The Detroit times., 1913-02-12

| nope, custer, tndt your MA "oh
be scared it's getting mighty late.
said the senior Shrimplin. and he
shook his head as II In pity OF hui
man weakness which his mind
grasped. though he could not share
In il. Seems TO be that people give
way more and more TO their fear than
they used to- or maybe II Is that
ask too much. being naturally nervy
, myself and not having no nerves, AZ
may say
Half an hour later. OF in the dis
lance, the lights OF Mount Hope be-
came visible 10 Custer and his father
I'D give good deal for glass OF
suds and cracker right now sald
Mr.. Shrimplin. speaking after a long
silence. He tilted his head and took
a comprehensive survey OF the heav-
ems. Well. we're going 10 have a
fine day for the hanging" he OBJ
served, with the manner OF a con-
noisseur.
Why won't they let no one see
it," demanded Custer
Its to be strictly private. don't
know but what that's best; it's some
different though from the hangings
I'm used to-" And Mr.. Shrimplin
shook his head obviously as II he
wished Custer 10 understand that at
ter all perhaps he was not so sure 1t
was for the best
How were they different." in
CURED Custer. sensible that his par
ent was falling into a reminiscent
n mood
Well. they were more gay for one
thing folks drove In from miles
about and brought their lunches and
et fried chicken. Sometimes there
! was hoss racing in the morning, and
maybe shooting scrape or twot fact
Is, We usually knowed who was TO be
| the next 10 stretch hemp before the
! day was overt gave YOU something
| 10 look forward to- But pshawi
/ What can you expect here. Mount
| Hope amt educated up TO the sort or
thing I'm used to, A Teller gets his
face punched down at Mkt Lonigan's
or out at the Dutchman's by the
/ tracks, and the whole town talks
or II. but no one ever draws a gun
the Teller that gets his face punched
snits out his teeth and goes on about
his business, and that's the end or
| II except for the talk: but where I've
been there'd be murder in about the
| time IL takes to shift a quid."
And Mr.. Shrimplin shifted his own
Guid TO illustrate the uncertainty OF
human life in those highly favored
regions.
| Don't you suppose they'd let you
into the jail yard tomorrow IL you
asked said Custer. to whom the
hanging on the morrow was a matter
OF vital and very present interest.
Wen. son, | amt asked" retoined
the little lsmplighter IN a rather
startled tone.
Wen, don't you think they'd ought
to, seeing that you was one OF the
4 witnesses, and found old Mr.. Mcbride
before anybody else did," persisted
the boy.
Il won't say but what you might
think they'd want me present: but
Conklin amt even suggested II. and IN
he don't think OF IL can't say as I'll
have any hard feelings" concluded
Mr.. Shrimplin magnanimously.
They were about TO enter Mount
Hope now; to their right they could
distinguish the brick slaughter-house
which stood on the river bank. and
which served conveniently TO mark
the towns corporate limits on the
east, The little lamplighter spoke
persuasively- to- Bill. and the lateness
OF the hour together with the near
ness TO his own stable. conspired to
make that sagacious beast shuttle for.
ward over the stony road at a very
\ respectable rate OF speed. They were
fairly abreast OF the slaughterhouse
when Custer suddenly placed his
hand on his fathers arm
''Hark!" said the boy
Mr.. Shrimplin drew rein.
Well what is it. CUSTER" he
asked. with all that bland indulgence
OF manner which was habitual to him
in his intercourse with his son
/ Didn't you hear II sounded like a
cryl" said Custer, in an excited whis-
/ per.
| And instantly a SILVER tyaversed
| the region OF Mr.. Shrimplins spine
'T guess you was mistaken, SOM"
he answered rather nervously.
mo, don't you hear it--from down
by the crick bank7" cried the boy In
the same excited whisper. His father
was conscious OF the wish that he
would select a more normal tone.
There" cried Custer.
AS he spoke, a cry, faint and waver-
ing, reached Mr.. Shrimplln's ears.
II do seem to hear something he
admitted.
What do you suppose It is?" asked
the boy. peering of into the gloom.
II don't know. Custer, and not wish
ing TO be short with you, ! don't care
damn" rejoined Mr.. Shrimplin. en-
deavoring 10 meet the situation with
a N air ~ nlaaaant rafllery
He gathered up his lines as he
spoke.
why, what are you thinking OFF,
demanded Custer.
II was thinking OF your ma, Custer
faltered Mr. ShrimpliD weakly. I'VE
been gone longer than We said, IL
must be after IL o'clock"
There" cried Custer again, as
feeble call for help fioated up to them.
IT'S from down on the crick bank
back OF the slaughter-house!"
Mr.. Shrimplin was knowing a terri
BILE moment OF doubt. especially terri
BILE because the doubt was OF himself.
He was aware that Custer would ex-
pect much OF him In the present crisis,
and he was equally certain that he
would not rise to the occasion. II
somebody would only come that way,
And he listened desperately for the
sound OF wheels on the road, but all
he heard was that oft-repeated call for
help that came wailing from the black
shadows beyond the slaughter-house
Suddenly Custer answered thu call