Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-31
By Elmer Rigdon

The vibrant tones Of the church bell rang out
and the face OF the tenderfoot grew solemn.
The sound Of that bell always makes ne
homesck." he said presently,
Them air bells reminds me some vivid OF
Banty Duff" remarked Shorty Hart on his part.
Il was thinkin' OF that unpreposseysin' beauty
when you spoke. Along about lass grass that
comes to our enlightened community young
woman answeTin' to the eognomen Of Eleanor
Grey. don't surmise none that they ever
turns out any tintypes that compares with the
peerless beauty OF this little lady. She engages
to work in the Surprise restaurant. but she eel
lides with misfortune the minute she strikes
town. You see, tsn1erfoot when she gets off
the stage she leaves her pocketbook containing
500 on the seat. But when she goes back 20
look for it Is minutes later, the money is nissn'
Just the same as 1t would be in any metropoli-
tan village.
THE bad feature Is that the girl had saved
this money TO pay off a debt on her mothers
home back east, and. Of course. she felt simply
awful. 1t seems as if the old lady would lose
her domicile. Miss Grey worries herself almost
sick. We boys offers TO take up collection to
raise the amount Of the money lost. But Miss
Grey. never havin' seen us before, has her ldees
about propriety. and refuses point blank to &C
cept a donation. although she thanks Us with
81 reckon several days passes and then Banty
Duff goes pesterfn over to the restaurant and
hangs around undecided for spell. Something
is shorely knlwin' at the vitals OF the aforesaid
Banty. who finally calls Miss Grey out o. the
kitchen whar she Is eomposin some napjacks.
and after lookin on the ground as II ashamed OF
i
I'm the mcahest in the state. and why
escapes lynchin' 50 long is mystery
- what do meant? inquired the young
LAZY. pretty much concerned.
Il means IL was me that stole your pocket
book and I'm mighty sorry for II. hain't slept
since committed the heinous crime, and I want
70 return your money.
with that he hands a roll OF hills 20 the
girl and IS 20 eternally ashamed Of himself that
he hasn't the courage 10 look her IN the face.
He digs his heel In the gr.Iund as IL waitin' for
her to call him appropriate names; but, as she
never speaks he walks away.
cor course. everybody shuns Banty after that
and the sentiment IL so strong that even Bios
som Rock wouldn't drink with him. and when
you know Blossom you'll realize what this
means.
Miss Grey looks scornfully every tima she
sees Banty, who Is the loneliest mkn in town
Everything goes along in a sort Of mcnotonous
way until Caliope Murphy falls sick and. beln'
the furst time he was ever i'll, he thinks he's
going TO die. His conscience prompts him 10
make certain confessions before be gfadooaees a.
a corpse, but the most interestin statement he
made was the one admittin that he wan the
miscreant who stole Miss Grey's money.
s'This cleared Banty and restores him 70 the
loyin' reward Of the populace. He bad simply
lied to the girl so she would take the money
and nav off her mothers mortgage.
Gas I was goin' to say In the first place"
remarked shorty. "that church bell IL tcfn 10
let the multitood know that the nuptiais Of Ban
ty Duff and Miss Grey air about to be per
noH