Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-19

dulRe even in an extra dinner. Ronald |
had remembered his hands by pres
ents OF money, but they were going
TO spend it in town. Something, how
ever, did happen to mark the day as
an eventful one. Old Jade Fanshaw
was brought home in Bud Tarbell's
dump cart, on pile of wheat straw,
covered by an old quilt This oc-
CURED about IL o'clock in the day.
Ronald remembered that it took place
Just as the dinner bell rang at earn
leigh. Bud Tarbell told the little
group in the front yard that Jade
wasn't dead an they needn't be
skeerd." He explained that he was
driving along a mountain road looking
for sticks of lightwood when he saw
Fanshaw walking ahead of him as
sound as dollar as far as he was
able to see. He looked away for a
minute and then he saw Fanshaw
down on his all-fours, crawling along
with head down like a grazing COW.
AT fust I was afecrd of i'm, fur he
was actin mighty curis," observed
Tarbell, but tcrrectly his knee j'ints
seemed 10 flicker an he come down
kerplunk in the mud on his stomach
Then I drive up an put i'm in my
cart"
Mrs. Fanshaw was always a calm
woman; she went out at the gate,
waddcd up to the cart, and shook the
human heap on the straw.
"Looliy hecr, what's a-ailin' OF you,
Jade?" she asked, seeing his eyes open.
Fanshaw sat up slowly, but he
looked like man with only shadow
of soul in him: his eyes glared in
ghastly sockets and their whites had
turned red AS he looked round at
the group he seemed TO recognize
them, but a shifting look of terror
was in his glance. He began to work
MS lips. to the edge of which his
stubbly beard grew. but only unin-
telligiblc sounds issued.
His tongue is paralyzed" COM
mentcd his wife; look how that side
is drawed down to his neck. I de-
clare he's got wad O. tobacco be-
twiNt his jaws clamped thar as tight
as cider press. Jade, spit that thar
truck out. Spit it out. J tell you'll"
! And as he paid no heed to her COM
mands. she thrust her forefinger be-
tween his almost toothless gums as il
Re were a child and pried out the
brown mass. Well" she said, re-
signcdly well have TO git i'm in the
house, Bud will want his cart. Come,
you boys" Ito Ronald and DAVID
help lift i'm out
Dave sprang into the cart, and Ron
aid was about TO do the same, when
Fanshaw's distendcd eyes fell on him.
The old man raised his hands as If to
ward off blow and cried in word
now easily understood: Take i'm
away; he wants TO kill me-"
Ronald paused, but Far shaw's ter
ror did not abate. He got to his fee,
quickly and sprinring from the cart
he ran his knees knocking together
across the road towards the woods
stop i'm, he's tryin' to kill me! He
wants me TO tell i'm who he is, an
whar t'other is buried"
a remarkable change came over Mrs
Fanshaw; she turned quickly to Ron
aid, and with an uneasy smirk. said
Don't you 60 nigh i'm. Ron; he's
clean out'n his senses, an thar ain,
no tellin what quar- notion might strike
i'm"
Ronald stood wondering. ms Tarbel
and Dave ran after the old man. They
caught him by his arms and began tc
half carry, half drag him towards the
house. But Fans haw's distended eyes
were still fixed on Ronald in alright ant
he struggled and fought his captors like
L wild man.
I'm not agoin' 10 have i'm put me II
jail" he snorted. Hes done reported il
10 Reddin', an together they are agoin
TO have me swing for what | never
done"
Again Mrs. Fanshaw faced Ronald
this time she stood between him anC
his father. \ frightened look Of Gun
ming lay in her heavy-browed eyes
If I was you, Ron she said, hurried
ly. I'D go upstairs; he's tuck "A qua
notion somehow that you arc ag'in i'm
an I wouldn't aggravatc i'm"
Glad of an excuse TO get away from
the narrowing scene our hero went VI
to his room. Presently he heard th'
clatter of hob-railed boots on the porch
The old man, I ow pacited, was being let
like dumb animal to his room. Their
all was quiet below. The silence LASTED
till he heard Dawes voice OUTSIDE
speaking through a broken window
pane TO his mother.
I'm a-goin' to ride FUR a doctor" h
was saying.
The floor complained OF its burdel
as Mrs. Fanshaw went out on the porch
Well" she replied, you might a
well, l reckon; but wouldn't git Sloan
he'll charge two prices, an dun us It
death. It haip't uothin' but strok
nohow, an his drugs nor nobody else
can reach IT. It's jest question @
sine. DR.. Wade will do n well as any
body"
Later IN the afterro con Ronald ha'
come down and was sitting before III
fire in the living room. The man hat
fallen asleep, watched by Bud TarbeiI
who had sent his cart home and oferet
his services according 10 the custom
among neighbors in that vicinity Mrs
Tanshaw came in and began 10 look FOL
bottle of luiment on the mantel
piece.
' Ia sa1,