The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-12-13

piles is. Dey got me stuck up wild a gun
see and I taken dis means of comuni
katen. Of der lads is gone down to set
Are to de cain field below de hous and
when yous fellers goes to turn de hoes OH
It de hole gang Is goin to rob de hous OF
de money 700 gotto pay OF wit say git q
move on We say de kid dropt dis sock in
der rode tel her merry crismus de same as
size told me- Ketch de buns down de rode
first and den sen q relefe core to get me
wHisTLEN DICK.
There was some quiet but rapid
maneuvering at Bellemeade during the
ensuing half hour, which ended In five
disguised 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 distin-
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 a goodness and en- 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 q doubtless imminent loss and
maybe a greater calamity7 He assur-
ed Whistling Dick that he might con-
slider himself charge upon the honor
of Bellemeade, that 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 a room In
the wing of the house occupied by the
servants. To this room In few min
utes was brought portable tin bath.
tub filled with water, which was
placed on q piece of oiled cloth upon
the floor. There the vagrant was left
to pass the night.
By the light Of candle he examined
the room. A bed, with the covers neat
ly turned back, revealed snowy pill
lows and sheets. There were 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
ominous sounds pierced his ear.
The force of plantation workers
I eager to complete the shortened tasb
allotted to them, were all astir. The
the earth, and the poor tattered and
forever disguised prince in search Of
his fortune trembled.
The December air was frosty, bu
the sweat broke out upon Whistlinf
Dicks face. He thrust his head on
of the window and looked down. Fit
teen feet below him, against the wal
of the house, he could make out tina
q border Of flowers grew, and by tina
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 alon'
and then dropped safely. No on
seemed to be about upon this side o
the house. He lodged low and skim
med swiftly across the yard Of the Low
fence. 1t was an easy matter to vaul