The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1910-04-07

with stars sand things OH he breast.
VIVA all gwine to do"
For heavens sake. don't fry to stop
him" said the mistress. If you do
he'll kill you"
oh no. I'm not gwine to stop him.
As soon as ! sor him | run like de
debbiI was after me Ebery time he
shoot. down comes d thousand quail.
Never mind the quail. | don't care
how many he kills il he doesn't kill
any one else before we can get rid OF
him
AT this jhncture the housekeeper en-
tered the room and asked what was
the matter When informed Of the
factS she smiled and said:
Il saw your luuatic go by my win
dow. He's Tom Thursby. that Virginia
scapegrace.'
And sane2" asked Miss Woodbridge.
Perfectly"
Then why appear here in such cos
tune and ask permission to hnnt:''
Il don't know There was a mas
querade ball in the city last night. aud
not an hour ago | saw some Of the
masqueraders rolling along in their
carria ges Oh their way home. Perhaps
Mr.. Thursby was one Of them and
took a fancy to do some shooting"
But why in such costune:"
NO one knows what Tom Thursby
will do. Hes singular But l have
heard he is very bright. He'll prob
ably break his neck some day riding
across country He's terrible man
on horseback"
THAT would be u pity" said Miss
Woodbridge OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES so
handsome"
Whether the lady meant that it did
not matter il homely men broke their
necks is not OF Importance to this
story. The order to send to the asylum
was countermanded, and Mr.. Thdrsby
was permitted to bang away till mid
day, when he came to the house with
bagful Of quail and asked to see
4 ne mistress She met him. vainly en-
deavorinS to suppress a smile.
81 have only killed these BIRDS" he
said, "for the pleasure of the hunt. l
leave them for their rightful owner"
You are MI Thursby. I believe,
from Virginia"
81 am. and at youy service" A low
bow. .-.-
THAT you may not think we Tennes-
seeans less hospitable than the people
of the Old Dominion I will ask you to
remain for q dinner on the birds you
have shot"
THAT will certainly be an honor as
well as a pleasure Another bow.
Mss Woodbridge entertained Mr..
Thursby till the quails were cooked
and the repast was announced. Then
she took his arm, and they went into
the dining room. Never smile cross
ed Mr. Thursby's face. His hostess
said nothing about having mistaken
him for a lunatic. and he made no
reference to his fantastic dress.
The servants on the plantation either
had not heard the explanation as to
| the guests habiliments. or, II they
had ii made little Impression on them.
The opinion among them gained ground
that he was ha'nt, though many OF
them declared that he was lunatic.
The drawer Of the colored children
fatrened. their noses against the din
, ing room window panes to observe the
specter Aunt Eunice. who had been
Virginia Woodbridge's nanny" was
very much disturbed.
VIVA TO- 20 nigSers let yo' mist'es
alone wild dat lunaticker fo':" she
asked the men. "Yo' gwine let him
shoot herr" -
At this white headed Uncle Peter
went of and returned with his gun
and said he was "gwine TO kiver de
ha'nt'' Miss Woodbridge. while dis
secung quail discovered him stand
ing in the doorway leveling q shotgun
at her guest.
what are you going to do? Don't
shootp' =
Don 20 bodder. Missy Ginnie.
got de drop on him"
"Oh, that's nothing" said Thursby.
+. I've seen him for some time. It
/ hasn't spoiled my appetite"
And he helped himself to another
quail
/ Uncle Peter was finally persuaded to
! 60 away with his gun, and the meal
proceeded. Then when it was finished
| Miss Woodbridge and her singular
: guest spent some time together in the
drawing room, after which ths guest
departed. g:
; Miss Woodbridge was so we'll pleas
ed with Mr.. Thursby that she, deeply
regretted he was so freaky. But when
! the next day she received from him
! several dozen pairs Of gloves. with 3
letter stating that her leniency with
him had enabled BIN to win bet that
, he would shoot with her permission on
! her plantation. she did not consider
{, him so freaky after all. Indeed. she
considered him very clever.
After this Mr.. Thursby continued bis
| mad pranks at horsemanship and 9TH
er feats. devoted himself TO Miss
Woodbridge and practiced law. His
associates were divided as to whether
| he were really crack braineds OF very
clever till he won a. important suit
by al e>-pedient similar 70 the one by
which b.. Gad Wo! I'arr:i sion IN shoot
on the Woodbridge premises, From
that time forward all agreed that II
be were mad there was a lot OF meth
"a IN his madness.
This impression continued to grow
I'LL It was concluded by the people Of
Mr.. Thursby's section that they had
better send him to represent, them in
Washington. and he was elected to
congress: He took Miss Woodbridge
with him.
one CONDUCTOR WHO WAS CURED