The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-11-12

structure for which, as he CHANGED to
be aware, the Widow Ruggles had ex.
changed D portion Of the small farm
left her By her husband. As Mr.. Tunk
remem bered the transaction, Mr.. Rol
Inns. who had owned the residence now
by exigency Of circumstance become q
hotel, had made q very good bargain
He had taken what he considered the
choicest of the widows land and Joined
it to his own, leaving her few rough
acres, valueless alike for stock OF
crops; he believed he had managed il
with much cleverness, as he had man
aged the deal with the quarrymen.
"H-m+m-m; queer about that quarry
fel1er," fuminated Mr.. Tunk: don't
seem to me altogether likely he'd be OF
sort to let Ezra bamboozle him. All
people amt foolish in the same spot. =
He glanced into the store where Ezra
was perspiringly displaying his stock
OF dress goods, and then, with an idea
forming in his mind. he arose and
leisurely made his way to the stable
where he had quartered his team.
"'Twon't do no harm to find out
what I can" he told himself as he
turned the horses heads in the direc-
ton Of the quarry, two miles from the
village. "A man don't learn much in
this world unless he asks questions
now and then"
But he derived little satisfaction
from the replies given in response to
his questions at the quarry that day;
for some reason the men were reticent
and evasive. Yet, as he drove back to
the village, he gave vent to an occa-
sional chuckle, indicative that he con-
sidered the time to have been well spent.
He said nothing of the matter to Ezra,
who called to him from the store door:
We'll, goin' home, be you, Salem?s
"Whoa!" said Mr. Tunk. Yes.
reckon it's tins to be gettin' along that
way
Better wait and see the drays come
up from the train,'' suggested MT. Rol-
Inns, facetiously.
Here's Bill" said Mr. Rollins, shad-
ing his eyes with his hand, land hes
yes, he's got a box on! Now, that is
worth waitin' for, Salem; faint often
you see one Of 'em with box on.
What's he goin' to do with it?'
The dray turRed into an alley lead
ing to a narrow lane running parallel
with the street Fronting on this lane,
directly to the rear of the hotel, was a
warehouse.
Its somethin' for the quarry fell
lers; they've rented that buildin' to
keep their truck in. What's happened
to Jim, do you suppose? 'Tain't safe
for Bill to be that close to Ruggles's
without some one to keep an eye on
him. BY jing! there he comes UP the
lane on keen jump! Told you so,
Salient
cit appears to me, Ezra remarked
Salem, deliberately, that his horses
are runnin' away
They be-they be" cried Ezra, ex-
citedly, land Bills backed plum across
the lane and one of his horses is balk-
in. Can't make that horse bulge till
he's good and ready; sold old Elliott
that horse myself. MY GaWd! some
thin's goin' to be all smashed up,
Salient"
Looks favorable" agreed MT. Tunk.
He clambered to the ground and tied
his team. II reckon, Ezra, we'd better
be gettin' over that way
Hastily Mr.. Rollins locked the store
door and, bareheaded. followed Mr..
Tunk across the lots. On the way they
were joined by three boys and two
barking dogs. When they arrived al
the warehouse Bills dray was upon
its side, and his horses were plunging
in an effort to break away from de.
termined looking woman. Mrs. Rug
giles, who had CHANGED to be hoeing i'll
her garden when the catastrophe oc-
Cured. Her daughter was hurrying to
her assistance. Both Of Jim's horses
were down, tangled In harness, and
jim was upon his face in heap of re-
fuse Is feet distant.
Look at Bill" whispered Mr.. Ro1-
Inns to Mr. Tunk. Whats the matter
of the foo1?'
Bill was sitting In the road, staring
with a h0rrided expression upon his
face at the box, which lay directly il
front Of him. He seemed Incapable of
either speech or action.
II reckon he's scared" said Mr..
Tunk. Lets get these here hors es
Strengthened around and wen find
out
This was soon accomplished, Jim,
somewhat dazed but uninjured, assist
ing. And then the entire company.
with the exception Of Jim, gathered
about Bill.
What's the matter, Billy?" inquired
Mr. Rollins. "Hurt?"
Slowly Biz raised his hand, point
ing at the box. It bore upon It's top the
grim inscription: