Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-10-21
An Episode of Ku-K luXlsm,
From Bricks without Straw Albion Tourgee'
New Book

FROM without STRAW, Albion IONrgeeH
New Book,
"Bring lightn shouted the leader.
One OF the men rushed into the house of
N INDUS and snaiChed a flaming brand
from the hearth. AS he ran with il out
of the front door, he did not see a giant
form which leaped from the waving corn
and sprang into the back door. he did
not see the black, furious face, or the
right arm, bare above the elbow, which
snatched sabre from the top OF cup.
board. He did not see the glazing, MUIR
derous eyes that peered through the vine
leaves as he rushed, with flaming brand
aloti, out OF the house 10 the hut OF Eliot
AS he reached the door, the light fell up
on the preacher, who sat upon the bed
The fear OF death had passed away, even
the fear OF suffering had gone. His lips
owed in prayer, the forgiying words min
Cling with the curses of his assailants:
80, God, my help and my shield !"
C'Here he is,-God damn hlmrD For.
give them, Father"--C'l've got himpD
For they know not--a-a lh
A long, shrill shriek the voice of
man overborne by mortal agony--souud-
ed above the ClRmor Oh curses aud ABOVE
the roar Of the blazing church. There
wss fall upon the cabin tloor--the gIat.
ing sound OF body swiftly drawn across
the surisce-and one of the masked ma.
raudeFs rushed out, dragging by the foot
the preacher OF the gospel OF peace. the
wthered leg was Slaughtered. The weak
ened slnews were torn ssunder, and rs his
captors dragged him into The light, and
flung the burden away, the limb dropped,
AK and nerveless, TO the ground. Then
there were blows and kicks aud curses
from the crowd, which rushed upon him.
La the midst one held a,oft blazing
brand. Groans and fragments of prayer
/ came up through the din.
All at once there was a roar as OF des-
ert lion bursting from It's lair. They
looked and saw huge black form leap
from the porch Of the other house and
bound towards them. He was on them
in a minute. There was the swish OF a
sabre swung by q practiced hand and
the big Ia peaked mask OF tho leader bent
over the Kissing blade, and WAS stripped
away, leaving Il pale, aHrighted face glar-
ing stupidity at the ebon sagel Of wrath
IN the lurid freight. A fearful oath came
through the white, strong teeth, which
showed hard set below the mu staChe.
Again the sabre whistled around the head
OF the avenger. There vas shfieK Of
mortal agony, and one Of tho nasQuerad-
ers tel! The others shrunk back. One
fired shot The mau with the torch
stood for moment as though trsnefiXed,
with the garing light still held aloft,
Then, with his revolver, he aimed close,
sure shot at the dusky giant whom he
watched.
Suddenly be saw woman's naked fig
ure, that seemed TO rise from the ground.
I mere was u CLEAN of steel, and then down
through the mask and flesh snd bone
crashed the axe that had fallen by The
doorstep, and the blood spurted upon Luz
gena's unClothed form and into the face
of the PROSTATE Elisb, as the holder Of
The torch tell beside him. Then the Others
gave way, and the two black forms pur-
sued There were some wild shots fired
back, as they hed towards the WOODS be
mind the road.
Then from its depths came dash and
. roar l. ball went shrIeBIug by them
and flew away into the darkness beyond
Another, and another, and another! IL
WAS lot the sharp, short crack OIL the re-
vOlver, but the fierce, angry chsi,erEe Of
the rifle. They hsd heard il before upon
the battlefield, and error lent them wings
as they fed. The missiles flew here and
tlere, Wherever = N tsked form could be
seen, and pursued their fleeing shadows
into the wood, glancing from tree TO tree,
cutting through spire and branch and
splintering bole, until the last echo Of
their footsteps nsu died away.
Then all was still, except the roar Of
the burning church and the solemn
soughing OF the pines, as the rising west
wind rushed through their branches.