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The Seaforth News, 1932-02-25, Page 6PAGE SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1932 John Uri Lloyd (Continued from last week.) Time and again had he riddenon horseback into that vild'age unnoticed; but now, he was stared at by men and women, Hollowed by hooting boys and preceded by sna'rl'ing ,dogs, for each boy owned a dog, which, as his young master fel'( into dine, sprang from cov- er and joined the four -footed advance gu'ar'd. Thus 'Cupe, with his snow- white beard, his bleached woolly pale, his shiny, ,wrinkied .face, his garment's of patches- of many colours, was ush- ered to the jail of 'S'fringtown Cbuu ty. The troop of snappin'g dogs, that included in its membership every species, fro'in a short, ben'c'h -legged fice to one gaunt coon hound, moved in front; on either side of the prison- er rode an officerof the law, while behind came the troop , of urchins, black and white. The advance -guard needed no director; on they went to the blind street that •led to the coun- tyejail; into this the troop of dogs turned, and simultaneously arranged Themselves about the entrance to the, jail. Too well did they dumb brutes as they were, know the ending of the journey of these horsemen. Then, amid the clustering of boys and dogs, the three horsemen dismounted and pressed their way through the gap- ing crowd. A heavy knocking at the door brought the "Innkeeper," who signed a paper handed him by the sheriff; the form of the .black man vanished within the gloomy struc- ture; the two officers rembun'ted, and, leading the riderless horse, turned back toward the world without; the boys and dogs scamp'ered after them, and the back street was vacated by every creature -with one exception. The great, gaunt, old coon hound,. with lank sides, made no Movement when the others departed; he stood with drooping ears and uplifted nose silently facing the door by which the negro had entered. His nostrils sniffed the air, his ungainly tail slow- ly wagged back and forth, his long, red tongue -lolled from between two ivory incisors, and from its tip an oc- casional drop of spittle fell upon the earth. Motionless he stood with eyes set upon the grim door; and then, dos- ing them, he his nose straight up- ward, and from his throat a • long, plaintive howl arose that, beginning low and weird, reached to a height seldom heard from hound's throat, and then, descending, died away in plaintive sadness. Again the dog howled and listened; and not hear- ing a reply, again, louder than before, he bayed the silent door. This last appeal seemed to bring an answer, but one that human ear could not have caught, Turning from his place, the .animal crossed the narrow street andcarefully selected a bed of thick dog -fennel beneath a clump of wild black currant bushes, turned "three times 'round;" sinking each time low- er than before, and then dropped up- on the earth and curled himself in- to a heap, where with eyes closed, ,his sentinel nose pointing toward the new home of his •old master, he lay motionless. The jailer conducted Cupe to the second story of the jail and halted before one of the hack cells. "If it am pertinent to de occasion," said Cupe, "before you go to de trouble of opening de door, de prison- er would ax a quistion." "Certainly," said the jailer, "For same folks dis here room ain a'i'l that can be, expected, but for me, if it am de same to you, a front room am more to d'e taste." The jailer thrust his key into the lock, "You know very well that Cupe ain not going to make you no trouble, and he don't ax 0o-" the negro stopped, potbishand to his ear, 'as if listen- ing to`a soend..unfieard by the jailer —it was the mournful howl of his old hound -then gave a. sharp, ,penetrat- ing whistle,'aed continued his sen- tence—Plummy, If de front room am empty, it •won't cost you nothing more to open and lock that door in- stead of this here door. _A door am a door to de man what opens it, but there am reasons to de man what rests in de •room for wanting tq be behind one door instead .01 another." "Well, I don't see what's the use of growling at this room," said the jailer. "De fact ant, Marse Kindum," said the negro, 'quick to observe that in getting a reply he had gained a point, "that 'Cupe am not growling alt de room, but at de place de: room sits. in. !I1 de sunshine and de moonlight could come into de room you have select- ed for 'Cupe, there wouldn't be no sort o'f argunlest. But Cupe has seen de sunshine and de moonlight all of his life, and, he don't • know lust how long a spell' (he'll be here. Yo' have kn'o•wed Uncle 'Cupe •since yo' was a chile, Ma'se Kindum; yoah chilluns know him too, an' don't know no 'halm ob him meibher." The jailer • withdrew Ithe key, led 'Cupe to the front of the building and opened one of the two front rooms. With tattered hat,. in hand the neg- ro 'bowed and countesied as only one of the ;old black uncles of IKentucky could do, but his profuse thanks were largely lost' upon the jailer, who with- out a word turned and departed. Stepping to the barred window, Cupe remarked: "De sunshine an' de moonlight am monstrous thin when these here windows ain considered, an' it am cut into slices by de iron bars, but Cupe hain't done nuffin' to make 'him afeard of light :what shine clear in de sky or froo 'cross bars ei- ther. Besides, he avant ,to .talk to his frien';" and pressing his sable face. against the 'bars old Cupe gazed in- tently up and down the street. "It am monstrous strange," he murmured, if Dgawge Washington hab gone back on Citpe." lFresently his aged eyes -caught sight of a weed in 'the opposite fence corner that, as his voice sounded, began to vibrate as if uniform blows were being struck upon it, an'd peering at the clump of 'dog - fennel at its +base he Made out the curled -up form of his 'faithful dog, who , with beating tail, raised nose and open eyes, was staring at the face of his master, "Ylo' ani only e d'awg," said 'Cupe, "but yo' have work to do, Dgawge Washington, before yourted git dull; put your 'head down an' stop your tads, an'd 'keep your sltrength ready fo' de time ob need•" } CHAPTER XVI Cupe in Jail Thus the jail •life of these two friends began; one con'ten'ted outside the bars, chained by love to 'him -with- in the cell; the other, seemingly not less ,contented, behind the grating. Loquacious Cupe and howling George Washington bath grew silent under the conditions of their Mate. 'T'he ne pro became sullen .and refused to talk concerning his "case"; and all the spirit seemed to have left The dog, who 1ived on day alter day seemingly, with- out food, 'but only seemingly, for the hound of Kentucky knows how to prowl at night. An attorney had been, provided by the Court to defend Cupe, bat the old darkey dedlined pos- itively, although politely, td• answer any questions or snake any statement beyond the fact, that "as the Court didn't git no advice from him t?begin wid, it didn'tneed none t'eacV ,wid. If de Count dotu't know its own business, it ain't for Cupe t' teach it." "But my .oibject is to help you." "Then, Mr. Lawyer, yo' nitay as well spare yeah breff, fo' Cupe don't need no help. He hail* done muffin' to'be 'scused for, he hain`t.,stolen nor hid no money, an' he dostit 'tend to hal no excuses made by laywers for what he hain't done." "B'ut y' u admit that the money was. stolen "Yo' am 'de man what say so—not me. Elf Cupe had said de money was stolen he would help.. find de thief, (But de 'facts am Cupe don't 'tend to defy Prov'dence. De law am mighty, ,hut de spell dm mightier, and you kin tear this "nigger's eyes out befo' he will cross' de wore*,' oh de sacred spell. De mon* am gone, Mr. Law - yer, it yin not to be seen, an, it• wili off, of it -burn de flesh an' scotch de stay gone until de sign conte right bone ob de ole nigger, no word will for it tomeome back, ' 'If the sign don't come right be- Tore Court opens, you will go to lk''rankfiort Penitentiary, Cupe. "Doh ecu honest hien. in de.pebiteu_ teary and t'ieves loose on de ocltsade, Mr. ;Lawyer, an' yo' can't make 'Cupe. try t' sarcumveut de signs by no sech argyntent as dat."' The days passed. A few weeks would bring, the convening of the 'Court. Not one word would Cupe sayy concerning the problem as to the aIi ap,pearance of . the money, •hat much -talked -about gold. At last the ,perplexed lawyer conferred with Judge Efford, of S.tringtown,, concern- ing •t'he case, and that personage made a visit bo the jail and appealed to the Stubborn ,pris!oner. IHe was ushered in- to the cell of his humble friend, wh'o appeared to be very much surprised at the honour extended by the unex- pected visitor, but quickly recovering' his wonted presence df mind, his first act was to apologise:for the barren- ness of his temporary residence, "Yb' mus' 'scuse de poverty .ob de s'`'idings, M'a'se Eliflodd,, "cause d'e fittings ob de room am fo' gussons what don't keer fo' 'fur ries. "Ef yo' had 'nounced de fac' dat yo' 'tended to call, de conveniences would hab been sect as de yocasiofi demands," "Never mind, the roam, Cupe; I came to talk .with you." " 'Deed, ara'se,; yo' 'sprise de ole nigger; take de chair." The judge •seated himself ' in the. only chair the cell afforded, and Cupe stood expectant 'before him. "Cupe, your attorney informs nye that you re'fused to give him informa- tion concerning the lost money. Now you know that I am your friend, and I have come from Stringtown `.ex- pressly to advise you to tell every- thing you know about it." ' Yio' alit my free; Ma'se Elford, 'deed yo'. is, an' Cupe hab lc nown yo' sense yo' muddah held yo' on her knee. When 'Cupe first saw yo' yo' was a .baby in de arm, an' now yo' hair am white." "True, Cupid, true." "`An' no man in all dis county ever say a word ob wrong'ginst yo', .Ma'se" (Efford. Yo' am a fres' t' Cape, yo' say, an' Cupe say, no bettah Irene could Cupe (hab." "Then, Cupe, do as I direct and be- friend yourself." "An' wlhat do yo' 'vase?" "Tell your attorney all you know concerning this natter. You are in a serious position and in great danger of going to the penitentiary for life," "Yo' doan mean it, Ma'se 'Elford?" Lupe said appealingly, "Yes, I mean ,that unless you tell all you know and assist in recovering this money it aria be my painful duty to sentence you to the penitentiary." "Et ain't ale .pen'tensh'ey,'Cupe don't keer fo' de pentensh'ry, it am de sah- ful advice yo gib. What 'hab Cupe done to yo', Ma'se, fo' to make yo' ax him to steal " "Cupel" exclaimed 'the astonished man, "`I ask you to steal! What do you mean?" "De money am not fo' (Cupe, et am not fo' de lawyah, et am fo' de chile. IDe spell say so, an' whoevah break de workin' ob de spell steal from de poor chile: Mase yo' mem'berlec' de day dat iCupe wait on de table when your weddin' was?" „yes," "An' yo memberlec' ,when de misses yo' lib was buriedin de earf, he Stan' by de grebe wid de strap in his hon'. Yo' ntentrlect what Cupe say den? As de pahson read ,out ob de good book alt' close de pagean' raise his eyes an' say, "Eanf to earf alt' dust to dust,' de shaddah .ob a cloud rise sud- den like, an' de great drops ob rain spabtah olbah de coffin lid, an' dey keeps a'fallin' while de shiney coffin case with bcin' sot down into cle grebe an' when Cupe rise up from holdin' de ahead -strap yo' wah lookin' into. Cupe's face, An' .den what did 'Cupe say?" 'Blessed are e the ileac the rain falls on,' replied the Judge, "I re- member very well how you said that' to me then," "Au' so do Cupe. And when Cupe Dosses t"elie; Ma'se, he doan- want no e!bid sign tto-follow him into de tome," "Of course not, ,Cupe." • "M'd'se, yo' 'spect to go to meet de sweet pearl de rant fell on when yo' kneel in de yeah dirt and bow de head?" "God knows I do, Cupe." "An' what loaf 'Cupe done dat yo' should 'ax 'him to go to de d•ebbil what hab de ole nigger dome to yo', Ma'se 'Elford?" "Nothing, Ctupid—nothing. I know too well your faithful heart to see you suffer as you surely must unless you assist thelaw in clearing up this mys- tery, which. I •finitely believe you can do.", "Ma'se Mond, Cupe kin 'souse you de sin you 'ax Cupe' to do cause you dean know what Cupe knows an' can't see; de ebil oh your words; but,de gold ani for de gear], and to dat in- percent r,hile it must, go. De spell ant wor'kin''out 'cordin' to de sign,' an' ef de law pull :Cape's arm an' leg he say to blame yo', I] f yo' be r de ledge to hab et done, no cry shall come dram Cupe. But when yo' ati Cupe to break cls worlcin' ob Ice sacred spell yo' raise de cteb'bil to burn de nigger's soul. - De sweet nrissus what die !wid her hand in Cape's hand, in de long day back, and a troop, ob an- gels, ant.on de uciclalt shore, and when (Cupe lay down an' die, and hisspirit go to de shinin' lan, he must say to de angel miss•us, 'Cupe did his duty by de chile yo', left, and he stand ,faithful by de chile Susie what come in his place.'- 'Ma'se Elford yo' am powerful welcome in de ,present 'bidin' place 01 Cape, but ef yo' keer fo' de 'feelin's •ab de ole brack man, doan ax him to steadmoney from de orfun chile, doan ax him to lose de sweet, smile oh de cleat missus what die in de ole mansion 'ab de long -ago. De breezes • Of summer am pleasant to a black skin, 'de 'sunshine feel good to de wrinkled face, but de pen'tensi ry. am tool, and de snigger ant used. to work, and if he die in de prison stand- ing up for de right of de orphan, he' will .step out of de prison .shade into de sunshine of Heaved." 'The man of ,law' was abashed and silenced by the rebuke of the unlet- tered negro. He sew that no Giving man could influence ,the fanatical slave. 'Rising, the judge 'hel'd out his hand. "Thank you, Marse (Elford for list- ening 'to de argyme'n't' of de ole nig- ger, but it breaks his 'heart to have you, go without talking a drink of milk or a drop ob swim's. Ho'w:so- ever, you will excuse de barrenness of de occasion, because Cupe didn't ex- pect such company." - The days passed swiftly. 'The en- tire community became deeply inter- ehted in .the pending trial. The large sum of money that bad disappeared from the iron chest in Cape's room the night of the (hurricane would have been a godsend to the attorneys, and the county as well, could it have been found, for it seemed ith'at the Corn (Bug had left no legal heir. So Cupe's anxious counsel strove to obtain a confession, apparently for the pur- pose .of saving tate negro from the penitentiary. "If de gold am gone, it am gone, and ,Providence doan want no nigger to pot :in his mouth," per- sisted !Cupe.. The key to the chest had been found on Cape's, person, in- deed he did not deny the' fact that the gold had been in his charge to the date. of its disappearance, but:° still he disclaimed secreting the money. At last the conviction became general that, realising that his master could not live 'until morning, Cupe had hid- den the gold before ire had started for the physician on that fearful New Year night. Immediately after the visit of Judge ]Elford his home Was ,sought by the lank village clerk, who stood nearly alone in that he, believed in •Cu•pds imocence, '•and so expressed himself to the (judge. Elford made no dec- laration concerning his own opinion, but said that his every argument had been usedin an endeavor to incluse the old negro to idisclose the location of the treasure. The judge volun- teered the information, however, that Cupe most determinedly resisted every appeal to ,assist in clearing him- self from suspicion of having . com- mitted the crime. He ,shook his head when! the clerk asked concerning- what might Ibe:the result to 'Cupe in case he remained steadfast. "The evidence is circumstantial, but sufficient to 'convict him." 1'An'd is there no chance ?" asked the self -constituted •champion. "None," ,the judge replied; "at least •nlone," he added, "that his attorney will think about.' The clerk looked up inquisitively., "No," Elford repeated, "none that• will likely 'be thought about," He went to his book -case, took ,from it a well worn volume, opened it and laid it otr !his desk. Then, as if in answer to a voice calling 'h'im, put his hand to his .ear and listened, "I s'h'all return in. a few, moments," he remarked, and passed from the room. There was on intimation in the tonne' rof the judge that a connection could be drawn between the legal document he had opened and the case of Cupe. Apparently the book had been taken dram the shelf with an olbeect that had no 'bearing on the presence sof the presence of the clerk. And yet' Mr. Wagner felt that in this book was the clue that Cupe's attorneyweeld over- look and'that the judge could not holi- onrably,'mention., He moved to the open .volume, and glanced atthe head- ing of the page. 'It was a repent' of a case in the Barren County Circuit i0ouet, bat the heading was ;sufficient ,for the'shlanp-eyed and quick-witted. clerk, who needed but oneglance, and then, before the judge :re-entered, stepped back to his place. 'Ar'o alitts!ion was made by either .elan to the open book. "Should you like to visit Cope ?" said the judge;' "you know hint ivell; perhaps you can draw from him the secret, and serve, the conim'onwealth 'where .others have, failed' "Yes,' replied the clerk; s "I shall go in the mopning," ' Juclge (Efford, salt -clown at his desk and Wrote an order, 'isir. , Joseph Kindtun, ' keeper of IStringtown county jail. ' 'Dear You will adinet'the bearer, Mr. Wag- ner, tothe cell of Cupid t Hardman as often, as he calls, and :permithiin to retiiain wiith .the poisoner each visit as long as he wishes, ((Signed) j. B. El for d.' The .clerk bowed himself out, the judge closed and replace'd the boo!:, :and then sat in meditation '"It is, the only ,c'hance` for misguided old ,Cupe, who Means no harts, he murmured; "God forgive isle if I 'have done a wrong." CHAPTER XVII. "Too Show for a Coon and Too Fast. for` a Possum" A curious spectacle was that' of M'r. IWiagner, who, after his interview with 'the judge, made repeated journeys l to the prisoner in the ,S4ringto'wn coun- ty jail. Astride • of a ]rule, his long legs nearly dragging the earth, . the man of mmsic.as well as 'letters pat- iently' rode back and forth. The or- der of the judge gavehim immediate access to the cell of Cupe, and his visits were invariaibiy of extraordinary length. Not a little curiosity was ex- cited in the mind of the jailer, who, hb'wever, reoogn!iain'g that the order of the judge 'relieved him fno•m ell re- sponsibility, gave himself no personal concern. The tongues of thevillage gossips naturally were not less active than were their minds; and every morsel of evidence, imaginary or oth- PROFESSIONAL CARDS. Medical DR H. H'UGII-I ROSS, Physician and Surgeon," Late of 'London Hos- pital, London, Englaad. ` Special attention to diseases of ehe.eye, ear, nose and throat, Office and regi demes behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone No 5; Residence Phone 104, DR. F. J. BIUIRIROIWS, Seaforth: Office and residence, Goderich street, east of the United Church, Coroner,. for the County of Huron, Telephone No. 46. 'DR. C. MiAOb{IAY,—C. Mackay, honor graduate of Trinity University and gold medallist of Trinity Medical Col'lege; member Of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. •LIR, F, J. R, F01RSITER--,Eye, Ear Nose and Throat, Graduate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto 1897: Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield'. Eye, and Golden Square • throat hospie tals, London, England. At Comm- ercial Hotel, 'Seaforth, 3rd Monday is each • month, from 11 a.m. to 3. p.m. DR. W. C. SIPIRIOAIT.--Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, Lon'd'on. Member. of College of Physicians and Sur- geon's of Ontario. Office in rear of wfse, concerning Cupe and his se - Phone drug store, Seaforth. er crve was, . chewed threadbare. The I Phone 9t5. Hours 1.30-4 p.m., 7.30 case became renowned.; A score of _g p.m. Other hours by appointment. "killings" could not have excited the igterest which this , mystery raised. •Cupe was the subject of general com- ment and s'pecula:fion, and could he have known the remarks that were made about him he would—provid- ing he was as vain and fond of not- riety as at that time were most of his race—have been a happy "nigger." Of these remarks, however, he rested in ignorance, occupying his time as best he : could 'between the interviews to ,which he was subljected by his at- torney and the visits of his friend, the Stringtown clerk. To be continued. Tbo appointment of W. 1R,. Pat- terson to be General Auditor, Canadian Pacific Railway, has been announced, effective Feb- ruary 1, over the signature of D. E. Lloyd, Comptroller, in succes- sion to G. C. Gahan, who died re- cently. Mr. Patterson, who was born in Toronto in 1890, is one of the youngest railway executives on the continent. Plans for a national champion- ship for grouse and woodcock chtzs are under way and New Brunswicl: Is considered as the best possible locality for staging the event. Field enthusiasts in the United" States recently held a nt,ctannto discuss the champion- ship and were greatly, influenced" by the advice of Ozark Ripley, well 'known sport writer, who strongly advocated the claims of New Brunswick. Inclicntibn` of the contribution made and being made to civiliza- tion , by tine engineering profession was demonstrated at. the 46th annual . convention of the • Engi- neering Institute of Canada held at the Royal York Hotel, . Toronto, recently. A' very wide variety of topics formed • the basis of sr-eeehes and discussions at the convention at which the most out- standing men in ,the profesalon were present. A little brown jug left Grand Pre, N.S., recently on a long jour- ney south to the Land of Dixie. Unlike the brown jug of the old song, it did not contain ale, or anything likely to excite' the U S. Customs officials: Just water from the historic well of.Evange line at Grand Pre Memorial' Park, site of the birthplace of Long fellow's heroine, The water will be used to christen the new 10,000 ton steamer "Acadia" to be operated on the run between. New York and, Yarmouth, N.S. Ski -tag, the sport that has had the greatest growth of any winter activity in the past decade, reach- ed its peak this year with thou- sands of skiers treklting out to the Laurentians, north of Mont- real, every week -end. Special trains are put at their disposal by the Canadian Pacific Rail- way. Similar week -end outings are encouraged by this railway' in all the great centres of Point - lotion and it takes a major place at all sport meetings across the continent, ` (822) Dental DR. J. A. Mlt0NIN, Successor to Dr. R.R. ,Ross, graduate of North- western University, Chicago, I.11. 'Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Sills' hardware, Main St., Seaforth. Phone 151. DR, F. J, Bfl20B ELY, graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto. Office over W. R. ,Smith's grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones, office 183W, residenn'ce 18507. Auctioneer: IGIE0R1GIE ELLII(OTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County, of Huron. Arrangements. can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteed. WATSON AND REID'8 REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succssors to James Watson) MAIN S'T., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at' lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP' Mutual Firelnsura ce Co. FAIRM AND ' ISOLATED. TOWN PIRIOIPIE1bTY, 0 iN L Y INSURED Officers - John Bennewies, 'Brod_ hagen President; Jas. ,Connodly, ,God- erich, Vice -Pres,; ID. ,F, !MtGre'gor, Seaforth 'No. 4, (Sec,-Trease 'Directors—(Geo, R. McCartney, Sea - forth No. 3; Alex. ` Broadlfoot, ISea- Iorth No. 3; lames Evans, ISeaforth No. 15;,IRobt. (Ferris, Blyth No. 1; Jas. Slholdice, Wallop, No. 4; John Pepper, lBrucefield; 'William Knox, .Londes- borough. Agents—Jas. Watt, IBdyth No. 1;,W. E, Hin'ch'ley, ;Seafiorth;:.J. A. Murray, (Seaforth NO. 3; W. 7, Yeo, 'Clinton ,No, .3; R. IG. IJarmuth, iBornhol'm. Auditors - Jas. !Kerr, ISeafonth; Thos. 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