Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-10-17

AN he got hung, mamma! If yor
don't believe 1t you can ask One Eye
Beljus. l guess he knows! An hi
sold this suit to One Eye Beljus wher
he was in Jail, mamma. He sold it tt
him before he got hung, mamma"
Hush, Jane"
But Jane couldn't hush now. "An
he had that suit on when he cut the
lady's head off, mamma, an that's why
it's haunted. They cleaned it all W
excep' few little spots Of BIZ
"Janew shouted her mother, you
must not talk about such things, and
Genesis mustn't tell you stories of that
sort"
well, how could he help it if he
told me, about Willie?" Jane urged rea'
sonably.
Never mind! Did that crazy CHI
Did Willie leave the baskets in that
dreadful placer"
"Yes'm. an his watch an pin," Jane
informed ner impressively. "An' One
Eye Beljus wanted to know if Genesis
knew Willie, because One Eye Belius
wanted to know if Genesis thought
Willie could get the $500, an One Eye
Beljus wanted to know If Genesis
thought he could get anything more
out of him besides that.
HE told Genesis he hadn't told Will
lie he could have the suit, after all.
He Just told him he thought he could,
but he wouldn't say for certain till he
brought him the $500 So Willie left
all his things there. an his watch
ana
THAT will dor Mrs. Baxter's voice
was grave. II don't want to hear any
morew
Mrs. Baxter went hurriedly into Will
liam's room and made brief inspec-
ton Of his clothes closet and dressing
table; then she strobe to the window
and called loudly:
"Genesisn'
"Yes'm" came the voice from below.
"Go to that lumber yard where Mr..
William is at work and bring him here
to me at once. If he declines to come
tell HIM Her voice broke oddly.
She choked. but Jane could not decide
with what emotion. Tell him-tell
him ] ordered you to use force if nee
essary! Hurry
"Yes'm"
Jane ran to the window in time
to see Genesis departing seriously
through the back gate.
"Mamma"-
Don't talk to me now, Jane" Mrs.
Baxter said crisply 81 want you to
go down in the yard, and when Willie
comes tell him I'm waiting for him
here in his own room. And don't come
with him, Jane. Run"
"Yes, mamma" Jane was pleased
with this appointment She anxiously
desired to be the first to see how Willie
looked"
He looked Hurried and clustered and
brea thless. and there were blisters
upon the Redeemed palms of his hands.
What on earth's the matter, mother?"
he asked as he stood painting before
her. Genesis said something was
wrong, and he said you told him to
nit me if | wouldn't come"
ooh, no. she cried. Il only meant
thought perhaps you wouldn't obey
any ordinary message
well, well, it doesn't matter. but
please hurry and say what you want
TO, because got to get back and
NO" Mrs. Baxter said quietly,
you're not going back to count any
more shingles. Willie. How much have
you earned?"
He swallowed, but spoke bravely.
'"Thirty-six cents. But I've been get
ting lots faster the last two hours, and
there's a good deal of time before
o'clock. Mother
NO" she said You're going over
to that horrible place where you've left
your clothes and your watch and all
those other things in the two baskets,
and you're going to bring then home
ut once"
"Motherv'- he cried, aghast. "Who
told your
1T doesn't matter. You don't want
your father to find out, do you? Then
get those thugs back here as quickly
% You can. They'll have to be fumi'
gated after being in that den."
"They've never been out Of the bask'
ets," be protested holly, Except just
to be looked at. They're my things,
mother and had right to do what
needed to with 'em. didn't ~ His
utterance became difficult. "You and
father just can't understand, and you
won't do anything to help me-
willie, you can 60 to the party.
she said gently. "You didn't need
those frightful clothes at all al
II do" he cried. Il got to have 'em!
can't go in my day clo'es! There's a
reason you wouldn't understand why
I can't. I just can't"
EYES," she said. you can 60 to the
party"
Il can't either-not unless you give
me 1924 or unless l can get back to
the lumber yard and earn the rest be-
FORE
Nor And the warm color that had
rushed over Mrs. Baxter during James
sensa tional recital returned with q
vengeance. Her eyes flashed. III
you'd rather l sent a policeman for
those baskets I'll send one. should
prefer to do it-much-and to have that
rascal arrested. II you don't want me
to send policeman you can 60 for
them yourself, but you must start
within ten minutes because If you