Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-10-02

itSt IlV luu LVuIN tliHt t'iS StlC hON
been opened. and then he had heard
that report cont.adicted and could only
rest satisfied by coming himself. weak
as he Was. Hiiiyer had been strange
ly silent ali the afternoon, but wien
ae came upon Georges letter he rose
and began to talk in II voice that sank
Rec, and shook with uncomfortable
emotion.
i've Jest found the key to it, he
said the letter in his hand. ''an' I'll
bet you all will think we'll O that pore
wounded boy when you know what
do. Last night three armed men slip
ped up on I'M right here in this Office.
l reckon. from what ! gather, that
they told i'm his daddy was IL convict,
an folks in general didn't expect i'm
to be honest nohow, an that ef he
didn't open the safe they'd Kill i'm an
bore in it themselves. He wasn't
tempted one minute, but he wanted to
leave line to me before he died"
Hillyer choked up and was silent for a
moment. The group bent toward him.
with working features and eyes dis
tended. $50 he told 'em all right, the
Jig was up, but they'd have to give i'm
time to work out the combination.
They lowed be was doin' it. but in.
stead he was writin' a last word to
me- He said he was tired O. livin' any
how. the world was so down on i'm,
an that he'd ruther die AN take a hand
in lettin' gang O thieves steal the
sHviD's O pore folks. an 50 he said he
was goin' to refuse He said he hoped
it would give the lie to the belief that
he was dishonest beca'se his old daddy
had gone wrong. Thar was another
matter he writ about. bat that was
private. l want to say. though. that
George Buckley wasn't happy: he
h.s;l.t been happy fer Il long time.
7 Ear are men III this world that think
they are too good to mix an mingle
with men O. his stamp, BIT I've sot
sech durn c;".cn,pt fer that sort O
thing that | fee: ike sl".'pin' the Jaws
o folks that do in this day Of enlight.
clI!vi.t"
'.Same here!' said Bascom Truitt.
They were all somehow looking at
Ma. or Cranston. Even Hanks had fixed
h::n wifi. curious stare. The invalid
stirred uneasily in bis chair. One OF
hi, pillows fell to the floor, but the
/ nero man behind him forgot to restore
it. Negroes comprehend the most deli
fn work inOS Gf tho AnUlO-C
brain. ANA this black creature knew
that his master had incurred tie dis
pleasure of his neighbors. Cranston
| seemed to feel that he ought to speak.
bet he did not like the expressions on
the faces of Truitt and HilIyer. and
their voices had rung with accusing de-
fance.
what do you think ought to be done,
Mr.. Hanks:" he asked
Il don't know" said Hanks. II don't
know"
"Well." ventured CranstOn, interlac-
ing his white thin fingers, Il see no
harm in wiring the governor to offer a
reward for the arrest of the men. The
editor of the Citizen told me as l came
down that he'd publish anything free
of charge. If the governor would Of
fer $500. or even three
Governor" snorted Truitt. do you
reckon I'd 60 to that cowardly skunk
to help in a matter like this? Eff we
hain't able here at home to stand be
hind boy that offered his life to save
the money o. the widows an orphans
in this county we ort to be whipped"
Huh" calculated Hanks suddenly
"l'ive hundred dollars fer the man that
shot George Buckley I'll give $4,000
in cash out o my own pocket! You tell
| the editor that fer me- an tell i'm the
! quicker he prints it the better it'll suit
ne Tell i'm to- git ont Il extra an
! handbillS an send 'em on hOsses an
! trains in all directions. I'll foot the
bill" He was stanling now, and his
glance was bearing down significantly
on the a.;or. Il never met better
man than George Buckley. He's wuth
more to the community than forty
'leven futel bosom ring politicians
Seems to me | heard some fool woman
/ or other say thar was few people in
4; this town that tried to hold their heads
above i'm on account o his atfiiction
BY gum, them sort nd have to climb a
powerful high mountain to look over
that boys head, an don't you forget
it."
'"That's the ticketv' said Truitt, fol
lowing Hanks outside.
"Seems to me-" said Cranston, his
proud lip quivering as he turned to
Hillyer, "that I'm being hit at. didn't
come down here to talk over my-my
family matters with anybody"
! I'VE are all worked up in sympathy
for George" Hillyer said coldly. But
knowing what do about the hearts
O. yore daughter an George Buckley
feel like tellin' you to go to the deuce
with yore notions O. family honor
Major Cranston."
II have not said wanted to discuss
the matter with yOu," retorted the ma
jOr sharply.
II don't care whether you want tt
discuss it or not" answered Hiliyer
"You are blind as n bat The man yo'
T.,