The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-23

didn't have to preach or to plead. They
came in troops towards the magic altar,
whose fame and mystery had thrilled
every superstitious soul with its power.
| The benches were all moved out and the
| whole church floor given up to mourners.
| Uncle Josh had an easy time walking
around just adding q few terrifying hints
| to trembling sinners, or helping to hold
some strong sister when she had "come
through" with so much glory in her
bones that there was danger she would
| hurt somebody.
| After a week the matter became so
| serious that the white people set 10
motion an investigation of the affair.
LEoPARDS SPoTs-SIX
/ Dick had thrown out mysterious hint
that he knew some things that were very
funny!
s.Doan you tell nobody" he would
| solemnly say to, Charlie.
| And then he would lie down on the
grass and roll and laugh At length by
dint Of perseverance and bride of q
quarter, the Preacher induced Dick to
explain the mystery. He did and it broke
UP the meeting.
Uncle Josh's fury knew no bounds. He
| was heart broken at the sudden collapse
| of his revival, chagrined at the recollec-
| tion OF his own terror at the fire, and
| fearful of an avalanche of backsliders
! from the meeting among those VINO had
professed even with the greatest glory.
He demanded that the Preacher should
turn Dick over to him for correction.
i The Preacher took a few hours 10 con-
] slider whether he should whip him or
/ turn him over 10 Uncle Josh. Dick heard
Uncle Joshs demand. Out behind the
! stable he and Charlie held a council of
| war.
you go see Miss Mar'get fur me, en-
git up close to her, en- tell her faint right
| ter low no low down black niger ter
whip mel"
.sAll right Dick, WILL" agreed Charlie.
| Cease eff ole Josh beats me / gwine ter
run away. l nebber git ober dat!'
Dick had threatened to run away often
| before when he wanted to force Charlie
| 10 do something for him. Once he had
gone mile out OF town with his clothes
| tied in a bundle and Charlie trudging
after him, begging him not TO leave,
| The boy did his best to save Dick the
humiliation OF a whipping at the hands OF
Uncle Josh. but in vain.
When Uncle Josh led him out TO the
stable lot his face was not pleasant to
look upon. There was a dangerous CLEAN
! in Dicks eye that BODIED no good TO his
| enemy.
you imp err de debbil!" exclaimed
Uncle Josh shaking his switch with
JUNCTION.
Il fool you good enough, you ole bal
| headed ape' answered Dick gritting his
teeth defantly.
II make you sing enudder chune 70 Use
done wild YOU"
"En If you does, niger, you know what
I gwine do fur your" cried Dick, rolling
his eyes up at his enemy.
/ What kin you do, honey? asked Uncle
| Josh humoring his victim now with the
| evident relish of a cat before his meal
on a mouse.
EFF you hits me hard l gwine ter burn
you house down on you haid some night
en- run erway des es sho es I kin stick er
match to It, said Dick.
| You is, is your" Numbered Josh with
wrath
Dat is. En- burn yo ole chu'ch de
same night"
Uncle Josh was silent moment.
Dicks words had chilled his heart. He
was afraid of him. He was afraid to
back down from what was now evidently
his duty, So without further words he
whipped him. But TO save his life he
couldn't hit him as hard as he thought
he deserved
That night Dick disappeared from
Hambright, and for weeks every evening
at dusk the wistful face of Charlie Gas
ton could be seen on the big hill to The
south of the town yainly watching for
somebody. He would always take some
thing to eat in his pockets, and when
he gave up his vigil he would place the
food under big shelving rock, where
they had often played together. but the
birds and ground squirrels ate It. He
would slip back the next day hoping TO
see Dick jump out of the cave and sur
prise k,in.
And then at last he gave it up, sat
down under the rock and cried. He
knew Dick would grow to be man
somewhere out in the big world and never
come back.