Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-02-02

ordering them to be more quiet, at
least expressing some sort OF super
vision of their actions.
"At seven o'clock he and Fernando
went among them, giving some sharp
commands, and they went quietly to
| their cages, which were fastened by
Fernando. The rest of us sat on the
porch smoking, and part Of the time
played on my banjo, which latter
appeared to greatly please my visitor.
Soon after nine, as we were prepar-
ing to go to our rooms, the monkey
chief, Pythagoras, pulled my coat
sleeve and walked ahead of me to
mine. Taking blanket that hung
upon a peg, he motioned as if he
wanted to take it back to the piazza
l nodded my permission and he went
out with it. spread it and almost
asked me in so many words if he
could sleep upon it. laughingly said:
Make yourself perfectly at home, old
fellow at which he grinned back at
me as IL he accepted 1t as a compli-
ment, and curled himself upon the
blanket with great grunt Of salts
faction, where l left him.
"The next morning Fernando
brought out the monkeys, divided
them into two gangs, and commenced
the picking. Pythagoras would lead
one gang for a while and then hurry
over to the head of the other, run
ming back to see If any cotton had
been skipped and like the most CON-
petent overseer, keeping a watchful
supervision over the whole work.
Nothing like it had ever been known
on any plantation.
eve stopped an hour at noon and
by night, by actual weight all form
er records had been beaten by over
one-half. What also appeared to me
very remarkable was that the pick
ers seemed just as lively and active
when the days work was over, as
when it commenced. That evening
was a repetition Of the former, but
before retiring thought l saw some
men moving around near the house,
and twice Pythagoras uttering a low
grunt darted down the steps, return
ing and shaking his head each time
as if something disturbed him. Moth
icg, h~wc.IcT, occurred, and finally
went into my room and lay down, al
though but partially undressing.
at could not have been very long
after midnight when awoke with
that indescribable feeling that some
one was moving about the room.
had closed my windows on retiring
but now felt the cool night air blow
ing soft across my face. AS l me-
chemically grasped my revolver, cooked
it and raised myself suddenly to a
sitting posture, l felt the point of q
sharp instrument piercing my neck.
family heard the sound of a shot, the
room seemed full of smoke and every
thing went black as fell back sense
less.
Several days had passed before
opened my eyes to returning con
seriousness and what occurred during
that interval, / have learned only
from those to whose untiring care
assisted by my naturally strong con
stitution, l owe my life.
"The darkey | had discharged, hat
crawled in through my window will
the evident intention of robbery ant
murder. My watch and purse lay OF
the floor and my necktie with valu
able diamond pin had been thrust II
the pocket of his blouse. Pythagorat
had evidently heard the noise, Sigh
as it was, or perhaps his sense O.
, smell was, as Fernando said, extreme
I ly acute, and his devotion to his mas
ter's friend brought him at once t.
my bedside.
81 do not know whether or not mon
keys can see in the dark, but If no
Pythagoras's intuitions must at leas
have given him a sort of second sight
for when Fernando and the oversee
rushed in with lights, they saw tina
the big ape had grasped the darkeyi
right wrist which held the knife, will
his right hand, and twisted and broker
the wrist, in spite Of the darkey'!
great strength, while the long finger
Of his left hand were pressed tight!
around the throat of the darkey whom
he had evidently strangled with com
parative ease. All would have beef
well had l lain still, but my suddel
rising had not only plunged the knit
into my own neck, but caused the fal
of the revolver which fired the fata
l shot, the big bullet blowing through
t to faithful Pythagoras's brain ant
4 killing him instantly.
< 1--WE gave the body of the darkey
Y to some of his friends, but Pythagora:
3 was buried under beautiful live oak
l and upon the mound, after recovered
I placed a marble slab inscribins
= upon it the words Faithful to thu
Death
A ooh, you ask what became of thu
4 rest of the monkeys and my expert
t ment! Well, after the doctor said
I would soon be all right again and per
I mitted me to walk about, had Fer
: nando take them out and try to re
y sumo the cotton picking, which the
l darkies had meanwhile nearly com
l pleted. They had been very uneasy
$ and had shown so much restlessness
4 that the morning and evening hours
d of relaxation had been abandoned.
4 "They would give low plaintive
e means and cry out like children wher
d hurt and when released instead o.
S romping and jumping as at first, would
: gather in groups and chatter together
o as if talking over some trouble. TheI
}, they would troop down to the cornel
: of the plantation and point away of
d towards the South. So Fernando saiC
:, he would not let them out until