The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-24
Icont.nusA1

some folks that was in a position t.
know said that the young Teller dft
give Susy some concoction or othe
that wasn't good fer her an may hayj
hurried the pore gal to 'er grave. ~
don't know. I know though, that In
gofni to let whisky alone hereafter, Mr.
Daniel 1t won't do when it plumb up
sets a man like 1 was that night
didn't have any sense at all For in
stance, you know, couldn't recall ex
actly when it was that last SEED
i Craig fore he was shot. I made two
different statements, one on the heels
o. t'other. said once that was al
the new wire fence at Craig's an the1
at my pigpen at home, but now thai
I'm plumb sober an got all my senses
I remember that it was at my pigper
that last seed i'm
81 see, see,'' Abner said gently
eAn' I reckon it was to straighten out
all this that you was inquirin' about
me at the b1acksrnith's shop, Abe?''
.f9es. L thought I'd git it straight eli
run across You am had a talks
IAN, that's what you was 1ookin' fer
me tonight fer?" Abner led him on gen
tIy. X
Yes Abe nodded. ST wanted you
to havesa plumb straight tale II didn't
see no use o. 1ettin' you believe what
wasn't so.''
Abner made no reply. G1ancing a
few yards ahead, he saw his wagon
under spreading beech at the road
side, and for some reason which he
failed to make known he moved to-
ward it. Itwas as if he had forgotten
the presence of his companion. With
a slow look of uneasy wonder Fulton
followed. T.
Eyes, lots an los o. things pint to
Howard, y Abe went on, almost in a
tone of appeal 81 can't blame i'm,
though, Mr.. Daniel, fer Craig cussed
inn to- his face several times, an How
ard always was high strung an easy
to git mad
They reached the wagon, and Abner
put his hand on the detachable spring
seat Cit round t'other side, Abe, an
hep me down with it. Pm. goin' to
have Teller haul some stove wood
from this mountain tomorrow, an 1
don't want i'm to take this seat along.
It fills up too much, considerin' that
he's to be paid by the load
Abe obeyed. He went around to the
other side, and he and Abner lifted the
seat over the wagon pole and put it
against the trunk of the beech. Lets
L
ed, Abner said, with a little yawn.
sinking upon the seat and crossing his
slim legs. 'sSet down-set down, Abe. ;,
Like an automaton Fulton compiled,
staring at the ground, Abner saw his
knees trembling under their ragged
coverings. The sight of the cowed des-
perake creature touched his heart, and
D tone of real sympathy, that was not
without effect on its object, filled his 4
Eoaee when he next spoke.
This is a sad, sad old world, Abe
he began. Eve been in it a long time,
am hain't seed much else but trouble
ON every hand. I wish 1 could be
good man, but can't always manage
it. = I'll feel better tonight, though. eff
make clean breast to you about
some'n' / done You may think it is
small matter, but it amt to me. I
actually lied to you t'other night ]
intimated I thought Howard was guilty.
In tyin' TO do a little good-in tryin'
to find some way to help that pore
stricken boy an his. heartbroken nam
my. drapped into my old tricky way
q talkin' that acquired when 1 was
younger an traded a lot with keen fell
1ers that had no conscience an killed
what little had, The truth is, Abe,
That was so anxious to find out eff
yen could throw. any light on the mat
her tother night that / LED out by
accusfn' Howard myself I saw you
was friendly to i'm. an 1 knowed that
'u'd set you to talkin', an it did-you
know it did"
Fulton laid his sp1aying hands on his
knees to steady them, but he kept his
eyes averted. 81 didn't know you was
foolin' me then, Mr.. Daniel; but I did
after I thought it over he said. hus-
k1Iy. AThen I seed yore hand, am got
ready fer you Ell YOU want the truth
You may have 1t hot from my box, Mr..
Daniel. I seed what you thought, butt
you hafn't got a smidgen o. proof-not
a snfdgen agin me. An eff 1 am tryin'
to defend myself now it is because I've
got to. I know what you think, an
that's enough fer me. 1 know you are
one o. the keenest men in the country,
but I amt goin' to let you bully me.
Eff You had any proof you would
throw the whole blame on me an clear
Zore man, but you hain't got no proof
the proof all lies some'r's else"
3'Xou are right, I hain't got no proof.
Abe" Daniel returned sadly.
DanfeI paused a momenz
tWeiI, Abe" he continued, tsI'm here
to say that / am convinced that folks
can't keep on dom wrong, even efethey
try. The very laws o. the universe are
agin it. Every day you pick up paper
an read how some Teller has toted
crime on his soul fer years an years
an finally come forward of his own
free viii an dumped it off in open con-
fession. Abe, yore ma is dead-passed
on-hain't she?v
died when I was boy"
She was a good woman, I'll be
bound, Abe. Wasn't she?''
Yes
do you know whar think she is.