The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1910-10-21

I'll give II dollar"
Mrs Latimer shook / her head IL
don't want any Of my folks to kill II
eat Miss Wallace: itsiawful bad luck.
you know. Perhaps Peter Swansons
folks will do II for you, swedcs don't
believe In luck and sucl1things"
VERY WE'LL" said Louise YEARLY
"Will you let Billy carry the basket
for me? Ephralm'slvery heavy"
81 guess there won't be any harm In
that-and he was wishing this morn
ing that he could earn n quarter" In.
sinunted Billy's slrewdt mothcr.
"I'll see that he gets quarter for
the job" smiled Louise. And then. fol.
lowed by tho curious Billyjand trailed
10y the remaining Lntiiners, they sought
Peter Swanson, the blackBmith.
~ couldn't Kill no cnt. miss" said
Peter apologetically. when) Louise had
told her story, "rhcy telLme 1t brings
bud luck Yust now | can't afford no
had times. Maybe the iEyetaiians III
the IIollcr might
Louise sought the Italian, settlement
III lHt ItbllbW. lttEb
nverred that Eplralm possessed tho
evil eye and crossed his brown fingers
shuddcrlngly. Even the rnttling crisp.
ness Of greenbncks failed TO brenk his
resolution.
Old Abraham Johnson's black face
expressed mingled greed ana alarm
when approached by Louise and her
funcrcnl train. IIe gnzcd iongingly ut
the money and then clutched the VOC
doc charm that hung about his throat
81 hate to dis'pint yO', Miss Louey,
honey. but II am p0wful bad luck to
xiii II cnt. do berry dcbbils In dat
Ephrnim. Folks any he's do recar.
niyal oh ole Eph Becmer. hisselfl I
need dc money right bad. too. miss
tank you, honey"
These were examples OF tho various
interviews that Louise held tlht morn.
ing Noon time found her ut her own
cute Juggling the henvy bnsket con
tnining the still active Ephraim. Her
sister drew forward II rocking chair
In the porch and Louise fell into It's
comfortable embrace.
"What IL In tho baskctT' askcd Amy.
"Ephrnim."
"Tcll mo about 1t do" crowed Amy.
LOUISE told her. II cant fnd II per.
son who viii make way with that eat
for love or money. and believe Mrs.
Bcempr knew ! couldn't she gave
Iiphrnlm into my hands almost too
YtIltnnlt - lao nnInI t.luIntIVnIu
didn't realize that Intelligent people
could be no silly and superstitIous,"
I'VE must dispose OF the cut our.
selves. then" snld Amy firmly. ave
nrc not supcrsiItious."
mo. we nrc not but It's horrible to
Kill anything Ike That. you know. I'll
go out this afternoon and sco II can't
ind some boy who will do It. They
| can't all DO FOOLS"
At TINT instant the bnskct containing
the doomed cnt swaycd violently on
| the grass where Louise hnd dropped
| her burden, then the cover flew up.
and with spiteful hiss Ephrnlm dnsh,
| ed out and scrambled up the black
walnut tree over their nstOnished
hcnds.
"rhnt implsh Tommy Lntimer must
have united the cords" said Louise
bitterly. III saw him Iuarreling with
Billy over the bnsket- and I gave them
| % cents too"
Amy Ind picked up II lnrge stone and
weighed II In her hand. IL believe
could hit that cnt," she said yiclousy,
"If cnn II viii stun him perhaps Kill
him" She shuddcrcd slightly. aimed
| the missile carefully at the crOuchlng
Ephrnlm. threw the stone and turned
| her back. Louise Ind closed her eyes
tightly.
They heard the stone crash through
| the branches and then there followed
II slight gr0an. After that. silence.
~ believe I killed him." moaned
Amy,
you certainly came very near It,"
said un cxaspcrated masculine voice.
and the sisters turned to view tho IN
| dignant cOuninnnnce OF Mr.. Rupert
Ames. That yorn% gentleman clutch
ed one shoulder Ia puin.
Over his head ,hrnlm cr0uched.
| splitting angrily uId sharpening his
claws on the rough branch to which
he chung
| Did strike you, Rupert" demand
ed Amy penitently. Il IVES trying To
hit the cat. you see"
| you must be very T. - him" OBJ
| Beryd Mr.. Anes, dra win, mo- Ia them
'I'm very sorry. hope you are not
badly hurt Fetch tho witch hazel.
please, Louise" Amy let her hand
rest Ia Rupert's close clasp longer than
he had dared hope. I'VE hardly eK.
pected To sec you" she added pointed
ly
II felt that you needed me" lied Mr..
Ames chccrrully. MY Inner conscious
ness told me you were In trouble Of
some sort mud required masculine M.
slstancr Whit can do for your
when Louis returned with the 10.
ton they told the story OF Ephraln
and the slain brOll "WIlI you XII
the cat. Rupert" rr} pleaded tear.
fully
| hTs hInf1 VIZ ub UtHu
couldn't" he sa.'. ;rgretfully "Y0u
see. I'm snpcrsiiIious. too. | nm." no
asserted IN the fuce " their incredu'
lous looks. II know II I killed that
cat and every one of his nine lives
were extlngushc1 why. I'D never
hnve chance Of marrying Amy after
all"
Louise smiled. and the swift color
came to Amy's cheeks. That was all
settled six months ago" she said cold.
ly "fm going to he nn independent
business woman and"
VERY good" snld Mr.. Ames crisply.
II must be running along. now. My
MOTORS down the road a piece had u
breakdown, you know, and Just
thought I'D drop In and see you Hope
| ynu yet thu haat Of EnhraItnn