Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-01-18

port split the air Of the stable, and
there was an orifice of remarkable di.
ameter in the alley door. With these
phenomena. three yells. expressing ex.
citement of different kinds. were al
most sfmultaneOus-two from within
the stable and the third from point
In the alley about eleven inches lower
than the Orifice just constructed in
the planking Of the door. This third
point. roughly speaking. was the open
mouth of gayly dressed young color
ed man whose attention. as he strolled.
had been thus violently distracted from
some mental computations he was
making In Numbers. including. particu-
larry, those symbols of ecstasy or woe.
rs the case might be. seven and eleven.
His eye at once perceived the Orifice
on line enervatingly little above the
top of his head; and. although he had
not supposed himself so well known in
this neighborhOOd, he was aware that
he did. here and there. possess ac-
quaintances Of whom some such I'M
complimentary action might be expect
ed as natural and characteristic. His
immediate procedure was to PROSTATE
himself fiat upon the ground, against
the stable doors.
In so doing. his shoulders came
brusQuely In contact with one of them.
which happened to be unfastened. and
1t swung open. revealing to his gaze
two stark-white white boys, one Of
them holding an enormous pistol and
both staring ut him in stupor Of ulti-
mate horror. For. to the CLASSY eyes
Of PenrOd and Sam. the stratagem Of
the young cOlOred man, thus dropping
to earth, disclosed, with awful certain
ty, slaughtered body.
This dreadful thing raised itself up
on Its elbows and looked Mt them, and
there followed a mOtiOnless moment
a tableau of brief duration, for both
boys turned and would have fed.
shrieking. but the body spoke:
ATS a nice business !" II said re-
mice business! Tryin'
blow a mans head or"
PenrOd was unable to speak, but
Sam managed to summon the tremu-
lOus semblance Of a voice.
"Where-where did 1t hit your" he
gasped.
"Nemmine anything bout where II
hit me-" the young cOlOred man return
ed. busting mis- breast ana knees rs he
rOGQ SCI 70 h. 1xl, ~
white boys you think you is-man
can't walk long street 'thOut you blow.
In his head OFF," He entered the sta
Bile and. with an indignation surely
Justified. took the pistol from the limp,
cold hand Of PenrOd. "Whose gun you
playin' with? Where you git at gum"
Its ours" quavered Sam. ut be-
Ongs to u.s."
Then you pa ought to be rested"
SAID the young cOlOred man. "Lettin'
boys play with gun!" He examined
he revolver with an interest in which |
here began to appear symptoms Of a
appreciation. MY goo.
less! Gun like iss blow a team O. |
steers thew brick house! Look at at |
'un!" With his right hand he twirled |
In q manner most dexterOus and sur.
'rising; then suddenly he became Sc
'ere. "YOu white boy. listen me I" he
aid. EFF went an did what ought
o did. I'd march straight out iss sta
lie. git policeman. an tell him rest
'Ou an take you off to Jail. ATS what
7Ou need-blOwin' mans head off
listen me: I'm gOin' take ISIS gun an
how her away where you can't do no
no. harm with her. I'm gOin' take her
vay Off in the woods an th'ow her
way where can't nobody fine her an
o BLOWN mans nrn", eff with her.
Ats what I'm gOin' do" And placing
he revolver inside his coat as incOn-
picuouSly as possible. he proceeded to
he open door and into the alley, where
e turned for final word. II let you
Fl iSS one time" he said, "but listen
listen. white boy: 70 bet not
all you' pa. l ain gOin' tell him, an
on ain gOin' tell him. He want know
here gun gone. you tell him you los
err"
He disappeared rapidly.
Sam Williams, swallowing cOntinu-
usly, presently walked to the alley
DOR, and remarked i'm a weak voice.
I'm sick at my stummick." He paused.
Zen added more decidedly: I'm goin'
ONE. guess I've stood about enough
round here for one day." And be-
owing last glance upon his friend
no was now sitting dumbly upon the
DOR in the exact spot where he had
God to fire the dreadful shot, Sam
owed slowly away.
The early shades Of autumn evening
ere falling when Penrod emerged
ON the stable: and better light
light have disclosed to n shrewd eve
me indications that here was boy
no had been extremely. If Temporal.
Y. i'll. He went to the ciStern. and,
ter cautious glance round the re-
'suring horizon. lifted the iron cover.
hen he took from the inner pocket OF
$ jacket an object which he dropped
'tlessly into the water: il was n bit
wood. Whitfield to the likeness of a
stol. And though his lips moved not
n any sound issued from his vocal
gans, yet were words formed. They
ere so deep in the person of Penrod
ey came almost from the slowly con.
lescing prOfundities of his stomach.
lese words concerned firearms, and
ey were:
"WiSh I'd never soon ono, Noror