The Delta independent., 1907-02-08


man. unlimited. came aboard
Seem to be- ca ching some shrimp,
said this gentleman. dryly.
Yes. sir" returned Eete noire po.
litely, Il been catch some me-"
We'll. you are going to stop it. you
know"
"Ha?" questioned Bcte-noirc pleas
antly.
You, nor no other man amt going
to fish shrimp out of these here waters
for three. twenty barrel
"Yes. sir" said Bcte-noire. "das
what get. me. Tree. twenty barrel"
well, you shan't. do you under.
stand?"
Betc-nOirc bcthought him Of his GER
tificatc and drew 1t out.
"Ain't dat 'ufitatc 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 bat the delegate didn't
understand the tone. He swore sharp
!y.
head" and seiZing a shovel he threw a
peck CT 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 lowpitched and vibrant put
the question: You going get out; you
going die" and the steady aim Of the
rife put point to the question.
The boat-man dropped to his oars.
II was sometime before he even took
breath to say disgustedly over his
shoulder: Didn't you know no better
than to make a '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 wa
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 Ia
get his checks. And when the man at
the window had pushed out the checks
re too. shook hands with Bctc-noire
and said gcnially: The boss wants
to see you
where find him. II you please"
''ln yondcr.'
AS Bctc-noirc entered the Office. the
bookkceper said Significantly: Here's
that rcad.hcadcd 'Cajan."
The boss dropped his paper and
arose; "Ah. MIR. Bctcnoirc they tell
me you made a fine catch"
Yes. sir: tank you. do pretty
good. me, and Betc-noire. smiling.
shook hands for the tweuticth time.
Il Understandable sou had
some trouble out there
Trouble" No. sir; | didn't have no
plainly shrimp-tcn barrels. Every
ting all right"
The boss bit his beard All: I un,
cerstand that some one tried to throw
your shrimp overheard
Betc-noirc's fine teeth flashed with
fun: Yes sir: das what he say. But.
me. I t'row damfool overheard
roar of laughter rang through the
factory and i'ctr.noirc Joined joyously
in the joy Of ii. II was worth even a
peck Of shrimp
Well he said courtcously. Il rcck-
on. me. | better be going"
4 heavy hand clapped his shoulder
Yes. sir. iou better be going wit
me. got wagon here for you" 1t
was NJ Lancse. He had come to town
to trade hides for cot'mcal and had
been greeted on all sides with how
Rctc-noir" had broke strike" Mon.
sicur never stopped to question whcth-
or 1t was n good thing or no To break
a strike. II" just let himself 20 with
gladncss and said to everybody that
would listen: Yes. sir; dss great
chap. das lict"-noir". Great chap.
sho. He's going make marry wit my
AZ gal And | reckon. mo. HI prcak
strike all right. He's always break
somct'ing."
And the craps Eh. hicn' when
man makes fine catch shall not his
sins be forgiven him?