Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-09-24


TO say that there was work TO be had
in the Bronx park, where large num-
Der of laborers were required in MAX
ing some Improvements,
After dinner Burney walked thirty
yards down the river bank away from
the maddening smell OF the others
pipes tie sat down upon stone He
was thinking he would set out for the
Bronx At least he could earn tobacco
there.
Softly stepping among the clods
came Tony, he of the race of GothS
who worked in the kitchen. He grin
ned at Burney's elbow and that nm
happy man. full of race animoSlty
and holding urbanity in contempt
growled at him. What dye want ye
dago?"
Tony also contained grievance
hater and had been primed to see II
in others.
How you Ikea MIR. Corrlgan?" he
asked. You think-a him nice-a
MANI
ITO h with m said Burney May
his liver turn to water and the bones of
him crack in the cold of his heart
May dog fennel grow upon his an.
cestors' graves and the yrandsonS OF
his children be born without eyes.
May whisky turn to clahber III his
mouth and every time he SneeZes may
he blister the SoIeS of his feet. And
the smoke OF his pipr--may il make
his eyes water and the drops fall ON
the grass tina: his cows eat and poison
the butter that he spreads on his
bread"
Though Tony remained II stranger to
the beauties of TINS imagery. he gath
cred from it the conviction that ii was
sufficiently anti-CorriGan i'll its tend
ency. So, with the confidence OF IA
fellow conSpirator. he sat by Burney
upon the stone and unfolded his plot
1t was very simple in design. Every
day after dinner it was Corrigan's hab-
it to sleep for an hour in his bunk.
At such times it was the duty of the
cook and his helper. Tony. to leave
the boat so that no noise might dis
turb the autocrat. The cook always
spent this hour in walking exercise
Tony's plan was this: After Corrigan
should be asleep he (Tonyl and Bur
ney would cut the mOoring ropes that
held the boat to the shore. Tony lack.
ed the nerve to do the deed alone.
Then the awkward boat would swing
out into swift current and surely
overturn against a rock there was be-
low
Come on and do it." said Burney.
lick he gave ye as the pit of me stom-
ach does for the taste of bit of
smoke, we can't cut the ropes too
quick"
"All alright" said Tony. But bet
ter wait 'bout-a ten minute more. Give
Corrigan plenty time get good-a
sleep" He pulled from his shirt bosom
long. black, beautiful. venomous CT
gar and handed it to Burney,
You Ikea smoke while we waltz
he asked.
Burney clutched it and snapped of
laid it to his lips like Il long lost sweet
heart. When the smoke began to draw
he gave a long. deep sigh. and the
bristles of his gray red mustache curl.
ed down over the cigar like the talons
of an eagle. Slowly the red faded
from the whites of his eyes He fixed
his gaze dreamily upon the hills across
the river. The minutes came and went.
Bout time to go now" said Tony
"That-a Corrigan ne be in the reever
very quick"
Burney started out of his trance with
a grunt He turned his head and gazed
with surprised and panied severity
at his accompIice. He took the cigar
! partly from his mouth. but sucked il
back again Immediately, chewed IL
lovingly once or twice and spoke. in
virulent puffs. from the corner Of his
mouth:
What is 1t, we yaIler haytheni
Would We lay contr!vances against the
enlightened races of the earth. We in
stigator of Illegal crimes? Would ye
seek to persuade Martin Burney into
the dirty tricks of an indecent DaGo:
Would We be for murderin' your bene-
factor. the good man that gives ye food
and work? Take that, ye punkin col
ored assassin"
The torrent of Burney's indignation
carried with it bodily assault The
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