q dirty. bare
footed child crying in a gutter. and the
child turned and followed him also.
But at length he reached the place
indicated by the letter aud was receiy-
ed with marked consideration by the
lawyer, who rose as he entered.
81 am glad you came so promptly"
the lawyer said deferentiaIly. 81 sup
pose you understand what large es-
tate 1t is?"
1.-TWO hun'r'd t'ousan', me t'ink letter
say
Yes, two hundred thousand" dwell
ing fondly on each word. Here; sup
III
plain the matter In detail"
Bat sat down diffidently. placing his
hat upon the floor and the feeble"
across his knees. Then as the lawyer
talked his thoughts went straying out
into the golden future, to the wonder
full knowledge that was coming 10 him
and to little Pierre learning to play the
"feedle" in the right way. Now and
then a sentence of the lawyer drifted
into his reverie, and suddenly he
sprang to his feet with his eyes blaz-
ing.
"Wha' dat you say? Tell me gin,
quickw he demanded.
About the flaw in the will:" the
lawyer asked blandly. Eyes, that is
what gives you the money. Lucky flaw,
say" tr1f
dat mean OF man Tatro like money
go to he Cousin Marie, on'y he make
slip in de will? Me get him dat way,
hey?"
That's about it," dryly.
"Den you t'ink me t'ief?'
The lawyer looked surprised.
ooh, come now" he urged hastily;
''it's all right. The law says the money
is yours. Everything is straight and
aboveboard."
Bat reached down and picked up his
hat, which he placed squarely upon his
head. Then he tucked the feeble" I'M
der his arm.
"Who money long to-" he demanded
e