Newspapers / The News & Observer … / Dec. 19, 1915, edition 1 / Page 17
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-"W .v -r. V - v. - A ' -ii'"'" '"-".1". The mews mm d Olbseirver SECTION TWO Bert ArerlJjIsg' lledfcm la ; ' .'-I- Pf 17 to 24 t V : vol en. NO. 17L RALEIGH, N. C, SUKDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 19, 1915. raCEVECE?nr3l K1TPJT 1T!TS9 CfflM fx Caerel. 1M W MMmt. Pm C., IT we witk Back eaatioe tkat Whittling Dick slid back th door ef th bet-ear, for Artiele 6716, City OriiuM, autkatised (prkpe wauUtaUml 17 ) arrest oa napm. U4iim familiar of ol. Vttk thi nti tt So, before elimbtsg oat, h surveyed tk field with all the euro of a good geaeral. He ao chaage timet hi last visit to thi big. almsgiviag, Voag suffering city of Um BoaU, too eoid weatber para dloo of too tramp. Too Uvea wfcere his freight ear steed -woo pimpled witk dork bulk of asrehaadiee. Tko breet reek ed Witk tko well remembered, sickening boU of tko old tarpoulU tkat covered bale sad borroU. Tke das river ellp- T pod aloof aaoog tko kippiag witk a ily rargl. Far down toward Chai Brtt a eould tbe great brad ia tko Strega oatiiaod by tko row of alec trie light. Arras tko rlvr Algier Uy, - k loag, irregular blot,1 made darker by tko daws which lightened tke ky be yond. Aa iadustriou tag or two. torn iag for nm early sailing ship, gave a few appalliag toot, tkat seemed to be tke sigaal for breaking day. The Itallaa , lugger were ererpiag Bearer their laad- iag, ladea witk early vegetable and ehellfish. A vague roar, subterranean t ia quality, from dray wbeel and street era, began to Bake itself heard and fort; aad the ferryboat, tke Mary Anns of water eraft, stirred sullenly to tkeir Beaial moraiag tasks. Whistling Diek'a red bead popped suddenly back iato tko ear. A sight too impoaiag aad asagaideeat for ku gax kad beea added to tke seeae. A vast. Incomparable policeman rounded a pile of rie aaek aad stood within twenty yards of the oar. Tke dally Biraelo of tko dawa, bow beiag per forated above Algiers, received the flat taring atteatioa of tkit epeeimen of mu mieipej oBcial spies dor. Be gaaed witk abiaaed digamy at the faintly glowing '9 colors until, at laat, ko tarned to them fcla broad baek, aa if eoavineed that legal interference waa aot needed, and taa suari atigkt proeeod uaeheeked. Bo k turned ki f aos to tke rice bag, ad, drawing a Bat aak from aa ia aid pocket, k placed it to ki lips and regarded tko rmaaeat Wkiftliag Dirk, profoaatoaal tramp, nmnul kalf f rieadly aequaiataaeo witk tkia aftWr. Tkey kad Bet several time bafor oa tko Jotroo at night, for . a' laws of BuaiS. boojs attractad ky Mio eiqukriU f - HatuI, k did f at ear, aader tko proaoat alrtamstaaaea, w renew u aaoa. There la a dUToraaoe between unlWinii UDOB a loaely wharf aad wkiatUag a few operatic air with kia, aad being caught ty mm arawliag out of a freight ear. 80 Dick 1 hm a Naw frltian Doliee- Baa aaat move oa some time perkaps kt ia a retribnttro law of aature aad before long "Big frit" Bajestieaiiy ai rw.J kriam tha trains of ear. Wkistliag DUk waited aa loag aa hi .,.... rfilavl and tkea slid swiftly to the grouad. Assuming as far as possible taw arr 01 aa aoaem wko seek hi daily toil, k moved across tko aetwork of railway lines, wttk tks Uteatioa of making kia way by quiet Girod stroet a oortauai Doaca ia im ' Rubim. whara. accordiajt to ap- poiatmeat, bo koped to rejoin a pal known as "Mnra,- lam aaveniuroun pil grim having preceded kirn by oae day IB a rattle ear taio waiea a ivoaw As Wftiatliag Dirk pirked kia way k.n aiaM atill Harered amonc the big, reeking, musty warehouses, ke i gave way to tko kabit thst had won him k(. title Rubdued. vet rlear. witk each note as true aad liquid as a bobolink, kia wauti untiea bdoui the dim, cold monntaias of brick like J . . rVllina latA a hiHdrn roo1. He followed aa air, but it (warn mistily into a swirling current or lmprovisn tioa. Toa eould mil out tke trill of ' Boaataia brook, tke ataeeato of greea nuke akiveriag about ekilly lagoons. tko pipe of sleepy Diroa. Bnajliaa a mruf. tha whistler eol lldrd witk a mountaia of blue and brass. " nharrrad the mountain calmly "vow are already bark. Uad dere vill aot be frost before two Teek yet I Und waa kaf forcottca how to vistie. Dere was a raise aoto ia dot last bar." Wateker kaow about ttl" said Wkist Hag Dirk, witk teatativ familiarity; -1 it waa liUia Oaansaa-baad nix emarooja ebwaoa. Watakor kaow about Baaaaf Ffck y oars, aad lmteaagia He woekerad Us lipw, bat tba big pwlirsmsa kald up kia kaad. -Hatsmv" k aud, -bb4 ieara dor rigkt way. L'ad- laarm aba dot a rolliag Bktoao oarnt vkwJo for taH." Big Prttaa boavy aaatack rounded Bt a cireM, aad from Ma doptkw ram Bound deep aad mellow aa tkat from a gut. Ha tip sated k few bars of tke air tko tramp bad beea wkistliag. Tke uulUU. aaJJ kai aareaat. mi ha ampkaaiaed th Bote to whlek ka kad takoB OBeawxaaBb -"Dot d ia a aaturaL aad aot p rkt Vw At vav. worn Better bo aiad I Tea. Voa koar later, aad f voald kalf la put yea ia a gag to viwtle ait dor r , ekall pirda. Doe rdrs ar to bull all Aer warns after anriaa." M'-J-'awa,' ,,,k fatsnrwrpamasr-a; ..-.; To baUlor pwmsWorbody aitout inU Beaai. Dirty JBaJw Is der prtee, or gfteea Wl-W4, i L 'Is dat straight, o a game you givia' T - met - .v- - ,r "ffs dor aaat tip yew efer bad. I mit it ta vwa Bweaaaa I aolirf vwa are Sot so bed a dor raat. tad pecaose . .- m gaa yjai war rmxiasmseier m 1.1 aTaolf gaa. - Doat rua agaiaat any ttEaf . Bars bsliransai arouadt dor coravwa, bt go away vrosa towav A f aw taya. eoot-pyw. . .. -i 8a kUdama Orloaaa kad at" last mw weary of tko trraago aad raffled . brood ikai" eawra- yaft' - weatlaW . fceatk kaf charitable piaieaa. -- Ator tko w pilaisaaa - kad wepar- ed, Wkistliag Disk stood for aa irreso lute mlaato, feeling all tba outraged la dlgnatioa of a deliaaueat toaaat wko i ordered to vacate kia premise. H kad pictures to himself a day of dreamful ease when ko skould kave joined kia pal; a day of lounging oa th wkarf, munching tks banaaai aad eocoaaut seatterod ia aaloadlng tko frutt ateam ora; aad tkea a feast along th free- luack counters from which the easy going owners were too goodUaaturod or too generous to drive aim away, aad afterward a pipe ia on of tka lit tie bowery parks and a saooso ia asm shady corner of tke wkarf. But ker was a stern order to exile aad oa that ks kaew must be obeyed. Bo, with a wary eye opea for th gleam of brass but tons, he begsn kia retreat toward a rural refuge. A few daya in the country need not necessarily prove disastrous. Beyond the possibility of slight nip of frost, there was ao formidable evil to be looked for. However, it was witk a depressed spirit that Whistling Dick passed the old French market on ki chosen routs down the river. For safety's sake he still presented to the world hie portrayal of the part of the worthy artisaa on his way to labor. A stall-keeper in the market, undeceived, hailed him by the generic name of his ilk, and "Jack" halted, taken by surprise. The vender, melted by this proof of his own scute ness, bestowed a foot of Frankfurter and half a loaf, and thus the problem of breakfast was solved. When the streets, from topographi cal reasons, began to shun the river bank the exile mounted to the top of the levee, and of its well trodden path pursued kis way. Tke suburban eye regarded him witk cold suspicion, Individual reflected tke stern spirit of th city's heartleM edict. He missed the seclusion of the crowded town and the safety he could always, find ia the multitude. At Chalmette, six mi!c upon hi desultory way, there aoddealy men aced him a Taut and bewildering indus try. A new port was being established ; the dork was being built, compresses were going up; pick and shovels and harrows strurk at him like serpents from every side. An arrogant foremaa bore dowa upon him, estimating his muscles with the ye of a recruiting-ser-gesat. Brown man aad black man all about him were toiling away. He fled ia terror. Br boob ka kad reached tka country of th plantations, the groat, aad, ailoat level bordering the mighty river. - Ha overlooked the fletde- of angar-ease ao vast that their farthest limits msrtad into tka sky. 1"k sagar-makla aeaaoa waa wall advanced, aad tko eattera were after them; th Negro teamsters in spired tke mules to greater speed witk mellow and eonoroaa imprecations. Dark green groves, blurred by the blue of distance, showed where th plantation house stood. Tka tall ekmlaey of the sugar mills caught tha oy mile dis lent, like lighthouse at sea. At a certain point Whistling Dick's unerring noa caught tha aeeat of fry ing fiah. Like a pointer to a quail, h made kia way dowa tko levee side straigkt to the camp of a credulous aad anrieat flshermaa, whom ha charmed witk song and story, ao tkat ka dined like aa admiral, aad tkea like a pkil oeopher annihilated tka worst thrw hoars of tke day by a nap aader tke tree. When ke awoke aad agaia ceatinned kis kegira, a frosty sparkle ia the air had succeeded the drowsy warmth of the day, and aa this portent of a chilly alght translated itself to the brain of Hir Peregrine, he lengthened his stride and bethought him of shelter. He trav eled a road that faithfully followed the convolutions of the levee, running along its base, but whither he knew not, Bushes sndrsnk gran crowded it to the wheel ruts, and out of this ambuscade ths pests of the lowlands swarmed after him, humming a keen, vicious soprano. And as the night grew nearer, although colder, the whine of the mosquitoe be came a greedy, petulant snarl that shut out all other sound. To his right, agaiast th heavens, he saw a green light moving, and, accompanying it, the marts and funnels of a big incoming steamer, moving a upon a screen at a magic lantern show. Aad there were mysteriou marshes at hi left, out of which eame queer gurgling cries and a choked croaking. The whistling vagraat struck up a merry warble to offset these melancholy influence, and it ia likely tkat aever before, since Paa blmaelf jigged it oa kia reeds, kad suck so uad beea heard in these depressing solitudes. Tko road aaa aew eaelooed oa each side by a feaea, aad presently, aa Wkiat Uag Dick draw Bearer tko hew sea he aadrhrary stopped aad sniffed tka air. A distant eatter ia tko roar quickly developed into tko swift boat of a roes' koala, aad WaiatUag Dlek stopped aside lata tka dew-wot grass to clear tke track. Turn lag kia kaad, bo aaw ap proaching a la team of stylish grays drawing a doable surrey. A stout aaa wttk a white mustache occupied th froBt seat, giving all kis attoatioa, to tka rigid UnS ia his hand. Behind kia oat a placid, middle-aged lady aad a brilliant-looking girl hardly arrived at yoaag ladyhood. Tke lap-robe kad slipped partly from tko knees of tko geatleaaa driving, aad WkiatUag Dick aw two stout eaavaa bag betweea kia feet bag aaek aa, wkile loaing ia eitieoy k kad - eeaa. warily . tnaaf erred betweea express wagons aad bank dowiB.- Tko rimslaiag opaeo ia the vo kicle waa flUod witk parcel of various aiaoa aad ska pea. As th surrey rwept even witk tka aide-tracked tramp, the bright-eyed girl, seined by oobo "ttrTWj aeaaw-rjrrpuls. ieaaea out vwwuru aim wiia a sweet. SEEKf sanfTand cried. Kerry Christmas I " la a shrill, plaintive treble. Back a thing kad aot oftaa kappeaed to WkiatUag Dirk, aad ka felt kaadl eapwod ia deviaiag tko eorrert roopoaa. But larking timo for reAeetioa. ke let M iaotiaet dacida. aad eaatckiag off ki rodtr .deTbyr k rapidly sxteadod it at arm' leagtk, aad drew it back witk a eoartraawoar aotsoB, aad shouted a load. As the gsrrey Swept Kvea With the eniae. Leaned Oat Toward but ceremonious, "Ah, there!" after the flying surrey. The sudden movement of the girl had caused one of tke ps reels to become unwrapped, aad something limp aad black fail from it into the road. The tramp picked it op aad found it ta be a aew black silk stocking, long aad Asa aad eleuder. It eraaehod crisply, and yet witk a luxurious softness, betweea kia Anger. ' --.- Thar bleomia' little akeesiektt" said Whistling Dick, with a broad grin bi secting hi freckled fare. "Wot d' yor think of dt, aowf Mer ry Chrtatmuat Sounded like a cuckoo clock. dat' what hs did. Dem guys is swells, too, bet yer life, aa' der old 'un stacks dam sacks of dough down under bis trotters like dey were common as dried apple. Beea skoppia' far Ckristaua, and de kid' lost on of her new ock w'ot she was goin' to hold up Santy wid. Do bloomin' Uttle ikeeiickal Wit' her "Merry Chris must' W'ot d'ysr t'inkl flame aa to say, 'Hello, Jack, kow goe HI' aad as swell a rift' Av'&oo, aad aa easy aa a blow-out ia Cincinnat" - Wkietling Dick folded tko storking carefully, aad stuffed it into kis pocket. It waa nearly two hour later whea he came upon sign of habitation. Tha buildings of an xtenaiva plantation war brought into view by a turn in the road. Ha easily selected th plant er's residence in a large, square build ing with two wings, with numerous good sized, well-lighted windows, and broad verandas running around its full extent. It was set upon a smooth lawn, which waa faintly lit by the far reaching rays of the lamps within. A noble grove surrounded It, and old-fashioned shrub bery grew thickly about the walks and fences. The quarters of the hands aad the mill buildings were situated at a distance ia the rear. "If dere ain't a hobo stew eookin' somewhere In his immediate precinct," he said to himself, "me nose has quit tellln' do trutV Without hesitation he climbed the fence to windward. He found him self In an apparently disused lot, where piles of old bricks were stacked, aad rejected, decaying lumber. In a corner he taw the faint glow of a fire that had become little more than a bed of living coals, and he thought he could see some dim human forms sitting or lying about it. He drew nearer, and by tba light of a little blaxo tkat sud dealy flared up be aw plainly the fat figure of a ragged maa la aa old brow wester aad cap. "Dai aaa," said WkiatUag Dick to himself softly, ") a dead riager for Boston Harry. Ill try him wit' da high sigm.- Ha whistled oa or two ban of a ragtime melody, aad tko air waa im mediately takes ap, and tkea quickly ended witk a peculiar rua. Ths first whistler walked eoaldeatly ap to the ire. Tks fat aaa looked up, aad spake ia a load, asthmatic wheoae: "Oeat. tka uaexpeetod but welcome addition to our circle ia Mr. Whistling Dick, aa old friead of ala for whom I folly voaekea. Tko waiter will lay another cover at cue, hir. W. D. will jola as at sapper, during which fuaetioa he will enlighten us ia regard to the etreuatetaaee that give na tha ploaaur of his eompaay." ...-"Chswia', d tqfflu out de die tioaary, as usual, Bosto, mi& 'Waist nag Lhek-"bwt t'snksall do aaa for -do iavitaahBB. I guea I finds meself here about da aaa way you guy. A eop gimme d tip dis aoraia'. I out workia' oa ia farm!" A rueet, said Boatom sternly, -akouldnt aever- ksawH ki aatertaia era uatil k . tttsd wid grub. Taiat good trasiaeea . Workia'l but I will rtetrala myself, w lve me. DomC Pat, Bliaky, Uoggle Bad Is diaa Tsm gut put B to tkia sc horns of Ne Orieaaa to work visiting gea- tleaaas apoa hot dirty etroeta, aad ww klt-tk road, ast eveaiag Just aa the tender kne of twiligwT bad - flopped apoa tk djdala) aadjjtkiaga. Sidetracked Traaa, tke Bright-eyed Girl, Him With a Sweet, DaaaUag Smile, aad Cried, -Merry Uinsti Bliaky, pass tha fcrapty oyster can at your self . to the empty gentlemaa at your right.'' . For tha Be it tea minutes the gang of roadsters paid their undivided at tentloa to tke sapper. In na old five rail on keeoaea aaa tkey kad cooked a stew of potatoes, meat aad onions, which tkey oertook xrf from smaller aa Usy ' kadWtwaireWetatteeed about the vaoaat Ut llt-r ... WkWtHag Dwk toai kaowa BoetoB Harry of old, aad kaow him to be one of tke Shrewd eat aad most awereeeful of his brotherhood. He looked like a prosperoua storkdrover or a solid aer chaat from some eouatry village. He waa stout and hale, with a ruddy, al ways smoothly shaven face. 11 is clothes ware strong and neat, and he gave spe cial atteatioa ta hia decent appearing shoe. Daring tke past tea years he had acquired a reputation for working a larger Bomber of aueesasfully Baa aged confidence games than any of hia acquaintance, aad ho kad aot a day's work to bo counted against kia. It waa ramored among kia associate tkat ke had saved a considerable amount of monty. Th four other mea were fair specimens of the shaking, ill clad, noisome gvnui who earned their label of "suspicious" la plain view. After the bottom of the large ran had beea ec raped aad pipes lit at ths coals, two of the men called Boston aside aad spoke with him lowly aad mysteriously. He Bodded derisively, aad then said aloud to Whistling Dick: "Listen, sonny, to tome plain talky talk. We five are oa a lay. I've guaran teed you to be square, aad you're to come in on ths profit equal with the boys, and you've got to help. Two hundred hands on this plantation are expecting to be paid a week's wages to morrow morning. Tomorrow's Christ mas, and they waat to lay off. Hays tbe boss : 'Work from five to Bine in the morning to get a trainload of sugar off, and IH pay every aaa rash down for the week and a day extra.' They say: 'Hooray for tko boo I It goes.' He drive to Noo Orleans today sad fetches baek ths cold dollar. Two thou sand and seventy-four fifty is the amount. I got tke figures from a man who talk too muck, wko got 'em from tke bookkeeper. Tko bos of thia plaa tation thinks he's goisg to pay this wealth to the kaad. - He' got it dowa wrong; ke' going to pay it to aa. It's going to Stay ia tka leisure elaaa, where it belong. Now, half of tkia haul goea to me, aad the other half the root of ra may divide. Why tka difference f represent tke bralaa. It a my wkem HeTtx th way we're going to get it. There's some eompaay at supper la tke keaas, bat tkeyll leave about niae. They've J net kappeaed! is for as hour or so. If tkey doat go pretty boob well work tks eeheae eaykew. We waat all sight to get away good with tke dollar. They're keavy. About nine o'clock Deaf Pete aad BliskyOI ga down tka road about a quarter beyond the house, aad et fir to a big eaaeflrld tket tkat the suttar kaveat touched yet. The wind's juat right to have H roaring ia two aiawto. Tke alarall bo given, aad every aaa Jack about tke place uriU he dowa tkere I tea miauie. fightlag fir. That'll war tke mosey sacks aad ta woaaea a lea la th house for a to handle. Tv heard oaa burnt Well, tkerea aUgkty few women eu cr lewd aork heard above Jto ereehiiag. Jae tkiags dead safe. Tbe oaly danger la la beiag caught befor we caa get far enough away witk ths money. Kw, if you" "Boetoa interrupted WkiatUag Dick, rising t ki feet, "taait for de grab yew feller baa gives ate, bat 111 be Bovia' oa aew." Wkat de yea aasjr asked Boe toa, also rising. "Wy. yn ea eesnt a eater die deal Tea slighter kaew that, la ea dc bam all rigkt enough, bat dat other flag doat go wif ate. Bargfnry ia a good.- ill ay goed-aight aad many Vefcke' f(fii '""" Jggaif jj'rsflta!gr-ri.i- Wkistliag Dick kad Bteved away a Seised ky Some Merry, Madcap ta few steps at ke spoke, but hs stopped very suddenly. Boston had roVered hii.i with a short revolver of roomy calibre. "Take your seat," snid the tramp leader. "I'd feel mighty prnnd of ray Keif if I let you go and spoil the game. You'll stick right in this ramp until we finish tbe job. The end of that brick pile ia your limit. Tou go two inches beyond that and 1 11 hare to shoot. Uet ter take M aaa. bow . "It's ay way of doln'" said Whistling Dirk. "Easy goe. Ton ran di presn de niuxtle of dat twelve inchrr and ion 'er bark on de trucks. I remains, a de aewipapers ays, 'in yer midst " "All right," said Boston, lowering his pistol aa th other returned and took his seat agaia on a projecting plank In a pile of timber. "Dont try to leave ; that's all. I wouldn't mim this chance even if I had to shoot sn old acquaint ance to make It go. I dont want to hurt anybody specially, but this thou sand dollars I'm going to get will fix me for fair. I'm going to drop the road aad start a saloon in a little town I kaow about. I'm tired of being kicked around." Boa ton Harry took from kis pocket a cheap silver watch and held it near th fir. "It's a quarter to niae," he said. "Pete, you aad Blinky itart. Go down th road, past the house, and fire tke eaa in a doten placet. Then strlks for the levee, and come tnrk on it, instead of the road, o you won't meet any body. By the time you get back the men will all be striking out for the fire and we'll break for the house and collar the dollars. Everybody cough up what matches he's got." The two surly tramps made a collec tion of all the matches In the party. Whistling Dick contributing his quota with propitiatory aUi rity, and then they departed in the dim starlight iu ths direction of the road. Of the three remaining vsgranta, two. Goggles and Indiana Tom, reclin ed lazily npon convenient lumber and regarded Whistling Dick with undis guised disfavor. Boeton, observing thst tke disat-ntlng reeruit M disposed to remain peaceably, relaxed a little of his vigilance. Whistling Dick arose presently aad strolled leisursly up and dowa, keeping carefully within the ter ritory assigned him. "Dis planter chap," he said, pauslag before Harry, "w'ot make yer t'iak ke' got de tin In de kousa wit' 'Imf "I'm advised of tbe facta in th case." said Boetoa. "Hs drove to 'Noo Orieaaa aad got It, 1 ay, today. Waat to change your Bind bow aad come UP "New, I waa juat aakia'. Wot kind 0' team did da beea drive t" "Pair of gray " "Double surrtT "Top." "Women folks along f" "Wife and kid. Hay. what morning paper are you trying to pttmp sews fori" "I was just eonveraia' to p-m de Um away. I guea dat team passed me ia de road dU events'. Dat' ali" A Wkistliag Dirk put bis hands into his pockets aad continued hia curtailed beat Dp and dowa by the Are. He felt th silk stocking ka kad picked up ia tk read. "Tker bktoais' litUe skceaick.," he aatUred. with 4i gria-. t ... . A he walked up and iowm be could see, tkrougk a sort of natural opening er laae among tk trees, the plaster's reeideae aeae seventy-fiv yards d la ta t. Tk aid of tke kouee toward kia exhibited specious, well-lighted window through which a soft radiaaee streamed, illr;'g tke broad reraada aad aoae exteat ef tke ktwa beaeatb. 'What' tkat you eeidf" asked Boe toa, sharply- "Oh, anttia' t aU." said Wkktliag Dick, kwsgiBg carelessly, aad kicking redrtativcry at a little stoee oa the greaad. vJnet as easy" eOBtiaaed the, waxbUag vagraat softly toaiaatlf, "aa. aoeiabl as' swell aa' sassy, wit' kr Tder ry Chris ana.' Wot d'ysr flak, Bowl" eases Dlnnr, two koara lata, was beiag served la tk BUeaad plaatatioa din lag loom. The dlniag room aad U ita appur teaaaea spoke ef aa old regba tkat waa here eoatiaaed rather tkea sug gested to tk bbbij. Tk pate was rick to tk sxtset that it ag aad quaiatseaa aloae aard it from beisg abowyi there -were . in ts rest ing aaaw igaed ta ta earwer of tke ptetor ea tk wall 1 tk viand were f tk kind tkat bring a akia iato th aye of goursMto. Th wrvte waa (wift, ailent. lavish, aa ia th day wha th waiter were assets. Lit th ptats. Tke name by whlek tke planter's family aad Uietr visitors addressed oa ' another wsrs histort ia ths annals of two aatlont. Their manaers aad eoaversation bad tkat Boat difficult klad of ease the kind tkat still preserves punctilio. Tke plaster himself seemed to be th dynamo that generated the larger por tion of the gaiety and wit. The younger ones at the board fouad it more than difficult to turn back oa him his gum of raillery aad banter. It is true, the young men attempted to storm his works repeatedly, incited by the hope of, gaining the approbation of their fair eompaaions; but even when they sped a well-aimed shaft, tha planter forced them to feel defeat by ths tremendous discomfiting thundor of th laughter with which he accompanied hia retort. At th bead of the table, serene, ma tronly, benevolent, reigned th mistress of the house, placing here and there the right smile, tha right word, tha en couraging glaaos. Tha talk of tka party waa too de sultory, too svaneeeeat to follow, but at laat they came to tk subject of the tramp auutasee, oaa that had ef lute vexed tke plastaMea for many mile around. Tba plaster seised the oera stun to direct kia good natu red fir of raillery at tk aistreea, aeeuaiag her of encouraging tke plague. "Tkey swarm up aad dows tke river every winter," he said. Thy overrun New Orieaaa, aad we catch the surplus, which is gen erally the worst part. And, a day or two ago, Madam Nw Orleans, sud denly discovering that she aaat go shopping without brushing her skirt against great row ef th vagabonds sunning tkeaalv oa th beaquettea, says to the police: CaUh 'aa all,' aad the polie catch a doaea ar two, aad the remaining thro or four thousand over flow up aad dowa ta Uvaaa, aad madam thsr" pointing tragically 1 wttk" the earviag kaif at kr "fd overseer, and tkey make friead with my dogs; aad you, aadama, feed them berore my eye, aad intimidate mo when I would Interfere. Tell us, please. how many today did you thus Inert to future latin aad depredation f " "Hit, I think," said madam, with a reflective smile, "but you know two of them offered to work, for you keard them yourself." Ths planter's diseonertiag laugh rang out again. "tea, at their own trades. And oae eras aa artiftVial flower maker, aad the other a glaaa-blower. Oh, tkey war looking for work I Not a kaad would they eouauat to lift to labor of aay other kiad.' "Aad aaotkar oae," continued tke oft hearted mist real, "used quite good language. It was really extraordinary for oae of hia class. Aad he carried a watch. And had lived ia Bostoa. I doa't believe they are all bad. They hsvs always seemed to me to rather lack development. I alaay? look upon them as ch.ldren with whom wisdom has remained at a standstill while whisker have continued to grow. We pawed one thl evening as we were driving home who had a face as good as It u in competent. He wa whistling the inter- iiiciio from 1 aliens, anil Mowing the spirit of Msscugni himself iuto it." A bright eyed young girl who sat at tha left of the mistreat leaned over and said in a confidential undertone: "I wonder, mamma, if thflt tramp ws pawed on the road fouad my stock ing, and do you think he will hang it up tonight f Now I can hang up but one. Do you hnow why I wanted a new pair of silk stockings whea I have pleutyf Well, old Aunt Judy says, if you bang up two that have never been wora, Hants Claut will fill one with good thing, and Monster Pamba will pluce ia the othor payment for all the words yen have spoken good or lJ on the day before C'hristoaaa. T hut's why I've beea nausually alee aad polits to everyone today. Mossier - pamba, yon kaow, ia a witek geatleaaa; he " Tke word of the yoaag girl were iatarrupted by a atrtlieg..tkmg. Like a wraith of sas- baraed-eut snooting star, a black gtraak earn crashing through the w la dew pea asd apoa tke table, wker it swivered into fragment djtcn piece-of crystal aad ekinaware, aad tkea glaaced be tweea th head of tk guest to th wall, imprinting there ia a deep, round indentation, at which today the visitor to Belleaeade marvels aa ks gaaoa upon it and Late a to this tal aa it ia told. Tk woasa streamed ia many keys, aad th mea sprang to th'r feet, aad woald have laid their handa upon their worda had aot tko verities of ckroa ology forbidden. Tke planter was the first to act; bo prang to tke intruding missile asd kcld.it up So view, - "By Jiipfterf" h fried. VA metewrV shower of koaieryl Baa eoaaaaiaa tion ft ia beea cstsMiaked witk Martt Tishould ay akem- Yea us," ves tured a young geatlemea traitor, look ing kopefully for approbation towards tk uareepoaaive young lady visitor. Tke planter kald at ana' leagtk tk aaeeremoaious visitor a loag, dancing, black stocking. It s loaded." k aa aouaced. A ke spoke he reverted th stoeklag, holding it by tke toe, aad. dowa from It dropped a roundish stoae, wrapped about by a pi of yellowish paper. "Now for tka frit interstellar ..aeaaag ef tk Moturyt" k ried, had aeJdlag to the eompaay, wko kad crowded ah kirn, k adjusted kis glass witk pre- ; voking dsllberaUoB aad examlaed It eloMly. Whea he flaiakod ke 14 ehaaged from tke jolly heat to th practical, decisive maa of buaiaesa. B ! immediately struck bell, gad said tw J the stleat fooUd mulatto aa wk rea-' 1 ponded: "Oo aad taH Mr. Wly ttt -get Baevas sad Maurie sad kkout toa . tout kaad tky eaa rely apoa aa ea to tk kail door at oaa. Tail altA" to have tke aaa arm tkamaarea aai bring pUaty of rope aad Draw liaaa. TU kia to korry." And thea he re4 r aloud from tk paper the wordai " "T th Oeat ef do Houat "Der la lv tuff hoboes xarnt self in the vakes lot near de road war ' de old brick pile it. Dey got m stack; , ? up wid a gua see and I token dis meaag '-'?" of eommuaikatcn. I. of der lad it goa dowa to aet fire to de rain field below de kous aad whea youa feller goe t) tura ue noes oa it ds bole gang it golag . to rob ds hous of de money yoo gott pay , off wit ay git a mve on ys aay da U4 dropt dl sock ia der rod tol ker arw erismus de aam aa tk told m. Kth de bum down de rode first and da sen a relefe eore to get ms out of sok youret truly, , ...-' "WIII8TLEN DICK." There was some quiet but rapid maneuvering at Bellemcade during th ensuing half hour, which ended ia flv disgusted and sullen tramps being eap tured and locked aecurely la aa out : ' bouae pending the coming of tbe mora, ing and retribution for another result, the visiting young gentlemen had se cured the unqualified worship of the rig- K ttiag young ladies by their diatiaguahedl ' aad heroic conduct. Por still an ether behold Wkietling Dick, th hero, teated at th planter'i table, feasting asetj ' . . vaads his erperienre had aever before included, aad waited upon by admiriag ; --; -femininity in shape of suck beauty aad ' ' "swellneas' tkat even kia ever-fall meeth ' eould scarcely prevent him from what- ' ""' ling. He was mads to disclose ia detail hi adventure with the evil gang of Boston Harry, aad how k eanniagty ' wrote the note and wrapped it aronad ' the stone and placed it ia the toe of the' -stocking, and, watching his ehanee. seat ' ' N it silently, with a wonderful centrifugal". . momentum, like a eoniet, at one of the ' C big lighted windows of tke dlaisg room. u . V- Th planter vowed tkat tk was derer should wander a Br: that . kit waa a goodaeat aad as koseety that thould be rewarded, aad that A debt of gratitude kad beea aad thai Bast be paid) for had he aot saved, tkem from a doubtlea iaaisast tees, - v. . sad Biayb a groater aajaaityf H ' asmirtd Whiatllag Dick tkat hs aigkt consider himself a ekarge apoa tk konor of Bellemcade; that a poaitioa aited to hi power would be fouad for him at oae, aad hinted that th way would be heartily smoothed for htm to rise to a high place of emol ument aad trust a the plaatatioa afforded. But bow, they said, be must b weary, aad the Immediate thing te consider waa rat 'and sleep. Ho tk mlstrea spoke to servant, aad WkiatUag Dick waa eeaduetod te A room ia tke wiag of tke kouee ores pied by tk servants. To tkia room, is a few auBUtes, waa brought a port abl tia bathtub filled with water, which waa placed oa a piece of oiled ' eloth upoa tke floor. There the vagraat wa left to pa th night. By the light of a eaadle k exam ined the room. A bed witk tk " covert neatly turned back, revealed snowy piliowe and sheet A wora, but clean, red carpet covered the floor. -There was a drrtaer with a beveled mirror, waahatand, with a flowered bow) aud pitcher; tbe two or thro ' chain were softly upholatrred. A little table held books, papers and a riuy old cluster of roses ia a jar. There were towels on a rack ar.d soap in s white dish. Whistling Dirk set his candle oa A chsir and placed his hat carefully undr the table. After satisfying what we must suppose to have beea hi" curiosity by a sober scrutiny, k removed his cost, folded it, and laid H upoa the Moor, near the wall, aa far as possible from the unnsed bathtub. Taking his coat for a pillow, k atrttrhed himself luxuriously upoa the carpet. ' When, on Christmas morning, tko drat streaks of dawn bruks above tk marshes. Whistling Dick awoke aad reached instinctively for hia hat. Them he remembered that the skirts ef FoOn ! tune had swept him iato tkeir f oM "T 1 oa tke aight pravtoua, aad ka west ' -to tke wadow aad raised tt, te kt ; ';' the freak breath of tbe moraiag eooi. ' hit brow and fix th yet drtaa-Hk' ' memory of kia good luck wrtfcia kkt' braia. -"' . As be stood there, eertaia dread aad "- ouiinous srounds piereed the faarfal-'.'-hollow ef hit car. ? . - The force of plaatatioa workers, . eager to complete the shortened task -allotted to them, were all astir. Tke mighty din of the ogre labor shook : the aarth. and .the poor tattered aad' : ' forever diaguid Pr att la search t ,: hit fortune h-ld tight te tha windows sill evea ia the enc!.aated east!, aad . trembled. ' Already from ths bosom of the mil eame tke thunder of rolling barrtla of sugar, aad (vrlaoa-lik soaad) -thcr was a great rattling of rkaiaa , 11 the mule war herrled with tia elant bwpvweattoa 1e tkeir plates byi asg. -tk wagoa -tongue. A Lttlo vieioHS "diroimy" oagine, wi-h a traui of Ta? . ' ear in tow, (teaod rt?d fused es tks, -plantation top f tke aarrarw-gaute isiK reedTead a trUing, hurrying, kaUeeing. treswt of worker ware diary seem ta, he kalf darkaest toadlag tk traia with, the weekly oatpat ef nger. Iter era a pnic; aa epio aay, a tragtdy witb. work, tk e&ri ef tk wvrld. f .- it. thm. Tke Decern her air waa trm?r Id wt bek t kj-ea Wkiatus Paws face. ftruafr ki-h9dr-wa ; (Comti-wd "a-: pegr ttaty-wa
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 19, 1915, edition 1
17
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