Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-09-17

! falf block farther on the negro
| scurried up the steps of brown stone
! mansion and. assuring himself that
! Johnson was still ut his heels, opened
| the door and entered
The hall light was dimly burning.
and johnson caught an impression Of
sumptuous furniture.
| The negro never tarried, but mount
| ed to the second floor, traversed a cor
ridOr to the door of a rear room, DauS-
ed until Johnson had caught up with
him, then knocked and threw the door
wide open.
The room was a-shimmer with light.
If Johnsons eyes were daZZled by
the sudden brilliancy, his brain was
no lessGonfused by what he saw. The
most prominent feature of the cham
Der was large, white bed, and on
TINS there lay one of the Stranges, fg-
ufeS he had ever looked upon, not ~.
excepting that of the dwarf who na4,
led him there.
He saw Il mass of tangled white hair
knotted about by a red silk handler
chief, and Il drift of white beard
Inc rest Of the face showed brown.
Ike leather, and was set with Il pair
OF piercing blue eyes.
Come here, where / can look at
you, said the man on the bed. Then:
We'll, you're Johnson, all right. And
bid him farewell at Pawaianne.
Willie, your father would IA been
here If he was Twin" the old mar
continued. There are debts that no
man fOrgetS I've come for to seek
you on his account. I've got here none
too soon"
u IN sorry you're sick" said johnson.
Your father died when you was lit
tle.' the patriarch went on; "other-
wise you'd know all about me. I'm
Robert III. King, and king I've been.
too, these fifty years. But, oh, they're
an ungratefu lot, They're an TN
grateful lot,
Il ruled 'em fair, and | ruled EN-
square. lost my right hand. though
when your father went. He'd "a put
down this revolution. Do you hear?
They started Il revolutionn'
Johnson said that he heard.
There's Il Malay out there named
Possa Sing. He's ut the head of this
here revolution. He started it because
l wouldn't let him have my gal But
| had other plans l was thinkin' of
Red Bill JOhnson-a full measure of a
man he WaS-and how he used to boast
about that little boy of his'n back in
New York
1T was the last thing that he said
when bid him farewell at Pawalanne
BE father to little Willie And,
by Christopher. I'll do it yet. in spite
of that black Malay Possa Sing.
He got too strong for me-Pm not
the man | used to be-but he amt too
strong for Red Bill JohnSons boy |
found your address in Il New York di-
rectory. | got one from Batavia and
$40 in gold it cost ne too. And rent
ed this house for to die in.
II could trust the agents for that, but
for the rest | couldn't trust them |
had to see you. I've piled up pearls
and power for you, Willie. And that
amt all" He paused
minnie" he painted hoarsely.
Johnson turned and half rose impul-
sively from his chair The door had
opened. Standing there, graceful, slim,
shrinking, was the girl of the unspoken
message.
Did my father callf' she asked
sweetly, with lisping accent.
AYE, stand there, Minnie DO you
blame me for refusing to give her to Il
Malay?
Half breed. but I've raised her like
white mans gal. Them people'd die
for her. | crowned her queen before
we left. That1l settle PoSSa Sing. He
was crazy for her, more than the rest.
but him that gets her gets all. And
she's white mans gal" The old man
paused. When he spoke again his
great whisper was strangely smaller.
$50 | brought her with me-" he said
for Red BIZ Jomsou's boy. There's
schooner at Macassar. Sail SOU by
west for pantar strait
Those were the last words that Rob
ert King, or King Robert. ever spoke
When Johnson emerged sufficiently
ont of his confusion TO focus his eyes
on the patriarch he noticed that the
latter was staring strangely in the di
rection of the door.
Inyoluntarily Johnson wheeled anG
saw standing there dark youth
whose face was stamped with an eX-
preston of fierce and joyful ecstasy.
The girl had also turned and there
sprung to her lips sob that was trans
formed into n name. 1t was "PcsSa
Sing"
In his extremity johnson turned to
the girl
"What did he mean?" he whispered
Il am 10 be your bride" she ialter-
ed. He made me promise. | started
to see You this evenng-to ask you not
to come" She was shaken in Il sudden
burst of weeping, and her accent got
the better of her but. all saire, even
now, not yet. you have promised him