St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-22

tirst and den sen q relefe core to get me
out Of soke youres truly.
WHisrLEN DICK.
There was some quiet but rapid
,aneuvering at Bellemeade during the
nsuing half hour, which ended in five
disgusted and sullen tramps being cap.
tured and locked securely In an out
house pending the coming of the morn
ing and retribution. For another re.
suit the visiting young gentlemen had
secured the unqualified worship of the
visiting young ladies by their dlstin-
guished and heroic conduct. For still
another, behold Whistling Dick, the
hero. seated at the planters table
feasting.
The planter vowed that the wander
er should wander no more, that his
was q goodness and an honesty that
should be rewarded and that a debt
Of gratitude had been made that must
be paid, for had he not saved them
from a doubtless imminent loss and
maybe q great calaWity7 He assured
Whistling Dick that he might con-
slider himself charge upon the honor
Of Bellemeade. that a position suited
to his powers would be found for him
at once.
But now, they said. he must be
weary, and the immediate thing to
consider was rest and sleep. So the
mistress spoke to servant, and Whis-
Ting Dick was conducted to room in
the wing Of the house occupied by the
servants. To this room In a few min
utes was brought q portable tin bath
tub filed with water, which was
placed on a piece Of oiled cloth upon
the floor. There the vagrant was left
to pass the night.
BY the light Of a candle he examined
the room. A bed, with the covers neat
~ turned back, revealed snowy pill
lows and sheets. There We're towels
on rack and soap In white dish.
Whistling Dick set his candle ON a
chair and placed his hat carefully un-
der the table. After satisfying what
we must suppose to have been his curl
osity by a sober scrutiny, he removed
his coat, folded 1t and laid it upon the
floor near the wall. as far as possible
from the unused bathtub. Taking his
coat for a pillow, he stretched himself
luxuriously upon the carpet.
When on Christmas morning the first
streaks Of dawn broke above the
marshes Whistling Dick awoke and
reached instinctively for his hat. Then
he remembered that the skirts Of For.
tune had swept him into their folds on
the night previous, and he went to the
window and raised it to let the fresh
breath of the morning cool his brow.
As he stood there certain dread and
omlnous sounds pierced his ear.
The force of plantation workers,
eager to complete the shortened task
allotted to them were all astir. The
mighty din of the ogre Labor shook
the earth. and the poor tattered and
forever disguised prince in search OF
his fortune trembled.
The December air was frosty, but
Tue sweat USOAe Jul upOu WAStAu8
Dicks face. He thrust his head out
Of the window and looked down. Fiji
teen feet below him, against the wall
Of the house. he could make out that
a border Of flowers grew, and by that
token he overhung bed Of soft earth.
Softly as a burglar goes, he clam-
bered out upon the sill, lowered HIM
self until he hung by his hands alone
and then dropped safely. No one
seemed to be about upon this side Of
the house. He lodged low and skim
med swiftly across the yard Of the low
fence. It was an easy matter to vault