The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-03-20

e1. 1Ary MtAI Slowly ana made
tTeggent pauses. Occasionally Tom
had visitors whom he regarded WITH
suspicion. Several times lie lad bro
ken camp in the G.ild.e of the night
and hurried away with all possible
speed.
It was late in December when they
entered the Wilderness that lies be-
tween KisSimmea and Charlotte Har.
Dor. Ii was a region new TO Tom.
and as each day disclosed fresh beau.
ties he grew more and more entht;~
siastic in it's praises
One Gay they were surprised by tte
visit Of q horScman. who said he came
from right smart back yGndcr" He
proved talkatiye ard in answer to
Toms inquiry said that very little Of
the land had been entered and that
one could have his pick Of honlesteads
After he left Mrs. Norton locked anx-
iously at her husband
Hits be mighty nice place to set
tie" she at last yentured.
Purity fair" he admitted. looking
around Approximately. but low
amt jest ready for that yit must
look r0un' mo-. There's said to be
main good land down Charlotte
Harbor way Then, seeing the hope
less look creep back to her eyes, he
added, not unkfndly: "Ye mustn't be
frettin', Nance l fgger on maxim
jest a little mo-, an then Wen settle
down for sure an certing We can
come back here any time if there's no
better land to be foun'. l low on
stoppin' to Barlow, an then Wen
push on straight for the Harbor."
Another day was spent in hunting,
and then they resumed their journey,
Late one afternoon they reached the
outskirts of Barlow and. as usual,
made camp in the woods half a mile
or SO from town While jeff and his
mother prepared supper Tom went to
look r0un'" AS soon as breakfast
was over the next morning he again
departed Soon after Mrs Norton
went to buy groceries. Jeff remained
to gather 'lirewood AS he was re-
turning to camp with an armful Of
pine knots he saw two large rattle
snakes almost in his path. At first
he thought it strange that they had
given no warning hut little inveSti-
cation showed that both were dead.
probably Killed by some sportsman the
day before.
After he had gathered enough fire.
wood he went to the cart to get
palmetto cane he had been at work
upon at odd moments There was no
inducement to hunt near the town.
and he had decided to spend the day
in camp working on his cane. While
he was still searching for it he was
accosted by rough voice:
"Howdy. thar, sonny, Come out an
show yourself. Whars the boss?"
Looking around, he saw several men
watching him from the back end of
the cart Tie did not like their looks
and answered briefly:
"Pap's not here. He's in town"
WAL, hit don't matter You'll do
jest as WE'LL and the speaker came
round to the forward end of the cart
followed by his companions.
1--WE uns seen your paw in town an
lowed he'd be here fore this. We're
arter suthin to drink an reckon you
can sarve U.s." and as he spoke he took
handful Of smali coins from his peck
eft and began to jingle them.
There's the water BUCKET" said JEFF
quietly. You can hep yaurse'fs.'
The man laughed derisiyely That's
Eall right sonny; but ya needn't be
feared of we uns We amt takers.
Jest hard out the plzen, an Wen be
trottin' back Here's yo' money"
There's no drink here for you 'cep'n
what's in the bucket You can take
hit or leave hit" and JEFF resumed his
search for the missing cane.
The men muttered angrily among
themselves.
'sSee here. sonny" said one Of them
menacingly, I'VE amt come for fun,
We low there's whisky in that box ur-
der the scat, an we are p'intedly for
tastin' hit Fact is, Bill here was in
Kissimmee a spell back an had peep
in that box, an he lows yo' paw has
fine layout. So ye mout as well be
spreadin' hit for we uns"
Jeff made no answer
'Bust the box" suggested one of the
men.
mo, no." objected another. 1--WE
amt got 'thority for that. If we all
'spects to make money outen this thing
we must keep in the law. | reckon
hit'n be best" Then followed a whis-
pered conversation in which JET
caught the words sheriff" thority, =
es'arch warrant" ''back fore he
knows hit"
Then head was thrust into the
back of the cart. Say. bub, s'posnn
We give we uns peep in that box2''
Cant do hit. Pap has the ke5.
Sides, he lowed bit was for rattlees
an sich an if l was too piatedly
Gurus he'd wrap hickory roun' me.
You uns mout's well be gittin'."
s'Waal. then. far'well, sonny. Meh-
be yen be more hcspiterble when We