The National tribune., 1902-01-09

3
to the Deacon as the Capitol. for he was
IncOmparahiy the largest negro he had ever
seen. lie must have weighed nearly 100
pounds and his huge bulk was crowned
with Il great. round. smooth face aS bland
and innocent as "a child'S. Come right dis
way sab. He escorted him before an inn
maculately-dreSSed man. with blazing
diamond in his Shirt-front who stood be
hind the counter. regarding the uniformed
crowd with an air OF lofty superiority.
The Deacon, who had recoilcd little Mt
/ the surrounding sumptuousugSS. now act
ualiy quailcd before this beings awful un-
approachability. but he was determined to
play the game. as was his habit when he
started into anything.
II suppose IL cost me at least a buShel
of corn so far" he internally calculated,
as the clerk manifested knowledge of his
presence by UncerCmoliouSly withdrawing
the register from Il group of dignified men
/ in uniform who Were studying il. showing
II toward the Deacon. and handing him Il
pen. But m going TO stay here one day,
i, it takes the whole crop of that 4O-acre
-ield. | had lots of corn this year. any
way, and can drop cribful or so. and
not really feel 1t. Let's see, | hlled up
every shed ! had from that G0-acre bot
tom, the Wise tract. and the 40-acre field.
Then | built three rail-penS eXtTy. That
last rail-pen | didn't fill-only had cOu-
I pie of wagOnlOadS-say, 90 bushel. But
that was clean eXtry and over everything.
| can let it all go for this frolic. But |
ought to try to keep a little track of it,
SOS not to run over it, for they do say
that they charge YOU at Wizards about
four bits for every breath you draw. Now
well begin, by saying that they'll charge
buShel Of corn for that mule-ColOred noun
tain Juggling my carpet-sack up for the
| clerk to inspect. That'H leave me 40 bush
els. The Clerk $ probably charged another
buShei for just looking at me. That leaves
~. Good society comes high, I've always
! heard"
He wrote Josiah Klegg. Bean Blossom
Greek, Ind, on the register. with some
effort
The naughty clerk whirled the book
around, gazed icily at the signature, added
some cabalistic figures with scornful
flourish of his pen. called Front with
naughty languor and. iiinging Il key to a
negro boy, said, with the curtness of COM
manding the universe:
SHOW the gentleman to ,495.'
Gracious goodness muttered the Dca-
con, as he followed after the boy, in much
humblcness of spirit, Il never met real
greatness before. How much bigger he is
than the Governors of States | know"
The Deacon's early wOodcraft hid bred
in him care upon going into place as to
the way out, and he kept pretty good track
of the nOrthng and casting of the stairs
then the turns in the narrow halls began
to make his head swim.
Hold on, bubr' he called to the bell
boy in front Of him. Come back here"
The boy looked at him in astOnishment,
as the Deacon made his way back to the
head Of the last stairs, and then placing
himself with his face to the north. glanced
around to get his bearings, and pulling 4
newspaper out of his pocket, tore off bit
and threw it down. Now 90 ahead
again. he called out to the boy, and fol-
lowing, he every few steps tore of another
bit of paper and dropped it.
What in de libbin world is you doing
dat for, Boss?' asked the boy. Litter
in up de hall dat-a-way."
I'm making a trail to find my way
back out of this catscradle of passages.
And | won't go another step without il"
Fore God, datll nebber do; de house
keeperll skin me for lowing dat. 'Twon't
do you no good nohOw, Boss. De cham
bermaid come long bimeby, an sweep dem
all up
well, I'm not going step farther with
out something to mark my way. Why. I'd
starye to death in there. | could never
find the dining room any mOre'n these
modern commentators can the Land of
Ophir.''
why, Boss, all you's got to do is to
turn to dis hand when you comes out OBJ
your room, an den turn to dat hand when
you comes to the next corner. an den TO
dis one, an den to dat one, an den to dis
One-nO, dat One--an' yOu's right at de
head OBJ de stairs"
Bout as clear as rabbit-path through
a briar-patch. Got a piece of keel in your
pocket: I'll just mark the section-cOrners
and the quarter-lines."
No, the boy hadn't such a thing as a
piece of keel. and didn't know what it was.
The Deacon reflected a moment. Come
back here to the stairs again, and wen
take & fresh start" he commanded, as he
put on his glasses, wet his pencil in his
lips and took the wrapping paper around
the hoOp-skirt for Il notebook. They start
ed from the stairs again, and the Deacon
jotted down as they walked along:
IN. from head of stairs % steps; west
- steps; n. W. 10 steps; n. 10 steps; Il
Is steps; Il p steps; w. % steps: N
steps; backward following all meanderingS
to place of beginning"
There, you can go. Bub," he said after
he had studied his notes over in his room,
but | guess III go back with you. and
see if I've set it down right"
1t seemed all right as he stood again at
the head of the stairs and thought it over.
so be dismissed the boy.
Though he was very tired and it was
past his usaul bedtime, the Deacon decided
to go downstairs again. He wanted to
get something for his usual ''snack" before
retiring, and he wanted to take another
look at the wonderful crowd in the lobby,
which he had only hastily glanced at. un-
ler the potent spell of the clerks presence.
He had been rather ashamed of himself
that he had let any mere man
not great official overawe him
as the clerk had, and casually
thought he would assert himself
by sauntcring up, passing the time of day,
and entering into n neighborly cOnversa-
ion with him about the weather and crops.
He entered the Office with this idea still
n his mind, but he saw that everybody
vas looking toward the clerk, who was
wen more erect and rigid than before. and
lad added severely judicial air, while a
nan wearing the single star of a Brig
ldierGeneral. was standing before him in
IN apOlogetic, almost Supplicating manner.
''No. sir" replied the clerk. waving aside
he officers attempted explanation with
linSly decisiyeneSS. I'VE must have your
DOM Immediately. sir. You will find your
ill mt the cashiers desk Porterr'
Yes, sah," answered the 400-pounder,
With look of childish interest on the
noOn-like placidity of his broad face.
''Go at once to 1927 and bring down the
baggage there. Place it on the sidewalk
nform the hOusekeeper that she can now
lave the room to clean up
Everyone seemed awed by the summary
enlistment.
Guess Iii wait till come in before
peak to him." thought the Deacon. and
made his way out in search of n reSt1u-