Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-10
DIDN'T KNOW 1T WAS
LOADED.
BY Clara Marshall.

1kat she had to be called three times
Before she pushed back her sunbonnet
md said to a boy who had climber to
ne top Of the rail fence close by:
well, Charlie, what Is it now? Has
your ma got any more washing for
DeT
Lots" replied the boy. THAT is,
smother Lady at the hotel has, and
ANNA has told her about you. You
sre to go for the clothes right away,
- the lady is in big hurry to have
I'm done. She has four boys and the
Oldest of 'em is so little that / could
LEX him with one hand, so you are In
fW good job for the rest of the sum-
Rer. heard her tell mamma she
would stay here till cold weather IL the
piace suited her."
II don't see how I can manage to go
Up to the hotel before twelve O'Clock"
returned Mrs. Robbins. "Abner has
Sone to the blacksmith's to get pillow
1xed and the key of the front door is
bx- There amt much in the house
- take, but all the same l shouldn't
care to have 1t took. The colored folks
.round here are all honest enough, but
Inst as like as not that Abe Hurley will
De pokin' in before l git back"
is he a kleptomaniac?" asked
Charlie, who having spelled that word
correctly in class just before vacation
had not yet forgotten it.
~ t1I H.
Knew enough to be anything he'd be a
Baptist, as that's what his mother was
n her lifetime. I'm always good to
Abe on his mothers account, but /
wouldn't trust him in my house when
wasn't there to watch him. When
Solks what thinks they have good sense
will make of sometimes with what
doesn't belong to them, what can you
expect Of softly like Abe?"
you can go on up to the hotel, Mrs.
Robbins" exclaimed Charlie; Il watch
cut for Abe, and IL see him poking
his nose inside of your door I'll send
him about his business quicker than a
lash. Ackey, who drives the hotel
stage, says that, big as Abe is, he'll
Sun II you say Boo to him."
Charlie Russell, the son of one of the
summer boarders at the country hotel
close by. though only twelve years old,
lsoked so big when he said this that
Mrs Robbins, who depended largely on
me washing to be had from summer
boarders to make both ends meet cher
husband being overload of fishing) was
not long In deciding to take him at his
word, and so throwing down her hoe,
she went of In the direction of the
hotel while Charlie went into her cab
n, feeling as II he had taken COM
Dsnd Of a garrison. The first thing
that caught his eye was an old shot
gun that had gone through the war
with Abner Robbins and was leaning
n corner.
1T would do Abe good If I were to
map cap at him." said he. 81 see a
Box OF 'em on the shelf yonder."
He had some difficulty in cooking the
eld-fashioned weapon, but finally he
got 1t into condition for swapping a
zap. and just as he did so he had the
satisfaction Of seeing a great, awk-
ward creature with a vacant look on
his face come pushing into the front
door without the ceremony of knock
ing.
You'll have to call again." said
Charlie as he brought the gun into a
horizontal position; folks amt at
home"
The man grinned at this, but made
% reply.
Come, get move on you," said
I'm In charge of this shan
" and / can't have you here"
The grin broadened, but Abe did not
Etir step.
Get out or I'll fire" said Charlie.
-One-two-if you are not gone when
say Ave. I'll pull the trigger"
Abe stood stock still, staring into
HE muzzle of the gun pointed at him.
4 moment later there was a loud re-
port and man and boy were both on
heir backs on the floor, the latter as
pale as death and not saying a word.
Abe, on the contrary. was crying out
between his groans that he had been
killed. Although violently Jared by
he recoil Of the gun, Charlie was on
his feet In a moment and stood star
ng down anxiously at Abe.
where did 1t hit your" asked he.
But the other only groaned more loud |
y. repeating the assertion that he had |
Teen killed.
I'll run down to the blacksmith shop |
md call Mr. Robbins" said Charlie;
maybe you amt wounded so badly as
,ou think"
BY what he regarded as wonderfully
pod fortune Charlie met the neigh
'orhood doctor before he had gone
fty yards from the Robbins house.
Are you running from a bull?"
sked that gentleman.
Worse than that" gasped the boy,
nd then he told his story In as few
lords as possible
He says he is dead" remarked
hariie In conclusion. "but he is max
,g lot of noise"
When the boy, who had followed In
run the doctors galloping horse, ar
wed at the cottage he found Abe still
rithing on the floor, uttering the most
ismal groans and asserting from time
, time that he was most gone" The
Octor was leaning over him, looking