The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-08

sat ON the root Of a tree to rest while
her companions gathered nuts. She
was soon conscious of the awkward
approach of the dwarf. who placed a
large leaf filled with chinquapins at
her side.
'Tenkye, missus. fur bein' so kline ter
po' boy"
Alice smiled and motioned to him.
With a backward pull or scrape of the
right foot and sort of jerk of his
front hair he obeyed.
"What is your name!"
"Tony. ma'am.'
"What is the matter with you? Why
do you live on nuts and say you have
no place to spend money? The city is
very near. and you can walk in if you
can come OUT
The boy hesitated.
81 'fraid fur tell you de trut cause
you mout tell way is
Alice FASTENED to reassure him.
ooh. missus, you ane know wat
hard time POI bigger kin have. My
mudder love me, do l is got hump
back, an she nebber lick me. l ane
nebber bin strong huff ter wuk, an, do
l use ter help her wat l could, tame
bin much l could do. After she dead I
ane know no time l ane git kicks an
knocks from my daddy. cause e say
cen e way an e ane gwine feed big.
boy lax me. Sometimes l goes days
widOut crus' err bread, an one day e
beat me so an t'row me agin de wall
dat I nebber know nuttin'. Wen
stan no mo- so l git up ter go, an
fine my aims an back so hut me
kin hardly walk. l was cumin' out de
place Wen | see hunk err bread an
piece err bacon cen de closet do, an,
missus bin SO hongry TEX UNI an
sneak off. l know l wuz wrong, but
wuz so weak an hongry couldn't help
it. Den sneak an hide an sneak an
hide till l cum yeah. an bin yeah so
long now dat l gittin' berry sick.
ane had all dis time a ting ter eat 'cep'
de nuts an berries. l begs de good
Lord cherry mite ter tex me befO' my
daddy cum, cause | can't let um kill
LIZ, al lco AlllIC al wv "Sah NSA
help myself"
The poor little fellow burst into
tears. Alice was not ashamed to let
her own tears fall freely. and soon a
band of sympathiZers stood around the
unfortunate child. A basket of food
intended for lunch was quickly
opened, and Tony made royal meal.
Before leaving Alice said:
"Tony, do you know the city? Well,
live on Rutledge avenue near Spring
street. and if you will come to my
house l think we may find job for
you"
"Oh, missus, 'fraid ter go cen de
town less l know fur sure l ane
gwine meet my daddy"
"Alice," said one Of the larger boys,
"let him stay here tonight, and tOmOr-
row | will come out with an officer
and bring Tony in under his prOtec
ton. If that brute shows up, he will
be arrested
This suggestion meeting with APP
prevail, the picnickers soon after de-
parted.
After prayers of thanks to God for
his deliverance Tony lay down and
slept the sweet untroubled sleep Of
childish faith in the eagerly expected
tomorrow. In the morning he almost
forgot in his joy his past enforced 81
lence and played happily in the woods
for some time. The sun was hot, and
he soon became tired and hungry. Go
ing to the hollow tree which served as
his storehouse. he and the squirrel We're
soon enjoying the remnants of the good
things of the day before. Suddenly he
paled, and his heart stopped in fear,
He heard stealtly steps behind him
and, looking round quickly, was just in
time to save himself from an appraised
stick in the hands of his cnraged ia.
ther.
Flying up the first tree he saw. Tony
failed to notice until too late that it
was not strong enough to bear his
weight; 50. holding on as tightly as he
could, he trembed for his safety either
way. \ storm of wild abuse came from
the man. who was in a fury. He vio-
lently shook the tree, which almost at
once dislOdged his victim. No sooner
had Tony touched the earth than he
was seized by the ruffian, who bella
bored him, accompanying each blow
with the vilest language and most
frightful kicks. Scream after scream
filed the air until, with one piercing
shrek, the sufferer sank into blessed
unconsciousness. Rapidly approaching
footsteps We're heard, and the wretch
hurting the little PROSTATE form against
a tree, took TO his heels. He was toe
late. however. An officer and two young
men seized him, and wild fight fol
freedom followed. The coward was
soon conquered and was with much
trouble taken to the station house
while the unconscious boy was careG
for by persons attracted by the noise.
AS soon as Tony was able to attend
court the wretch who caused his SUI
forinUS WAS tried and SpptaOrcI 10 ,