The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-09

Yes. en- OATS er ins garden" said
negro standing near.
Let's look at the house." said Tim, start
ing to the door.
Tom stood up In the doorway with a pis
tol in his hand. Put your foot on tina
doorstep and I'll blow your brains out. 20
dat-nosed baboon!'
Tim paused and bowed with a smile.
Amt the premises for sale. Mr.. Camp?'
Yes. but my family amt for inspection
by niggers."
Just wanted to see the condition Of III,
house. sir" said Tim. still smiling.
We'll. I'm living here yet. and don't yoy
forget It," answered Tom with quiet EN-,
phasis. Tim walked away laughing.
Tom stepped out OF the house. and Will
his wooden leg marked a dead line arounG
the house about ten feet from each corner
To the crowd that stood near he said in 6
clear. ringing voice as he stood up in tn,
doorway:
I'll kill the nrst Niger that crosses thai
line"
There was no attempt to cross It. They
did not like the look of Toms face az he .a,
there pale and silent. And they could heal
the sobs Of his wife inside.
The sale was a brief formality. There
was but one bidder. the Honorable Tim
Shelby II was knocked down to Tim for
the sum of s.. the exact amount of the tax
levy. which Legree and his brigands had
Fixed.
Tim was not buying on his own account.
he was the purchasing agent of the sub
eidiary ring which Legree had organized
TO hold the real estate forfeited for taxes
until n rise In value would bring them mil
lions OF profit. They had stolen from the
State Treasury the money to capitalize this
company Where II was possible to exact .
cash ransom. they always took II and can
ceied the tax order. preferring the certain
" OF good gold in their pockets to the I'M
certainty of politics.
They tried their best to get a cash ram
som OF $4,000 for the town of Hambrf1hf
But the ruined people could not raise |.
thousand. So the Honorable Tim Shelby. an
the agent of the Union Land and Improve
ment Company became the owner of farm
after farm and home after home.
1t was a vain hope that relief could come
from any quarter. The red nag of the Sher-
ms auctioneer f'uttered from 2.Mo doors in
the county, This was over two-thirds of thu
total. Those who were saved. Just escaped
by the skin of their teeth. They sold Old
1ewelry or plate that had been hidden In thu
war. or they sold their corn and proyfsiona
trusting to their ability to live on dried
fruit. berries. walnuts. hickory nuts ana
such winter vegetables as they could raise
In their gardens.
Tn preacher secured for Tom a tumble1-
log cabin on the outskirts OF town
with n half acre of poor red hill land around
II. which his wife at once transformed into
a garden. She took up the bulbs and flow
ers that she had tended so lovingly about
me door of their old home. and planted
them. with tears. around this desolate cabin.
Now and then she would look down at the
work and cry. Then she would go brayely
to 1t. As nobody occupied her old
she went back and forth until she
moved all the jonquils and sweet pinks from
the hOrdora Of the cardop NALL .-l $500
them in the new garden. She moved then
her Strawberries and raspberries and goose
berries. and set her fall cabbage plants.
In three weeks she had transformed a DESC
red clay lot into a smiling garden. She
had watered every plant daily. and Tom
had watched her with growing wonder and
love.
ole woman. you're an angel,'' he cried.
II God had sent one down from the skies
The couldn't have done any more"
The problem which pressed heaviest Of all
IN the preachers heart I'm this crisis was
to save Mrs. Gaston's home.
IF that place is sold next week. nv
he said TO his wife. "she will never
survive"
Il know 1t. She is sinking every day. 1t
Freaks M heart to look at her"
wv hat can We doy'
I'm sure I can't tell. We've given CIV. |
we have on earth except the |
on our back. I haven't another piece |
Il jewelry. or even an old dress.
THE tax and costs may amount to n hum |
Ired and seventy-five. dollars. There isn't |
man in this county who has that much |
money or I'd borrow II II / had to mortgage |
body and soul to'do It,"
I'll tell you what you might do" his |
wife suddenly exclaimed: Telegraph YOUR |
I'D college mate in Bostcp that you will |
lccept his invitation to supply his pulpit |
hose last two Sundays in August. They |
will pay you SIS"
Yes. but 1t will cost half that for a
There will De nothing left"
You may meet some generous man who
viii loan you the money. I'd die before Ia |