The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-04-07

VISIT III liz give Mt LIS Cuunh Ga
said he'd found it. Now. know in
reason that he nabbed it while he was
at work, but l don't think I'd have
right to report it to the mimi compa-
ny, an so I'm jest obleeged to receive
stolen goods. 1t amt with more'n a
dollar, they tell me. an III hang on TO
it, | reckon. ruther n have laborin'
man discharged from job. I'm tryin'
my level best to live up to the line now.
an don't know how to manage sech
a thing as that. I've come 10 the con-
elusion that no harm will be done no
how. beca'se miners amt too well paid
anyway, an eff l jest keep it an don't
git no good out Of it won't be in it
any more n eff I'd never got hold O. the
blamed thing"
'But the law, Brother Baker" said
Dole solemnly. without the law we'd
be an awful lot o. people. an every
man ort to uphold It, Render the
things that are Caesars unto Cesar"
Poles face was blank for moment,
and Abner came to his rescue with a
broad smile and sudden laugh.
Il reckon you don't remember him,
Pole" he said. He's dead. He was
Niger that used to belong to old man
Throgmartin. In the cove. He used to
be sech an awful thief during slavery
days that it got to be common sayin'
that everything lynn round mought as
well be his'n. fer he'd take it sooner ur
later anyways"
I've heerd O. that Niger" said Pole,
much to the preachers disgust, which
grew as Pole continued: 'Well, they
say a Teller that knows the law is
broke an don't report it is as guilty as
the man who does the breakin'. Now,
Mr.. Dole, you know how | come by
this nugget, an eff you want to do
your full duty you'll ride over to Dalo-
mega an report it to the right parties.
| can't afford the trip"
ADner laughed out at this and then
forced a serious look on his face.
That's what you rally ort to do,
Brother Dole" he said. Them Caesars
over thar I'D appreciate it."
Then Mrs. Bishop came out to shake
hands with the preacher and invited
him to go 10 his room to wash his face
and hnnds AS the tall man followed
his hostess away Abner winked slyly
at Pole and laughed under his long.
scrawny hand.
"Uncle Alb, you ort to be killed."
/ smiled Pole. you've been settin' heer
the last half hour polxin' fun at that
Teller, an you know 1t. Well. I'm go
I'M on home Sally's a-goin' to fry some
O. this truck fer me. an I'm as hungry
as bear"
A few minutes after be had gone
Dole came out Of his room and sat
down in his chair again. THAT seems
to be sorter bright young man." he
remarked.
sAs bright as a new dollar" returned
| Abner In tone of warm admiration.
"Did you notice that big. wedge shaped
head O. his'n? It's plumb full O. brains.
One day a Teller come down TO FIJI
more's store He made a business o.
feelin' O. heads an writin out charts
at % cents apiece. He didn't waste
much time on the rest o. the scabs he
examined, but when he got to Poles
/ noggin he talked fer a good hour.
never heerd the like He said ef his
talents had been properly directed Pole
nd "a made big public man. He said
he hadn't run across sech head In a
month O Sundays. He was right, you
bet, an every one O. the seven brats
Poles got is jest as peert as he Is.
They are a-growin' up in idleness an
rags too. | wisht could meet some
o. them durn big Yankees that are
a-sendin' Their money down heer an
buildin' fine schools to educate niggers
an neglectin' Their own race beca'se 1t
ft agin em. You cayn't hardly beat
larnin into nigger's head, an 1t I'D
be only common sense to spend money
whar 1t nd do the most good. | amt
got nothin' agin' a niger bein' larnt
to read an write. but | cayn't stomach
Their bein' forced ahead O. deservin'
white folks sooner n the Lord counted
on. Them kind o. Yankees is the same
sort that makes pets O dogs an pam
pers 'em up when pore white children
Is in need OF food an affection"
vPole looks like he had natural ca
pacity." said Dole. EIe was fond OF
ronverslng with Abner on any topic
except that of religious matters.
He'd make bang up detective
laughed Abner. "One day was at
Filmore's store. Neil sometimes. when
he's rushed, gifts Pole to clerk fer i'm
beca'se he's quick at figures. 1t hap
nened that Pole had the store to Unset
one day when Neil had gone off to cut
down bee tree with passle O neigh
bors, an a tridin' Teller come In an
begun to nose about. An when Poles
! back was turned to weigh up some
. cotton in the seed he stole pocket
book out O the showcase. reckon
Pole didn't like his looks much nohow