Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-04

1t Uos that Of tail gentleman endur
ing hts nineteenth acintcr.
"It's al he's fit forw exclaimed Es
kew. Hes low down, tell We. Ain,
it only last week Judge Pike caught
him shootln' craps with Pixies nigge,
! driver and some other Niger hired
men in the alley back of Pixies barn"
You ever hear that boy Joe talk pol
itics:' asked Uncle Joe Davey. cross
ing cough with a chuckle. His
heads so full of schemes fer running
this town, and state, too, it's wonder
it don't bust. Henry Louden told me
he's see Joe set around and study by
tile hour how to save $1,000. 900 for the
state In two years"
And the best he can do for himself -
added Eskew, "is delverin' the Daily
Tocsin on a second hand Star bicycle
and Gamblin' with niggcrs and riffraff
None Of the nice young folks invite
him to their doin's any more"
That's because he's got so shabby
he's quit goln' with EN-" said Bucka-
lew.
mo, it amt" snapped Mr. Arp. ITS
because he's so low down. He's no
more n a town Outcast. There amt
nry one Of the girls III have thing to
do with him, except that rip-rarin' tom
boy next door to Louden's, and the 9th
ers don't have much TO do with her
neither, l can tell We. That Arie Ia
bor"-
Colonel Fltcroft caught him surrep-
titiously by the arm. Ssh, Eskewr' he
whispered. Look out what you're
sayin'."
You needn't mind me-" Jonas Tabor
spoke up crlsply. IT washed my hands
OF all responsibility for Rogers branch
or the family long ago. Never was one
Of 'em had the energy or brains to
make a decent livin', beginning with
Roger-not ono worth his salt. set
Rogers son up in business, and all the
return he ever made me was TO 90
into bankruptcy and take to drink, till
he died sot, like his wife did of
shame. / done all I could when |
handed him over my store. and / never
expect to lift finger for 'em again.
Ariel Tabor's my grandnicce, but she
didn't act like it, and you can say any
thing you like about her for what l
care. The last time I spoke to her was
year and half ago and I don't
reckon I'll ever trouble to again"
"11ow was that, Jonas?" quickly in
quired Mr. Davcy, who. being the
eldest Of the party, was the most Gu
rious. what happcned?"
'She was out in the street. I'D on
that high bicycle Of Joe Louden's. lie
was teachin her to ride, an she was
sittin' on it like man docs, stopped
and told her she wasn't respectable.
Sixteen years Old goin' on seventeen"
What did she say"
laughed" said Jonas. his voice be-
coming louder as the recital of his
wrongs renewed their sting in bis soul.
'Laughcd.'
"What did you do?'
81 went up to her and told her she
wasn't a decent girl and shook the
wheel" Mr.. Tabor illustrated by se;z-
Ing the lapels of Joe Davey and shak-
ing him. Il told her If her grandfather
had any spunk she'd sit an old fash
Toned hldin' for bahavn' that way.
And I shook the wheel again" Here
MIR. Tabor, forgetting in the wrath in
cited by the recollection that he had
not to do with an inanimate object,
swung the gasping and helpless Mr. |
Davey rapidly back and forth in his
chair. Il shook it good and hard"
What did she DO them" asked Peter
Bradbury.
Fell off on me-" replied Jonas vio-
lcntly. "On purpose"
II wisht she'd killed ye," said Mr..
Davey in choking voice as, released,
he sank back In his chair.
"On purpose! repeated Jonas. and
straw hat | hadn't had
three months! All to plcces So it
couldn't be fixed"
And what then?' pursued Brad
bury.
"She ran" replied Jonas bitterly
He paused and gulped.
nat ala he dOE Peter leaned for
ward In his chair eagerly.
The narrator OF the outrage guped
again and opened and shut his mouth
before responding.
HE said II :! didn't pay for a broken
spoke on lis wheel he'd have to size
nc"
tTo BE CONTINUED
SPRING MEnTf,r>-r,