Evening star., 1925-01-18

1
| Conductor Chase passed on. But old
Dan was worried. for as he boarded
the train he had seen on the platform
ono Of Rowley's hands, and, though he
kept in the shadows, Dan was afraid
| the man had seen him.
At last he fell asleep, his head on
his chest. He was awakened by a
hand on his shoulder. The train had
stopped. The man above him was a
policeman.
Better come along" said the
/ policeman.
"Who-me?"
Sure! An don't forget the grip
Might be bale of cotton in it,"
And so it happened that old Dan
Abel finished in jail the nap he had
begun on the train. Next morning
Tom Kelley, rural policeman, came
after him, armed with warrant and
| summons.
lnLD Dan felt as IL he were return
~ ing to his own funeral. This feel
ing was heightened when they came in
sight of the plantation commissary
store in the corner of Squire Kfrby'f
yard, where the squire held court. In
front dozed his old mule. hitched to
the buggy. There, too. were other
| buggies and Rowley's car
Then the devil tempted him. He
came not with cloven hoof, but in
| shoes and overcoat and confidential
and insinuating manner. 1t was
Luther Rowley himself. who hurriedly
left the store as the car drew up.
| Tom" he said to the policeman
Il want to speak to Dan here. This
way, Dan"
| Now, uncle" he began, II know
you took that cotton-know II as well
as If I'd seen you. i even know what
you did with that cotton. You used
| the money you got from IT an yo' own
money to pay off that interest. You
! get that receipt back an give it to
me. Tell Mis- Sally you've got to
have 1t, see? An I'll pay you the
balance, all but what the bale Of cot
| ton brought. I'll go right in now and
tell Squire Kirby that me an you've
come to an agreement. He'll drop
| the case. I'll say / was mistaken
! I'll even go that far. I'll say you
never done 1t. Amt that fair? III
| give you a place to live on as long as
| you're here-the same cabin, If you
| want 1t. l won't charge you as much
rent as you're payin' now. I'll do al
that because I like you an amt dis
posed to be hard on you II you don't
| take me up, though, I'll push this
4
the pen sure as you're standin' here
| You're old. You will never come out
| Now, l don't want to do all that an
L won't do 1t If you'll meet me half
way. What about it?"
| Il don't even know what you beer
talkin' bout, sub. Sellin' my own cot
| ton an usin' my own money to pay
intrust! You talkin' riddle to me. J
tell you now, like I toP you befo, mis-
/ eiU dot ~
bring receipt. 1t was her money, II
was her receipt"
You stick to that lie-you, g
! deacon?"
II sticks! Yes, sub, 1 sticks! Dey
amt no use to say no mo-, Mr.. Row
ley-you wastih' yo' breafr'
Then you go to the pen-'
We'll, sub, If I goes, 1 goes"
tom Kelley" called RowIey, "com,
get this nigger!'
Old Dan entered the store. Mrs
Duncan and the two boys were there
but Dan saw only Squire Kirby, big
| white-bearded, his face stern. H,
was a cotton planter himself. TC
steal a bale of cotton was to him g
heinous crime.
Stand there, Dan Abelr" he com.
manded. Take off yo' hats. gentle
men. Shut the do, Tom Kelley. Ster
1
| And the trial of old Dan Abel was
| on.
! Rowley told of the bale taken from
his shed; of negroes who had seer
Dan Abel driving in that direction
| the night of the theft; of another
who had seen him board the train.
I've got all the witnesses here
| jake
"One minute" said Kirby. "IlI cal
wwrlnz
Dan Abel. Put yo' han on the book
You solemnly swear the testimony
you give in this case will be the
truth, the whole truth an nothin' but
the truth, so help you God. Did yol
take bale of cotton out OF Mr.. Row.
| ley's shed?"
Yes, sub"
Did you try to leave the country?'
| Yes, sub"
'Where'd you aim to go?p
| ITO Reno, Nevaddy, suh." .'
| What did you aim to go there for?'
Il hear folks talk bout dat place
sub. I hear dey got diff'ent law!
dar-mo' liniment."
| We'll, l reckon it's against the Law
to steal cotton, even in Reno. Silenc,
in the COURT!
Rowley pushed impatiently forward
This was trifling. Business was bust
ness.
There amt nothin' for you to do
Mr.. Kirby, but bind this Niger ovel
to cot"
| .- K X X X
A BOVE Kirby's luxuriant white
a beard his cheeks, though lean
! were as ruddy as Autumn apples, aHC
now, ever so slightly, these cheek!
flushed.
Dan Abel" he resumed, what die
you do with that bale of cotton?"
II 'spose of it, suh.''
what did you do with the money!
| 'I 'spose of dat, too"
How did you dispose of it?"
/ Dams heart jumped into his mouth
'Is l 'bleeged to answer dat, suh?"
mo, not unless you want to"
Den, Mr.. Kirby, 1 beg to b.
'skused. 'spose of it. Money ain
hard to git shed of"
Kirby had been looking straight a
him, as if in an effort to get at th'
motive, and now old Dan, meeting thu
keen blue eyes under the shagg,
brows, thought he saw in them
quick signal of comprehension, of un
derstanding.
Better put some mo- wood in th'
| stove, Tom Kelley" he said, IAN
punch up the fire. This case ain