Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-24


Thar's been IA crowd around i'm all the
time. You kin see i'm standin' up as
straight as a post in the middle of the
street from one end of it to the other.
I'm sorter sorry fer i'm; he looks like
he's ashamed at bottom, but don't
want TO give in. The funniest thing
about the whole thing is that Pole
seems TO know more about the law
than the mayor. He says unless they
force him to work in the specified ten
days they can't hold him any longer.
an that if they attempt to fog i'm
he'll kill the first man that lays hands
on him. think Bill Barrett likes hi N
too we'll to have i'm whipped. an the
whole town is guyin him an AKIN
i'm why he don't make Pole set in
Alan went down the street to see
Pole. He found him seated on a large
stone. long handled rock hammer at
his feet He looked up from under his
broad brimmcd hat. and Il crestfallen
look came into his big brown eyes.
I'm sorry to see this, Pole" said
Alan.
Pole stood up at his full height. the
chain clanking as he rose. "They hain't
treated me right about this matter,
Alan Bishop" he said, half resentfully,
half as if he recognized his own error
"Bill knows he hain't done the fair
thing. | know | was full, but | Jest
wanted to have my fun. That don't
Justify him in putin me out heer
with these niggers fer folks to gap at
an he knows it, He amt friend
right. Me an him has slep' together on
the same pile o leaves, an I've let i'm
pull down on a squirrel when l could
"a knocket it from its perch. an I've
lent I'm my pointer an gun many an
many time. But he's showed what
he is. He's got the wrong SOW by the
yeer, though, fer of he keeps me heer
till Christmas I'll never crack n rock
unless | do it by accidentally steppin
on it. Mark my words. Alan Bishop,
thar'll he trouble out O this
Don't talk that way. Pole" said
Alan. You've broken the law, and
they had to punish you for it, If they
hadn't. they would have made them
selves ridiculous. Why didn't You send
me word you were in trouble. Pole:'
The fellow hung his head and then
blurted out
fool o yorese'f an try to pay me out.
Durn it, Alan Bishop, this amt no
business o yore'n.'
"I'll make it my business" said
Alan. How much is your fine? You
ought to have sent me word
Sent you nothin', Alan Bishop"
growled the prisoner. when l send
you word to hep me out of scrape
that whisky got me into. I'll do It ftcr
I've decently cut my throat, I say
when you've plead with me like you
have TO quit the durn stuff"
At this point Of the conversation JEFF
Dukes, man of medium size, dressed
in dark blue uniform, with n nickel
plated badge shaped like a shield and
bearing the words Marshal No. o.
came directly toward them from a
stonecutter's shop near by.
Look heer. bishop" he said dicta-
torially. wizard you git the right to
talk to that MANI
Alan looked surprised. Am I break
ing the law too
You are eff you hain't got a permit
from the mayor in yore pocket"
well. | have no permit" replied
Alan with a good natured smile. Have
you got another ball and chain handy q"
The officer frowned off his inclination
to treat the matter as a jest. You ort
to have more sense than that" he said
crustily. Poles put out hccr to work
his time out, an eff everybody in town
is allowed to laugh an joke with him
he'd crack about as many rocks as you
or me-"
You are durn liar, Jeff Dukes"
said Pole angrily. You are a-makin'
that up to humiliate me furder You
know no law like that never was en-
forced. IF l ever git you out in Pea
Vine destrict, I'll knock a dent in that
egg shaped head O yor'n an make
them eyes look two ways fer Sunday.
You know gentleman like Alan Bish-
Op wouldn't notice you under ordinary
circumstances, an so you trump up
that excuse to git his attention"
The two men glared at each other,
but Pole seemed to get the best of that
sort of combat, for the officer only
growled
"You can insult man when you
are under arrest he said, "beca Sc you
know | am under bond to keep the
peace. But I'm not afeerd of you"
They tell me you are afeerd o sper-
fits, though" retOrted the prisoner.
They tell me little niger boy that
was shot when passle o skunks went
TO whip his daddy fer vagrancy stands
at the foot o yore bed ever night, Oh,
l know what I'm talkin' about
Yes, you know lots" said the man
sullenly as his eyes fell.
To avoid encouraging the disputants
further Alan walked suddenly away.
The marshal took willing advantage of
the opportunity and followed him.
II could make case aGin you,' he
said, catching up, but l know you
didn't mean to violate the ordnance
NO, OF course | didn't" said Alan,
'but l want to know If that fellow
could be released If paid his fine"
'You are not fool enough to do 1t. are
you?"
That's what am"
Have you got the money In yore