The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-07-26
"wHAT! WOULD YOU KILL WOUNDED MANr'

WHAT! WOULD YOU KILL WOUNDED MANr
"Foh twenty-five vas is been a prayin' t.
de debil to give me a chance to kill dat man
an I'll kill hate him Il hate himr'
In the momentary glances Colonel Mason
had been able to give the belligerents. he
discovered that the white man was Dick
Sneed and the negro Blackhawk. Never
had he seen such picture of rage and fury
in his life as the negro presented. He was
more like some ravenous beast than a
human, his eyes almost started from the'v
sockets, he was foamng at the mouth and
lie had CRASHED his teeth until the froth
about his lips had grown crimson.
Blackhawk, you shall not kill helpless
man." cried the Colonel, fiingng himself
from his horse before the furious negro.
~ will, by I'll kill UNI if l hab to Kill
you fust''
Luke had rot considered wat a furiou.
mailman he had to dealwi:.l until the negro
aimed a blow at his head, which, if he bad
not parried it with his sword, would have
killed him On the spos With such force
was the blow given that it shivered his
Srusty blade. Luke wa. almost as furious
IS the negro, and hurting the broken hilt
INTO the blacks face, he closed in on him
and,whipping out his revolver, struck Black,
hawk such blow on the head with the butt
of the heavy weapon that he sent him
down TO the earth insensible
Turning to Dick Sneed he found him on
his feet.
Here, Dick, quick, mount my horse and
fly for your life. That negro will kill you
if he ever lays eyes on you"
He lifted the still dazed man in the sad
die and started the horse away at gallop.
which the Confederate kept up until out of
sight. Luke then turned toward Black
h>wk, who was just getting up. Not know
ing what the black might do. he cooked
his pistol, intend ing to shoot him, should it
become necessary, to preserve his own
life. The negro noticed HIM, and in deep.
solemn voice said:
XII me, mdssd, and dc secret OBJ yo' birf
Sscs''
he was cool and reasonable once more, and
Luke lowered his revolver. astonished at
the strange words so solemnly uttered.
Colonel Mason stood for a moment stupe-
fed, and then demanded:
What do you mean"
Il kin tell We mo- bout yerse'f dan We
knows, massa; but Ill not tell We now"
Yes, you will" Luke's teeth were set,
his eyes glaring with intensity, and he was
painting with excitement. If you know
any thing Of this mystery of my life will
have il, if l have TO wiring it from you''
. won't tell you now-'iore God won't
tell s long as dat man lives; when he dies
tole ye''
Tell me now or die" He raised the
pistol. The negro, knowing that he held
the winning card, coolly folded his arms
across his breast, and, facing the furious
officer, said:
SHOOT, massa, an de trufe you'll nebber
know"
Colonel Mason turned aside, his heart
very faint and a mist coming over his
eyes. He leaned for a moment against
tree for support, and when he next looked
at the negro he had picked up his gun and
was coolly walking away.
Luke returned TO his command and with
what prisoners they had captured they re-
turned TO their quarters near Shiloh
Church. He deemed il best to tell nothing
of his adventure with Blackhawk and
Sneed, for it seemed TO be one link in the
dark mystery of his own life.