The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-05-11

hole under the Kitchen boarding leather
wallet Most of the wedding portion was
the purchase money for Taylor's mine,
Uncle Billy not being sensitive soul. Amy
could not utter a word, but stared at it and
at her father.
FITS yours" he said brusquely, it's to
be yours when you git married"
~ Put it back. don't want it, she said,
stamping her foot.
Uncle Billy merely chuckIed and laid the
wallet in its niche.
She whispered of this to man who stood
in the shadow of the gourd vine outside her
window. Uncle Billy's SHORES rasped and
whistled and choked in the next room.
Listen to him! You don't do that, do
your"
"Net quite so loud. Mine is a pretty
snore. Where've you put it, Amy7"
81 made Dad leave it under the boards"
He sighed his relief. You're a foolish
girl, Amy. There, there-hush, some
body'n hear you-you know what mean.
You should have hung on to it. J"
"Do you think I'd take that dirty
money!" she asked tensely
"Sure. Why not9 It's yours, isn't it1
We've got to have some, Amy We
couldn't stir foot without some.
"But he meant when married Taylor
You know that. Taylor-huh!n
An arm stole behind her neck and her
head was drawn down. "Let me &c" she
begged, flushing warmly, but she did not
struggle, and when she Strengthened, she
patted her hair, though it was quite dark
He was there again next night after
Uncle Billy had gone to bed. The girl
seemed moody and fretful and stared at
him closely in the half-ight. After ten
minutes: "Well, what is it now?"
Everybody in towns talking about
Larry Hilton. They say he's somewhere
about here"
So heard at Riley's."
There was a long silence. The moon
came out from behind cloud and silvered
the harsh outlines of Doghole's houses He
shrank close against the wall behind thew
Joe, are your"
"What if I was?"
"Oh, you aren't! You aren't! You
couldn't be-. Joe, let me look at you. F"
"Well?" he said at last, his lips dry
She covered her eyes with her hands and
began to cry. He reached up and put his
arms around her, pressing his face against
her own. Her tears were wet on his cheek
and her hair slipped down about her Shout
ders and his.
"And you care anyway" he whispered
hoarsely.
ooh, I oughtn't. But / can't help it,
Joe-I'n always call you Joe, though"
1t was week later. Doghole lay dead
under fiery sun.
Uncle Billy Biggerstaf came rushingout of
the house, yelling that he had been robbed.
"WhatP What? What's up?" cried Riley,
rubbing his eyes and trying to appear as il
he had not been asleep.
Tom Zeigler and score Of others sur
rounded the old man in an instant. Uncle
Billy simply could not talk coherently-
he had been robbed; he had been robbed.
Five thousand dollars-in a wallet-a brown
leather wallet with an elastic band around
it-under the kitchen floor. He clamored
for horse that he might ride to get the
sheriff. Riley tried to calm him.
"Taylor'l lend you his horse, Uncle
Billy" he said. "Take it easy now. That
amt going to break you"
"Break me7 Five thousand-break me2
Why"
Taylor done went off this morning,
Riley" bystander spoke up. "He aimed
to go into the mountains, he told me"
Uncle Billy stopped in his rawlings. He
looked oddly at the man. Then he re-
peated in a low tone, Taylor, Taylor. +"
He started TO run towards his home. The
whole crowd trailed behind.
Uncle Billy dashed into the kitchen and
took another peep under the boards. Amy
opened the door of her bedroom. She was
In a loose wrapper and her eyes were heavy
with sleep.
ESQ.," cried Uncle Billy, "soI there
you are, hey? That fine young man Of
yours-yes, you kin stare-that Mr.. Tay-
lor you used to let hang round here, has
robbed me, Robbed me-do you hear2'
She seemed stupehed and could only
murmur, whats the matter? Who
robbed?"
"He done made off with that FIVE thou
sand" the old man shrieked, II trusted
him, like the doggone fool was. I told
him it'd be yours and his. Oh, damn
Don't stand there looking at me like that .
E Suddenly his own eyes almost popped
from their sockets 'Why, it's Hilton.
He slapped his right hand into the palm o.
! his left. Hes Larry Hilton That's who
r this Taylor is-and he done fooled US all =
II didn't like to say anything before
D Uncle Billy, Black Jack put in from thu
rear Of the group, II didn't like to say
4 nothing before, because YOU two was 81