Slippy McGee, Sometimes Known as the Butterfly Man

NG OF SL

the canning factory. It is a long walk from the Poles' quarters to the factory, and the workpeople must start early, for one is fined half an hour's time if one i

after dark. If you must pass it then you would better turn your coat inside out, pull down your sleeves over your hands, and be very careful to keep three fingers twisted for a Sign. This is a specific against most ha'nts, though by no means able to scare away all of them. Those at Dead Man's Crossin' are peculiarly malignant and hard to scare. Ma

et with the heavy night dew and covered with dirt, cinders, and partly congealed blood, for his right leg had been ground to pulp.

folks with more time at their disposal. One doesn't like to lose time and be consequently fined, on account of stoppin

window, lifted the mangled tramp upon it, and made straight for the Parish House; when accidents such as this happened to men such as this, weren't the victims incontinently turned over to the Parish House people? Indeed, there wasn't any place else for them, unless one excepted the

ver to me the heavy package found with him, stolidly requested a note to the Boss explaining their necessary tardiness, and hurried away. They had done what they h

ny physician less skilled and determined than Westmoreland he must have gone out. But Westmoreland, with his jaw set, followed his code and fenced with death for this apparently worthless and forfeited life, using all his skill and finesse to outwit the great Enemy; in spite of which, so

ust stared; he asked no questions. Presently, very feebly, he tried to move,-and found himself a cripple. He fell back upon his pillow, gasping. A horrible scream broke from his lips-a scream of brute rage and mortal fear, as of a trapped wild beast. He began to revile heaven and earth, the doctor, my

nerves being somewhat rasped; for I had helped Westmoreland through more than one dreadful

out for fair, that's what! Thankful? You make me sick! Honest to God, when you gas like that I feel like bashing in your brain, if you've got any! You and your t

ped, covered with thick reddish hair; cold, light, and intelligent eyes, full of animosity and suspicion, reminding you unpleasantly of the rattlesnake's look, wary, deadly, and ready to strike. When he thought, his forehead wrinkled. His lips shut upon each other formidably and without softness, and the jaws thrust forward with the effect as of balled fists. One ear was slightly larger than the other, having the appearance of a swelling upon the lobe. In this unlovely visa

uest Rooms, but somehow this seemed the saddest,

doctor, sighing with physical relief, said he was out of

ow, this morning I had to tell a working man his wife's got to die. There's no help and no hope-she's got to die, and she a mother of young children. So I have to try desperately," said the doctor, rubbing his nose, "to cling tooth and claw to the hope that there is Something behind the scenes that knows the forward-end of things-sin and sorrow and dis

had opened the oilskin package the Poles found, and it had given me occasion for fear, reflection, and prayer. I was startled and al

our sheriff one to turn to readily; he is not a man whose intelligence or heart one may admire, respect, or depend upon. My guest had come to me with empty pockets and a burglar's k

e convinced that not fortuitously, not by chance, never without real and inner purposes, are we allowed to come vitally into each other's lives. I have walked up the

s love, and before whom they come to kneel and pray for particular favors. I tilted the saint back upon his wooden stand, and thrust that package up to where his hands f

my study, where my books and papers and my butterfly cabinets and collecting outfits were kept, and set myself

py M

His Name

Over On

urglar

es were dated from Atlanta, and when I turned to the Atlanta pa

been so close upon his heels that he had been surrounded while "on a job." Half an hour later, and he would have gotten away with his plunder; but, although they were actually upon him, by what seemed a miracle of daring and of luck he slipped through their fingers, escaped under their very noses, leaving no clue to his whereabouts. He was supposed to be still in hiding in Atlanta, though as he had no known confederates

as a hobo because he liked the trade. He had been stealing a ride and he had slipped-and when he woke up we had him and he hadn't his leg. And if some people knew ho

iendly face, I came to the conclusion that if this were not Mc

hey explain themselves. I should never question your assertion that your name is Flint, and I sincerely hope

on the coverlet b

suggested truculently, "suppose you call me P

er

a grouch against Percy, can it, and make me Algy. I do

ing his flippancy, "I am also obliged to ask you what

want to know for? Whatever it is, I'm not able to do it now, am I? But

lint, or Percy, or Algy, just as I choose. Percy and Algy are rather u

med, and no squeals from skypilots about it, neither. Say! what you driving at, anyhow? If wh

king my eyes from his, "suppose, then,

d like a beast's claws, shot out ferociously. His face contracted horribly, and of a sudden the sweat burst out upon it so blindingly th

th skinned for fair and Nick Carter eating out of your hand! You damned skypilot!" His

on for this mistaken and miserable cre

bughouse owl!" he gritted. "Well, what you goin

ned your bag-and looked up the n

hing about it, don't you? Well, you got another think coming. I don't. Ever hear of a pegleg in the ring? Ever hear of a one-hoofed dip! A long time I'd be

to be Slippy McGee, flying from the police,

egarded me with pity a

s, but I was too slick; I cut it out. I knew if the dope once gets you, then the bulls get next. Not for Slippy. I've kept my head clear, and that's how I've muddled theirs. They never get next to anything until I've cleaned up and dusted. Why, honest to God, I can open any b

ost your leg, of course. But better to lose your

do but have my soul curry-combed and mashfed by a skypilot with both his legs and all his mouth on him! Ain't it hell, thou

the police-afterwards, when you are better, you may do so if you choose. You a

ols, I suppose. I'm no churchmember, thank God, but I've heard that once the

denly and inexplicably, as if I had gl

l hold of a thing-or a man-worth while, she holds on so fast that al

"It don't listen so horrible funny to me. And you haven't peeped yet a

the present. And God is good; perhaps He knows that you and I may need each other more than you and the police need each othe

lect; his forehead

se, "are you just making a noise wit

on the

me. And as I held his glance, a hint of

gasped. And then, as if ashamed

u or me any good, see? And say, parson,-forget Percy and Algy. How was I to know you'd be so white? And look here: I did know a gink named John Flint, once. Only he w

upon John Flin

lf," he agre

line, brought him his broth, which he took with a better grace t

n my mind, knowing you know, and not having to think up a hard-luck gag to hand out to you? I hate like hell to have to lie, except of cour

rso

el

et the notion in your bean I'm just some little old two-by-four guy of a yegg or some poor nut of

at I was more profoundly impressed than even he had any idea of. And

Flint," said I,

et-I felt hopeful. Although I knew I was tacitly concealing a burglar, my conscience remained clear and unclouded, and I had a calm intuitive assurance of right. So deeply did I feel this that when I we

e himself the least concern, beyond making the most casual inquiry. If I wanted the fellow, he was only too glad to let me keep him. And who, indeed, would look for a notorious criminal in a Parish House Guest Roo

but "Madame" and whom, like Clélie, he presently obeyed with unquestioning and childlike readiness. Now, Madame is a truly wonderful person when she deals with people like him. Never for a moment lowering her own natural and beautiful dignity, but without a hint of condescension, Madame manages

angelic patience with weakness. They were both rather quiet and undemonstrative, this father and son; the older man, in fact had a stern visage at first glance, until one learned to know it as the face of a man trained to restraint and endurance. As for the boy, no one could long resist the shrewd, kind youngster, who could spend an

im with a sledge-hammer, if you want the truth. You know, he always seemed to like me to read to him, but I've never been able to discover whether or not he l

what adamantine pick,

book.

n't. I g

e!" said

resented it, been impervious, suspicious, hostile. I look

ious, "did you happen

for everybody. So I thought there'd be something in it for John Flint, and I tried it on him, without telling him what I was giving him. I just plunged right in, head over heels. Lord, Padre, it is a wonderful old book, isn't it? Why, I got so lost

ild beasts at Ephesus," I said hopefully. "I dare sa

l more than once-to stiffen our backbones. So I'm going to turn the fighting old saint loose on John Flint.

his head, and I looked after him with the warm and comforting

to law as a duck to water. Brave, simple-hearted, direct, clear-thinking, scrupulously ho