Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-07-14

bill with the upper right hand corner
missing. torn through the middle. and
patched with strip Of blue tissue pa.
per. It was my dollar bill again. 1t
could have been no other.
I went up to my room. The drizzle
and the monotony Of dreary. event
less southern town had made me tired
and listless.
King Cetewayo was at his post the
next day and ratified my bones over
the stones out to S61. he was to wait
and rattle me back again when was
ready.
Azalea Adair looked paler and clean
er and Trailer than she had looked on
the day before. After she had signed
the contract at 8 cents per word she
grew still paler and began to slip
out Of her chair. Without much trou-
BILE l managed to get her up on the
horsehair sofa and then
ran out to the sidewalk and yelled to
the coffee colored pirate to bring
doctor. With wisdom that ] had
not suspected In him he abandoned his
team and struck OF up the street afoot.
realizing the value Of speed. In ten
minutes he returned with q grave.
gray haired and capable man Of medi-
cine. In few words (worth much less
than 8 cents each) explained to him
my presence In the hollow house Of
mystery. he bowed with stately un-
and turned to the old ne
gro.
"Uncle Caesar" he said calmly, run
up - my house and ask Miss Lucy to
give you cream pitcher full OF fresh
milk and half tumbler OF port wine.
And hurry back. Don't drive-run.
want you to get back some time this
week"
The doctor looked me over with
great politeness and as much careful
until be had decided that
might do.
1T is only n cnse Of insufficient nu-
triton" he said-''in other words. the
result of poverty. pride and starvation.
Mrs. Caswell has many devoted friends
who would be glad to aid her. but she
will accept nothing except from that
old negro, Uncle Caesar, who was once
owned by her family"
"Mrs. Caswell" said l In surprise.
And then looked at the contract and
saw that she had signed 1t "Azalea
Adair Caswell."
II thought she was Miss Adair." !
said.
married to a drunken, worthless
loafer, SIR" said the doctor. ut Is said
that he robs her even Of the small
sums that her old servant contributes
toward her support"
Whes the milk and wine had been
brought the doctor soon revived Azalea
Adair. She sat up and talked OF the
beauty of the autumn leaves that were
then in season and their height of col
or. She referred lightly to her fainting
seizure as the outcome Of an old palpl-
tation of the heart. Impy famed her
as she lay on the sofa. The doctor
was due elsewhere, and i followed
him to the door. told him that it
was within my power and intentions
to make reasonable advance OF
money to Azalea Adair on future con-
tributions to the magazine, and he
seemed pleased.
"By the way" he said, "perhaps you
would like to know that you have had
royalty for u coachman. Old Caesars
grandfather was king in kongo.
Caesar himself has royal ways. as you
may have observed"
As the doctor was moving on heard
Uncle Caesars voice inside, did he
git bofe Of dem 81 from you. Mis- Ia
Leap
"Yes, Caesar" heard Azalea Adair
answer weakly. And then l went in
and concluded business negotiations
with our contributor. assumed the
responsibility Of advancing $50. put
ting It rs necessary formality III
binding our bargain. And then Uncle
Caesar drove NE back to the hotel.
Here ends ah Of the story as far rs
I can testify as witness. The rest
must be only bare statements OF facts
At about @ o'clock went out for a
stroll. Uncle Caesar was ut his cor
ner. He threw open the door OF his
carriage, fourished his duster and be
gan his depressing formula: "Step right
in. sub. Fifty cents to anywhere In
the city. Hacks putfickly clean. sub
JUS got back from funeral
And then he recognized me. thini
his eyeslght was getting bad. His Goa
had taken on few more faded shades
Of color, the twine strings were NOR
frayed and ragged. the last remaining
button-the button Of yellow horn-wn
gone. A motley descendant OF king
was Uncle Caesar!
About two hours later l saw an ex
cited crowd besieglng the front or
drug store. In desert where nothing
happens this was mamma. 80 l edge'
my way inside. On an extemporize'
couch OF empty boxes and chairs wa
stretched the mortal corpOreality o
Major Wentworth Caswell. A docto
was testing him for the immortal In
gredient His decision was that 1t wa
conspicuous by its absence.
The erstwhile major had been foun'
dead on q dark street and brought D.
curious and ennuied citizens to tn
drug store. The late human being hn
been engaged in terrific batue-the DC
tails showed that. LOafer and repro
bate though he had been, he had beel
also a warrior. But he had lost. Ill
hands were yet clinched so tightly tina
his fingers would not be opened. In
gentle citizens who had known hir
stood about and searched their vocat
ularies to find some good words. II !
were possible. to speak of him. On
kind looking man said after muc
thought. when Gas was about f0'tee
he was one of the best spoilers
school"
While l stood there the fingers q
the right hand of 1.-THE man that was.
which hung down the side Of whit
pine box, relaxed and dropped some
thing at my feet. I covered It VIII
one foot quietly and little later O