The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-12-14

s Bette NOIRE 5
BY F. II. LANCASTER s

BY F. h. LANCASTER

~
Seem to be catching some shrimp, '
said this gentleman, dryly.
Yes, sir" returned Bete-noire po-
litely, Il been catch some, mel"
well, you are going to stop it, you
know?"
"Ha?" questioned Bete-noire pleas
antly.
you, nor no other man amt going
to fish shrimp out of these here waters
for three, twenty barrel"
Eyes, sir" said Bete-noire, "das
what l get, me. Tree, twenty barrel"
We'll, you shan't, do you under
stand?"
Bete-noire bethought him of his GER
tificate and drew it out.
"Ain't dat 'tifitate all right?" he de-
manded.
"That papers got nothing to do with
it. You got to throw them shrimp
back in the water and go home"
"Ha?" said Bete-noire. The dago
began to grin but the delegate didn't
understand the tone. He swore sharp
ly.
'1'b show you what l mean, thick
head and Selling shovel he threw a
peck 81 shrimp overheard. The next
instant he dropped the shovel and
dove head-first after those shrimp.
AS his boat-man pulled the delegate
in voice low-pitched and vibrant put
the question: "You going get out; you
going die?" and the steady aim of the
rifle put point to the question.
The boat-man dropped to his oars.
1t was sometime before he even took
breath to say disgustedly over his
shoulder: Didn't you know no better
than to make 'Cajan mad?"
BY and by other boats came out on
the bay; some hailed him cheerily,
some went, sullen, by. Bete-noire did
not notice. He was busy and so was
the Dago now. And when he got in
with his load everybody seemed busy
with him. He shook his hand, they
Dragged about his catch, they helped
him unload, they showed him where to
get his checks. And when the man at
the window had pushed out the checks,
he too, shook hands with Bete-noire
and said genially: THE boss wants
to see YOU"
Where find him, if you please?"
"In yonder."
AS Bete-noire entered the Office, the
bookkeeper said significantly: Here's
that read-headed 'Cajan."
The boss dropped his paper and
arose: "Ah, Mr.. Bete-ne!re they tell
me you made fine CATCH"
good, me-" and Bete-noirc, smiling,
shook hands for the twentieth time.
81 Observation-Disclosures you had
some trouble out there
"Trouble?" No, sir; 1 didn't have no
trouble. No trouble tall. Water still,
plainly shrimp-ten barrels. Every
ting all right"
The boss bit his beard. "Ah? 1 un-
derstand that some one tried to throw
your shrimp overheard
Bete-noire's fine teeth flashed with
fun: Eyes, sir; das what he say. But,
me, t'row damfool overheard"
A roar of laughter rang through the
factory and Bete-noire Joined joyously
in the joy of it. 1t was worth even a
peck of shrimp.
WELL" he said courteously, 81 reck-
on, me, better be going"
A heavy hand clapped his shoulder
Eyes, sir! You better be going wit
me. I got wagon here for YOU" 1t
was M. Lanese. He had come to town
to trade hides for cot'-meal and had
been greeted on all sides with how
Bete-noire had broke strike" Mon
sieur never stopped to question wheth-
er it was good thing or no to break
a strike. He just let himself go with
gladness and said to everybody that
would listen: Eyes, sir; das great
chap, das Bete-noire. Great chap,
sho! He's going make marry wit my
Ill GAL And l reckon, me, he break
strike all right. He's always break
something"
And the craps? Eth, bien! When a
man makes fine catch shall not his
sins be forgiven him?
Copyright. 1906, by Daily Story Pub. Coz