The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-02-18
The Devil
In ArmOr


the bank Of the spring branch Here he fingered only long enough to
his pole the and catch his breath Then he turned
right around and went back the he had come taking not to
the dsy workers about the place before he reached
the house and slid out Of sight through the back hadoor
rather dark in there and he stood mapping his damp
brow and neck and cooling off his brisk aunt He could
through the open door down to the road where Uncle Roscoe
with foot upon the hub Of dapdaed with
the Rev Shaach Potter From all appearances the wne had
been visited yet lie listened nteny but sound except the
dronng voice OF the preacher and the switching OF his mules tail
came to him.
by the the of mail p0sed grimy
% seeming brood the barred helmet and downdawn beaver
which had ncosed head OF cavalier ancestor the fields
Of Naseby and Marson Moor
The Captain grasped firmly about the walne lifted
from It's place and hurried best he could into the silent paror
The had been designed must have been Of just
Captain Chesays height and bulk for what did that late Con-
officer do but lay off his linen coat and wdebmmed hat
proceeded don the odd and unwd apparel
an act accomplished only after many pulls and ans and when the
Captains fayore expressions of disgust about exhausted The
last and most uncomfortable thing all 60 helmet
beaver pulled down conceal his face fecuay
Then he walked sty and ceangy back to the hall climbed
into the niche and assumed position nearly AKIN to the one the
anor usually possible His work had been attended with
little noise but Uncle Roscoe fully occupied in following the
steady talk which flowed from the lips Of the preacher that he
heard not a sound
Slowly the minutes dragged by slowly they heightened into fves
and tens and faster ood the perpaon from the
Capans poes but still the crafty old butler fingered his pons
when the nearly swelered he heard
Poer whip crack the dowsy mules back and the rckey
wheels Of the cart began to revoye
you Br er Roscoe lead the flock prayah
meetin ~ Potter called as he drove away.
Shortly after stealthy step on the veanda made loose board
squeak and dark willy face peered around the doorab and took
minutes reconnaissance the hallway Then Uncle Roscoe
whole body In hand he cuced tightly punch of mint the
bruised stalks Of which filled the suty air with pungent odo In the
other carried gourd of cold well Moving carefully toward
the avoid stopping the contents still carefully ne bent
down. the god against the Dashboard and softly drew
the door
Now Uncle Roscoes fame upmaker widespread and
the old fellow himself shewdy suspected that pnknosed Colonel
Booth the Hon. Jimmy Des and Major Yancy talked more Crops
all necessary Chsaby Hall during ulp But
that would totally eclipse former attempt the line
Directly Captain Cheaby heard whisky pgot turn and the
pu of falling liquid Then short silence broken last by gupng
gasp, smack and muttered exclamation "Um-mmah! Dat
suteny do knock de holiness de bones!
Dat tas lax mo'!' The spgot turned again.
hand gourd the other closed behind him. and
stepping nmby the suit of raised his glass and said softly
Heahl look heahl or Blum erbuss don yo' wish yo cud feel
dis nice col up nn down yo nk?" He showed the glass up
till nearly touched the helmet laughngy hdhy and continued
Don yo' jes wish yo cud? But yo tho, sab! Unc
Roscoe hahn gwne waste clean Ticker yo rusty oil throat
de only ting yo kin do oil man. is ter smell de settll-
The ended in shrek of mortal terror for Captain
Chesaby with deep bent forward and caught his wrists IN
nexoabe grasp To the frightened negro mind if
avenng hundebo had fallen from the Judgment Seat to annhae
his guilty soul AS he wrgged and wrthed about the ridges in the
steel gauntets scraped and hcerated the skin his wrists gha
po reaching to the very roots of his wool oersped his face and
in terrorsrcken, quaking tones he pleaded for his life
"Dont hut mme good NarSe Debbl Use ony po o-o-o
shfles nggah I-haint nebber sanded yo befoMMarse
Debb haint nebbah talked agin yo' befo' NIase Debb
nj hope yo famby weooouc Fo de god Lawds sake how
yo does pinch nah han Mase Debb Ow! please lemme
please n'-'n-'
His ended in howl the tmbler dropped from his hand
and hvered the floor The sepural from the
cut him short.
That's enough yo old hypocrte So this the yo look
after yo masters interests is wih yo lying and cheating and
evng behind his back So this the wicked snake nature that
hides under yo livery and yo fine and smooth talk? have
come to spell yo and warn yo that unless yo stop
right here tracks and head yof for the path o doom
sealed Yo tongue will wther yo head yo feet will shake
with palsy yo hands will change claws and yo will fall like
Imcifer' m
Uncle Roscoe grovd and moaned beneath the Words but the
master pitlessly continued ..,
"And condition only will spare you'-jus
And that that you knee down there the floor and sonny
promise to stop yo scandaos habits Otherwise" He osed
wrist and made motion toward the negros breast.
The old mans jaw dropped in hdeous
I'll boun do who yo done o Narse Debb he whined
ony spar me, Marse Debbl spar N swar t. promiseII
I ben er mons ous bad nggahwuthess n nocountbut
boun do what yo done toll me!'
Captain Cesaby oosd the other wrist and Uncle Roscoe sank to
the hoor with his knees in the broken glass and whisky miserable
terror STRICKEN trembling heap
rSa1 4Ia o. l.~l 4