The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-18

the Wnuppln ana haJed you WIN
its eyes. Like Millie hated him ever
since she had gone to work. He sus-
pected that Mile had the support of
Lessinda. Course, Lessinoa hated
him. But 1t weren't fair for her to
pass on that hate to her child. If
she did. He was pretty sure she did,
but he couldn't prove it. You
couldn't prove things like that on
woman. Women we're too slick for
man, some ways.
He felt himself growing bitter and
he had half mind to turn back
into the cabin and thurnp Lessinda
once, just for luck. But he looked
up at the sun and saw that it was
nigh on to IL o'clock. He'd have to
be a-movin'.
He really didn't have much bust
ness down in Spingairn. All he had
to do was to report to the proba-
ton officer and explain that hc was
doin' all right and keepin' out of
fights and he'd be workin' at the
mill right now only he'd had a bad
attack of rheumatism. If the off,
Ger didn't believe him, he could go
up and ask Lessinda.
"NOU got your knife on you,
L Clyde?" The probation officer
asked.
mo, I hain't," Pappy told him vir-
tuously. And I haint got no gun
on me nuther There both up to
the cabin. I don't aim to get into
trouble"
1t had been a mistake to slash
Herve Handley year ago in that
brawl. What he should have done
was to wait and git him like he got
Jem Huddleston. They never had
proved that KILN on him.
He thought of Mile, his 19-year-
old daughter, as he left the Court
house. He thought of her bitterly.
She was to blame for his havin' to
come way down here every week and
report. If it wasn't for her, he
wouldn't have had to quarrel with
Herve Handley. 1t was because of
her he had quarreled. He had told
Herve if he didn't stop seem Mile.
he'd cut his heart out. And Herve
had told him he couldn't.
He had to pass the mill on his
way up to the pool hall where he
figured to drop in and play a game
while he had drink or two. The
mill hands were streaming out of
the gate, groups of girls laughing
and talking and young fellows be-
hind him, ogling them and showing
off.
A ND he stiffened suddenly, as a
L n bird dog stiffens at sight of
game because his eyes fell on man
and woman. The man was bend
ing over looking into the girls face
as he talked He was Herve Hand
ley. The girl was dark, blue-eyed
and pretty. You'd never think she
was a Venable. She didn't look like
him and she didn't look like Les
sinda. She was purity but she was
bold 1t was Mile.
Hadn't he told her to stay away
from that dog? Hadn't he He
started toward them, but then he
thought of the law and the IN
pleasant four months he had spent
in Jail for stickin' Herve the last
time. He thought of a better way
He turned and walked away from
there. The two had not seen him.
He spent the day broooing about
how children didn't respect their
parents no more. Why, Mile was
defying him right before his eyes.
Right before the eyes of Spingairn.
Maxim him a laughin' stock. Well,
he'd show her Honor thy father
and thy mother" the Bible said.
He'd write that on Miles back
with a hickory. At nightfall he
made the climb to the cabin, cutting
large hickory switch on his way
up. When Mile arrived he was
waiting for her.
"NTILLIE," he said, 81 saw you
1V1 today. You was with that
Herve Handley after 1 told you not
to see him no more. I suppose
you're carryin' on with him. Elm
he was man I'd git out my gun
and make him marry you. But he
amt. So I'm goin' to whup you and
I'm goin' to kill him.
mo, you amt, Pappy," Millie
al ~, !, II
shaking You amt goin' to do
no SIGH thing. You amt goin' to
bully me like you bullied Nav all
these years. You amt goin' to
make no mule outta me like you
made outta her. You amt goin'
to tell me what to do because you
never supported me. You never did
nothin' for us kids. Everything we
got Nav had from her family or
worked to git. Now, I'm workin'
to git what want and you amt
goin' TO interfere"
CHE stood there, her eyes blazing,
- her body shaking and the four
little tow heads gathered around,
their eyes bullying.
Don't say such things!" Lessinda
begged. Don't carry on sol He's
your pappy!"
That's his fault and yourn-not
mine!" Mile shrilled. But he amt
goin' to put his hand On me-
Why, you Strumpet!" Pappy
Venable laughed grimly and
brought the thick hickory down
across Miles shoulders
Mile staggered. And straight
ened. Her hand swung behind her
and came forward with a revolver
in it. She shot three times as fast
as she could pull the trigger.
Pappy Venable wasn't surprised.
Pappy Venable was beyond surprise.
Pappy Venable was dead.
THE END
SAFETY WEEK TO BE