The ledger. [volume] (Gaffney City, S.C.) 1896-1907, September 18, 1903, Image 6
ABNER
DANIEL
CopyriRhl, 1902, by
HAR.PER © BROS..
Who Publish the Work
In Book Form. All
RitfbU Resprved • •
♦ * ♦ ♦ * 4't 1 F ♦ 'M"* 'P ♦ ♦ * »•M' fr* *.
By .. .
WILL N.
HARBEN
Author of
“XOtsUr/'U”
M
CHAPTER XII.
jlLLEK accompnni<*(l Alan to
tho door. Old Trabue sto<»d
in front of his office In his
shirt sleeves, his battered silk
hat on the back part of ids head. lie
was fanning himself with a palm leaf
fan and freely using his handkerchief
on his brow. He Itowed cordially to
Alan and came toward him.
“I want to ask you,” h»‘ began, “has
Pole Raker any way of raisin’ money?”
“Not that 1 know of,” knight'd Alan.
“I don’t know whether he’s got a clear
title to the shirt on his back, lie owes
everybody out our way. My father is
supplying him on time now.”
“That was my impression,” said Tra
bue. "He wanted me to.defend him
the other day. but he couldn’t satisfy
me about the fee, an’ I let him go. He
first said he could give me a lien on a
mule, but he finally admitted that it
wasn’t his.”
“He’s not in trouble. Is he?” ex
claimed Alan, suddenly recalling Mrs.
Baker’s uneasiness.
Trabue looked at Miller, who stood
leaning in the doorway, and laughed.
“Well, I reckon he might call it that.
That chap owned the town two days
ago. He got blind, stavin’ drunk an’
wanted to whip us from one end o’ the
place to the other. The marshals are
afraid of ’im, for they know he’ll shoot
at the drop of a hat. an’ the butt of it
was stickin’ out o’ his hip pocket in
plain sight. Was you thar, Rayburn?
Well, it was better ’n a circus. Day
before yesterday thar was a sort o’
street temperance lecturer in front o’
the Johnston House, speakin’ on a dry
goods box. He had a lot o’ gaudy pic
tures illustratin’ the appearance of a
drlnkin’ man’s stomach an’ liver com
pared to one in a healthy condition.
He was a sort of a snide faker out fer
what he could git dropped in a hat, an’
Pole tvas sober enough to git on to his
game. Pole stood thar with the rest,
jest about able to stan’, an’ that was
all. Finally, tvhen the feller got
warmed up an* got to screechiu’, Pole
begun to deny what he was sayin’. As
fast as he’d make a statement Pole
would flatly give It the lie. The feller
on the box didn’t know what a tough
customer he had to handle or he’d ’a’
gone slow. As it was, he p’lnted a fin
ger o’ scorn at Pole an’ belt ’im up fer
a example.
“Pole wasn’t sober by a long shot, but
you’d ’a’ thought he Avas, fer he was
us steady as a post. He kept grinnin’,
as cool as a cucumber, an’ sayin: ‘Now
you knoAV yo’re a-lyin, stranger—Jest
a-lyin’ to get a few dimes dropped In
yore hat. You know nobody’s stomach
don’t look like that durn chroino. You
never seed inside of a drlnkin’ man, an’
yo’re the biggest liar that ever walked
the earth.’ This made the crowd laugh
at the little, dried up feller, an’ he got
as mad as old Nick. He begun to tell
Pole his liver was swelled from too
much whisky an’ that he’d bet he Avas
jest the sort to beat his wife. Most of
us thought that’d make Pole jump on
’im, but he seemed to enjoy naggin’
the feller too much to sp’ile It by a
fight. A nigger boy bad been earryln’
round a bell an’ a sign advertisin’
Webb’s auction sale, an’ stopped to see
the fun. Pole heerd the tinkle of the
bell an’ tuck it an’ begun to ring it in
the lecturer’s face. The harder the fel
ler spoke the harder Pole rang. It was
the biggest racket ev'er heerd on a pub
lic square. Part of the crowd—the
good, church folks—began to say it was
a disgrace to the town to allow a stran
ger to be treated that a-way, sence thar
was no law agin public spetkiu’ in the
streets. They was in fer callin’ a halt,
but all the rest—the drlnkin’ men (an’
I frankly state I was one)—secretly
hoped Pole Avould ring ’im down. When
the pore d(*vil finally won, I felt like
yellin’ hooray, fer I glory in the pluck
even of a daredevil, if he’s a north
Georgian an’ white. The lecturer had
to stop without his collection, an’ went
off to the council chamber swearin’
agin the town fer allowin’ him to be
treated that a-way. Thar Avasn’t any
thing fer the mayor to do but order
Pole’s arrest, but it took four men—two
regulars an’ tAvo deputies—to accom
plish it.
“The trial Avas the richest thing I
eypr attended. Pole had sobered up
Jest enough to be Avitty. an’ he had no
more respect fer Bill Barrett’s court
than he had fer the lecturer’s platform.
Him an’ Barrett used to fish an’ hunt
together when they was boys, an’ Pole
kept callin’ him Bill. It was Bill this
an’ Bill that, an’ ns Barrett had only
been in office a month he hardly
knowed how to rise to his proper dig
nity, especially when he saw the crowd
was laughin’ at his predicament. When
I declined to defend ’Im, Pole attempt
ed to read the law on the case to Bar-
rdtt an’ show whar he was right. Bar
rett let 'im talk because he didn’t
know how to stop ’im, an’ Pole made
the best defense I ever het*rd from a
unlettered man. It kept the crowd in a
roar. For awhile I swear it looked
like Pole was goiu’ to eleer hisse’f, but
Barrett hud to do his duty, an’ so he
fined Pole thirty dollars, or in default
thereof to break rock on the streets fer
ten days. You ort to ’a’ heerd Pole
snort. ‘Looky heer, Bill,’ he said, ‘you
know as well as yo’re a-settin’ cocked
up thar, makln’ folks say “yore honor"
ever’ breath they draw, that I ain’t
a-gom to break no rock in that br’ilin’
sun fer ten days ’ca’se I beat that
skunk at his oavii game!’
“ You'll have to do it if you don’t
pay out,’ Barrett told ’im.
“‘Well, 1 jest Avon’t pay out, an’ I
won't break rock tiuthen,’ Pole said.
’You've heerd about the feller that
could lead a boss to Avater, but couldn’t
make 'im drink, hain't you? Well. Pin
the boss.’
“Yesterday Avas Pole's fust day on
tho street. They put a ball an’ chain
to one of his ankles an’ sent ’im out
wWh tho nigger gang, but all day yes
terday an’ today he hain’t worked a
liek. He's as stubborn as a mule.
Thar’s been a crowd around ’im all the
time. You kin see ’im standin’ up as
straight as a |K>st in the middle of the
street from one end of it to the other.
I’m sorter sorry fer Mm; he looks like
lie's ashamed at tiottom, Isjt don't
want to give in. The funniest thing
about the whole thing Is that Pole
seems to know more about the law
than the mayor. He says unless they
force him to work in the specified ten
days they can't hold him any longer,
an’ that if they attempt to flog Mm
he’ll kill the first man that lays hands
on him. I think Bill Barrett likes him
"Look heer, Bishop," he said.
too well to have Mm whipped, an’ the
whole town Is guyin’ him an’ axin’
Mm Avhy he don’t make Pole set in.”
Alan Avent down the street to see
Pole. He found him seated on a large
stone, a long handled rock hammer at
his feet. He looked up from under his
broad brimmed hat, and a crestfallen
look came Into bis big brown eyes.
“I’m sorry to see this, Pole,” said
Alan.
I’ojf; stood up at his full Ijeight, the
chain clanking as he rose. “They hain’t
treated me right about this matter,
Alan Bishop,” be said, half resentfully,
half as if he recognized his own error.
“Bill knows he hain’t done the fair
thing. 1 know 1 was full, but I jest
wanted to ImAe my fun. That don’t
justify him in puttin’ me out heer
with thi'se niggers fer folks to gap’ at,
an’ he knows it. He ain’t a friend
right. Mo an’ him lias slop’, together on
the same pile o’ leaves, an’ I’ve let Mm
pull down on a squirrel Avhen I could
’a’ knocket It from its perch, an’ I’ve
lent Mm my pointer an’ gun many an’
many a time. But he’s showed what
he is! He’s got the wrong sow by the
yeen, though, fer ef he keeps me heer
till Christmas I’ll never crack a rock
unless I do it by accidentally steppln’
on It. Mark my words, Alan Bishop,
thar'll be trouble out o’ this.”
"Don’t talk that way, Pole;” said
Alan. “You’ve broken the law, and
they had to punish you for it. If they
hadn’t, they would have made them
selves ridiculous. Why didn’t you send
me word you were In trouble, Pole?”
The felloAv hung his head and then
blurted out:
“Beca’se 1 knowed you would make
a fool o’ yorese’f an’ try to pay me out.
Durn it, Alan Bishop, this ain’t no
business o’ yore’n!”
“I’ll make It my business,’’ said
Alan. “How much Is your fine? You
ought to have sent me word.”
“Sent you nothin!. Akin Bishop,”
growled the prisoner. “When I send
you word to he’p me out of a scrape
that whisky got me into, PH do It after
I’ve decently cut my throat! I say—
Avhen you’ve plead with me like you
have to quit the durn stuff!”
At tills point of the conversation Jeff
Dukes, a man of medium size, dressed
in dark blue uniform, with a nickel
plated badge shaped like a shield and
bearing the words “Marshal No. 2,”
came directly toward them from a
stonecutter’s shop near by.
“Ixwik heer, Bishop,” he said dicta-
torially, “whar’d you git the right to
talk to that man?”
Alan looked surprised. “Am I break
ing the law too?”
"You are ef you hain’t got a penult
from the mayor In yore pocket”
“Well, I have no permit” replied
Alan with a good natured smile. “Qavg
you got another ball and chain handy?”
The officer froAvned off his inclination
to treat the matter as a jest. “You ort
Is allowed to laugh an' joke Avitb him
he'd crack about as many rocks as you
or me.”
“You are a durn liar, Jeff Dukes.”
said Pole angrily. “You are a-makin'
that up to humiliate me furder. You
know no law like that never was en
forced. Ef 1 ever git you out In Pea
Vine destrict, I'll knock a dent in that
egg siiaped head o’ yor’u an' make
them eyes 1 >ok two Avays fer Sunday.
You know a gentleman like Alan Bish
op wouldn’t notice you under ordinary
circumstances, an’ so you trump up
that excuse to git his attention.”
The two men glared at each other,
but 1’ole seemed to get the best of that
sort of combat, for the officer only
growled.
“You can insult a man when you
are under arrest,” he said, “beca’se you
know l am under bond to keep the
peace. But I’m not afeerd of you.”
“They tell me you are afeerd o’ sper-
its. though,” retorted the prisoner.
"Tltey tell me a little nigger boy that
was shot when a ixissle o’ skunks went
to whip his daddy fer. vagra-ney stands
at the foot o' yore lied ever’ night. Oh,
I know what I'm talkin’ about!”
“Yes. you know a lots,” said the man
sullenly as his eyes fell.
To avoid encouraging the disputants
furtlier Alan walked suddenly away.
The marshal took ivilling adigintage of
the opportunity and followed him.
“1 could make a case agin you,” he
said, catching up, "but 1 know you
didn't mean to violate the ordinance.”
"No, of course 1 didn’t,” said Alan,
“but I Avant to know if that fellow
could be released if I paid his fine.”
“You are not fool enough to do it, are
you?”
“That's what 1 am.”
“Have you got the money in yore
pocket?” The officer was laughing, as
if at a good joke.
“I have.”
“Well”—the marshal laughed again
as he swung his short club rouud by a
string that fastened It to his wrist—
“well, you come Avith me, an’ I’ll show
you a man that wants $30 avuss than
any man 1 know of. I don’t believe Bill
Barrett has slept a Avink sence this
thing happened. He’ll be tickled to
death to git off so easy. The toAvn has
deviled the life out of him. He don’t
go by whar Pole’s at work—I mean,
whar he ain’t at work—fer Pole yells
at Mm whenever he sees Mm.”
That night ivhen Alan reached home
he sent a servant over to tell Mrs. Ba
ker that Pole AA’as all right and that
he’d be home soon. He had eaten his
supper and had gone upstairs to go to
bed when he heard his name called out
side. Going to a window and looking
out, he recognized Pole Baker stand
ing at the gate in the clear moonlight.
"Alan.” lie said softly, “come down
heer a minute. I want to see you.”
Alan went down and joined him. For
a moment Pole stood leaning against
the fence, his eyes bidden by his broad
brimmed slouch hat.
“Did you want to see me, Pole?” Ala*
asked.
“Yes. 1 did.” the fellow swallowed.
He made a motion as if to reach out
his hand, but refrained. Then he looked
straight into Alau's face.
“I couldn’t go to sleep till I’d said
some’n’ to yu»i.” he began, Avith an
other gulp. "1 laid down an’ made a
try at it, but it Avasn’t no go. I’ve got
to say it. I’m heer to swear that ef
God or some’n’ else don’t shOAv me a
way to pay you back fer Avhat you
done today I’ll never druAr a satisfied
breath. Alan Bishop, yo’re a man—a
man from yore outside skin to the
marrow o’ yore bones, an’ ef I don’t
find some way to prove what I think
about you I’ll jest burn up! I got into
that trouble as thoughtless as I’d play
a prank Avitb my baby, an’ then they
all come down on me an’ begun to try
to drive me like a bog out’n a field
with rocks an’ sticks, an’ the very old
Harry riz in me an’ defied ’em. I
reckon thar Avasn’t anything Bill could
do but carry out the law, air’ll knowed
it, but 1 wasn’t ready to admit It.
Then you come along an’ rendered a
verdict In my favor when you needed
the money you did it with. Alan, ef I
don’t show my appreciation it ’ll be
beca’se 1 don’t live long enough. You
never axed me but one thkig, an’ that
Avas to quit drlnkin’ Avhlsky. I’m goin’
to make a try at it, not beea’se 1 think
that ’ll imy you back, but l*eca’se Avith
a sober head I kin be a bettor friend to
you ef the chance ever comes my way.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that,
Pole,” replied Alan, greatly moved by
the fellow’s earnestness. “I believe
you can do it. Then your wife aud
children”—
“Hang my Avife an’ children!” snort
ed Pole. “It’s you I’m goiu’ to work
fer—you, 1 say!”
He suddenly turned through the open
gate and strode homeward across the
fields. Alan stood looking after him
till his tall form Avas lost in the hazy
moonlight, aud then he went up to his
bed.
Pole entered the open door of his
cabin and begun to undress as he sat
on the side of his crude bedstead, made
of unbarked poles fastened to the bare
logs in one corner of the room. H-is
wife and children slept on two beds on
the other side of the room.
“Did you see Mm, Pole?” piped up
Mrs. Baker from the darkness.
"Yes. 1 seed Mm. Sally, say, whar’s
that bottle o’ Avhlsky I had the last
time 1 was at home?”
There Avas an ominous silence. Out
»f It rose the soft breathing of the chll-
jreii. Then the Avomam sighed. “Pole,
ihorely you ain’t a-goln’ to begin
igln?”
“No; I want to bu’st It Into smlther
ecus. I don’t want it about; 1 don't
want to know thar’s a drap in the
house. I’ve swore off, an’ this time she
•licks. Gi’ me that bottle.”
Another silence. Suddenly the woman
• >oke: “Pole, you’ve swore off as many
to have more sense than that.” be said
crustily. "Pole's put out heer to Avork
his time out. an' ef everybody ffi town
times as a dog has fleas. Often when
I feel bad an’ sick when you are off. a
drap o’ whisky makes me feel better.
I don't want you to destroy the last
bit in the house jest beca'se you’ve
tuck this turn, that may wear off be
fore daylight. The last time you ernp
tUxl that keg on tin* ground an’ SAvore
off you got on a spree an’ belt the baby
over the well an’ threatened to drap
Vr in ef I didn’t find a bottle, «n’ you’d
*a’ done it too. ’
Pole laughed softly. “1 reckon yo’re
right, ole gal,” he said. “Besides, ef
I eau’t—ef I ain’t man enough to let
up with a bottle in the bouse I won't
do it without. But the sight or smell
of it is hell itse'f to a lover of the
truck. Ef 1 was to tell you Avhat a
little thing started me on this last
spree, you'd laugh. I Avmt to git a
shave in a Isirber sliop, an’ Avhen the
barber finished he soaked my face in
bay rum, an' it got in my mustache.
I kept smellin’ it all mornin’ an’ tried
to wipe it off, but she wouldn’t wipe.
All the time 1 kept walkin' up an’
doAvu in front o’ Luke SeUinore’s bar.
Finally 1 said to myself, ‘Well, ef you
have to have a barroom stuck under
yore nose all day like a Avet sponge,
old man, you mought as well have one
whar it ’ll taste better, a-n’ I slid up to
the counter.”
The woman sighed audibly, but she
made no reply.
"Is Billy aAvake?” Pole suddenly
asked.
“No; you knoAV he ain’t," said Mrs.
Baker.
“Well, I want to take Mm in my bed.”
Pole stood out on the floor in the sheet
of moonlight that fell through the open
door.
“I wouldn’t, Pole,” sakl the woman.
"The pore little feller’s been toddlin’
about after the others, dwiggin’ bresh
to the heap tell he's Used. He drapped
to sleep at the table with a piece o’
bread in his mouth.”
“I Avon’t Avake Mm, God bless hi* lit
tle heart,” answered Pole, and he
reached down aud took the limp child
in his arms aud pressed him against
the side of his face. He carried him
tenderly across the room and lay
down with him. His Aotfie beard him
uttering endearing things to the un
conscious child until she fell asleep.
Fs Co~\s ipatic
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