The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-30

enchanting installment before he burst
into the room again, his face a sickly
lead color. He held OFT AIMS letter in
hand that shook.
II cayn't go, Miss Ann
Cant go? Why not pray?" In her
Impotence she was suddenly .Mperi-
ous
Downstairs, Miss Ann, honey, de
butchers boy says a fierce mob am
roamin' de streets, yes, ma am, an
huntin' all us cullud folks down. . /. :.
Miss Ann, he say dey's set fire to the
cullud orphan 'sylum where yO' tux
yo' clothes when yo' frs cum here"
AT Forty-second street, you mean?
Right on Fifth avenue? Nonsense
.Yes, Miss Ann. An all
them po' little cullud chillen in 1t"
Don't be silly, Joseph. The police
would never let that happen, right
here In New York. l don't believe a
word of itr'
mo, ma'am. -. reckon !
| won't go out today, Miss Ann, honey 7"
Ann made no move to take her let
| ter; she had, when writing it, appre-
ciated keenly that every word she
put on the paper would pain her
guardian, and now that 1t was done
| she wanted to be rid of 1t. She didn't
half believe what she had heard of the
riots, and she thought it possible that
the old man was trying to evade his
walk in the heat.
"Of course you will take my let
ter" she said crisply. "You must hur-
ry, or it will miss the boat"
mo, Miss Ammo. 1t amt right
healthy day fo' cullud person to be
out !"
Ann struggled to be calm and kind.
the boat" she explained with care
full patience, and added more briskly,
81 never heard anything so absurd in
my life! You can walk up University
place to Fourteenth street; 1t won't
| take you ten minutes. Now hurry JO-
seph, do; you'll be home all the sooner
The old man turned slowly, hest
| tated, and finally shuffled out. In a
moment Ann saw him emerge cautious
Iy into the peaceful desertion of Wash
] ington square, and she smiled at his
foolish panic.
Suddenly she heard an ominous
! series of muffled crashes, ripped by
! sharper detonations. 1t shook her
tranquility, and she felt somewhat
! guilty, as she went out on the steps
to listen. She began to be uneasy
about old Joseph, although she felt
no real alarm.
In few moments Fanny Cortlandt
came hurrying down the square. Il
was fortunate to get back unmolested.
Ann, they are numbering the negroes,
and torturing them Isn't it horrible
They say one poor man Why, Ann,
where are you going"
Ann was fiinging herself down the
steps. She called back, Il sent Joseph
out I'm going after him."
Fanny sprang after her, and caught
her by the arm. "Ann. Don't think
Of such a thing! What could you dc
la girl?"
Ann shook her off savagely. SIN
going!" she declared.
Like that? Without any hat?'
Ann laughed. mo" she replied
with yours ~ She snatched Fanny's
from her smooth head, and ran clumsily
down the square. She forgot all about
her lame feet in her anxiety, for In
the distance she caught murmur of
wild voices.
AS she neared the corner Of Univer.
sity place, the confusion came loud.
err; there was thud of heavy feet
aud a savage medley of shouts. Above
the noise she heard suddenly rau
cous voice calling, Burn the niger
Burn him!" and the sound Of pound
ing feet came louder. Filled with sick
ening premonition she flung herself
around the corner and stood, horror
struck. Running down the center OF
the street, straight toward her, was
old Joseph. Perhaps ten yards behind
him there were twenty-five or thirty
men and boys, In scattering group
They could easily have caught him
Ann could see that they were playing
with him-savoring their enjoyment Of
his terror. A rage that blinded hel
to everything else caught the girl II
its fierce grip; she had no sensation
Of fear as she sprang forward.