The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-20

& resi-. 4<OW, Which, ClOS0, OnCIe AD
Witnesses said en- oath at the trial thai
Abe tuck his skickin' without u word
He rolled logs on the rest u the day
an drawed his pay: but that night egi
dence showed that he waylaid the saw
mill man, beat i'm over the head with
a hickory club an left I'm unconscious
In the road
ssIt is some'n' anyway" Abner an
swered interestedly- Lets go yonder
have chew and plan this thing fur
ther," Abner continued.
One su1try evening at dusk, as Abnel
sat talking to Mary about Howard in
the front yard, Abe Fulton trudgeC
along past the gate, small bag OF
flour on his shoulder He did not look
toward them, but kept his eyes on the
dusty road. Seeing that Mary was
looking at the man, Abner remarked
casually:
That Teller looks like he is purity
hard up. He had a regular job work
in fer Craig, but that's all of now, Of
course,
..I'm sorry for his wife, Mary said
1istless1y 81 don't believe the poor
creature gets enough to eat half the
time, and as for clothes, she is jpitjfuI
sight. I've heard that she is constantly
complaining
At this instant Mrs. Trumbley called
Mary into the house, and Abner was
left alone. Going to the gate, he look
ed after the disappearing figure he had
just noted; then he glanced back into
the house. Might as well now as
later" he unused Thine is valuable,
an, after all Pole may be away of the
track. Twenty men could "a done the
thing as well as this un.p
Taking a cautious look into the
house, Abner slipped around the cor
ner and went down the path to the
stable. Opening the door of stall
containing his fayorite horse, he took
the animal by the forelock and led it
across the lot to a gate, which he
opened. Then, raising his hands
threateningly, he drove the horse
through, watching it as it galloped off
into the woods. Then going to wag-
on shed near by Abner took bride
from a row of saddles and haIters, and
with it on his arm he passed through
tire gate and started down the road,
the leather refns dragging in the dust
at his side. Half a mile farther on he
turned aside into the wood and walked
through the twilight till he saw a
CLEAN Of fire through the trees and
knew It was from the cabin occupied
by Abe Fulton and his wife. Here Alb
ner began to walk more slowly, and as
he moved toward the light he whistIed
loudly after the manner of farmers
calling their horses. Presently he
emerged from the low, scattering
bushes Immediately in front of the
cabin. Mrs. Fulton came to the door,
her hands white with some dough she
was mixing.
Lost yo' boss, Mr. Daniel % she ask
ed as she recognized him and noticed
the bride in his hand.
yes. Have you seed imp Abner
came closer He's the very devil to
slip halter when he's hitched to q
post He I'arnt the trick somehow, an
/ hain't never broke i'm of it,
s.No, hain't noticed loose boss o.
any sort the woman answered. May
be Abe has; he's just come from town.
Say, Abe'-she turned to look Into the
cabin-..have you seed' anything o. Mr..
Daniels boss 2,'
There was no immediate answer, but
crunching tread came from within,
and Abe slouched forward into the
doorway Abner remarked a certain
restless stare In the mans eyes and
farcied that he saw a hunted look of
despair in the almost brutal face.
mo, / hain't seen no hoss," Abe said.
Excuse me. smell nay bacon a-burn.
In Mrs. Fulton exclaimed suddenly.
'.Abe, give Mr. Daniel q chair. I'll bet
he's tired
Abe went into the cabin and brought
out crude, splint bottomed chair, and
when Abner had taken it Abe sat down
on wash bench near by.
Yes, think it is the indoor work
that does me up, Abe Abner went on
gIfbly. "a Teller that's lived on a
farm all his life makes poor out at
a job like my new one. I acted the
plumb fool when / put good money in
that plant. But you know, Of course,
that I was countin' on Howard Tins
ley to run it fer me; but, la me, consid-
erin the plight the boys got hisse'f in,
that's all off, an I've got the bag to
hold, green as / am"
The man tapped the toe of his ragged
shoe with the battling stick He swal-
lowed, glanced furtively at Abner and
cleared his throat. Presently, with a
wavering glance, he Jerked out:
Hell come ont all right
"Humph! I say" Abner shifted,
what makes you think that, Abe7''
.sOh, because fellers like him always
come clear. Towards got influential
kin, an he stands at the top. The
courts are a Sort o. joke an so is the
general run o. juries. A Teller jest has
to have little pull in politics, a few
dollars behind i'm an wear good clothes
to git out o. anything"
II wish you was right; really do
Abner answered. You amt as old as
I am by long sight, Abe" Abner's
tone had never been so confidential
and friendly. you amt seed as much
o. lawin'. Billy Barnett, as you may
know, is as keen practitioner as the
state has got. I've retained him, an
he's workin with might an main on
the case. but him nor me nor all the
law in the world can't do a thing as
long as Howard holds out as he is