The morning call., 1892-11-06

she concluded, sternly recalling her duty
again, mo conversation wild de patient"
But CORTLAND had winning ways with all
dependents But you will answer NE one
question, SOphy, aud I'll not ask another.
Has" he hesitateG in his still uncertainty
as to the actuality of his experience and its
probable has-Cato-escaped?" ?"
III yo' mean dat sassy, bull-nigger ober-
seer OBJ yo'se. cun'el he's safe, vo' beti' re-
turned Sophy. sharply: safe in his own
qua'tahs night afo' las, after braggin'
about the bloodhaowns be killed; and safe
oOer ds county line yes'day moan'in. after
kicking up all dis rumpus. Ii der is a sassy,
bigh-falutin niger l jiss 'spises it's dat
black niger Cato O. yo'sel Now" relent-
ing, "yO jss wink yo' eye, honey, and don't
excite 20 self an get annuder word out o.
Sophy, shuah."
AS if in obedience, Courtland closed his
eyes. Bnt even in his weak state he was
conscious of the blood coming into his
cheek at Sopby's relentless criticism of the
man for whom he just perled his life and
position. Much of 1t he felt was true-but
how far had he been dupe in his Quixotic
defense of a duarrelsOme blusterer and
cOwardly bully? Yet there was the un-
mistakable shot and cold blooded attempt
at CatO's assassination And there were
the bioodhounds sent 10 track the unf0rtun-
ate man! That was no dream-but brutal
inexeussble fact!
The medical practitioner of Redlands. he
Temem bered. was conservative, old fash
iOne0 and diplomatic. But his sympathies
had been broadened by some army expert
ences. and CORTLAND trusted TO some SOL
dierly and frank exposition of the matter
from him. Nevertheless DIR. Maynard was
first healer, and like Sopby professionally
cautious. The colonel had better not talk
about il now. 1t was already two days old:
the colonel had been nearly forty-eight
hours in bed. 1t was a regrettable affair,
but the natural climax of long con-
tinued political and racial irritation-and
not without great provocatIon! Assassina-
tlon was strong word; could Colonel
Courtland swear that Cato was actually
aimed ar, or was it not merely demonstra-
ton to frlghten the bullying negro? 1t
might have been necessary TO teach him a
lesson, which the colonel by this time ought
to know could only be taught TO these infe-
rior races by fear. The bluodhounds! Ah
yes-weli, the bloodhounds were, in fact
only part of that wholesome discipline
Surely Colonel Courtiand was not so foolish
as TO believe that, even in the old slave
holding days, planters sent dogs after runa-
ways TO mangle and destroy their own
property? They might a, well at once let
them escaped No, sir. they were used only
to frighten and drive the niggers out
of the swamps, brakes and hiding
plaees-as no niger had ever dared to face
'em. Cato might lie as much as he liked,
but every body knew who it was that killed
Major Reeds hounds. Nobody blamed tie
colonel for II, not even Major Reed, but
South he'd have known it wasn't necessary
to do that in self-preservatioD, as the hounds
would never have gone for white man.
But that was not a matter for the colonel
TO bother about now. He was doing well;
he had slept nearly thirty hours; there was
DO fever; he must continue TO doZe off the
exhaustion OF his powerful stimulant, and
he, the doctor, would return later in the
afternoon.
Perhaps ii was his very inability to grasp,
In mt nv han foH t1ta laaF Ft.Il
sion Of the doctors meaning, perhaps be-
cause the physical benumbiDg of the brain
was stronger than auy mental excitement,
but he doZed again uaiil the doctor reap.
peared.
You're doing we'll enough DOW, colonel"
said the physician, after brief examina-
ton Of his patient, 'and / think we can
afford to wake you up bit, and even let
yea move your arm. You're luckier than
poor Joe Higbee, who wont be able to set
his leg TO the floor for three weeks to come.
j haven't got all the buckshot out of il vet
that Jack Dumont put there the other
night"
Courtland started slightly. Jack Dumont!
That was the name of Sally Dows' cousin,
OF whom Champney had spoken! He had
resouteiy put aside from his returning
memory the haZy recollection of the young
girls voice-the last thing he had heard
that highland the mystery that seemed TO
surround IL. But there was no delusIon in
this cousin-bis rival, and that of the equally
deceived Champney. He controlled him
self and repeated cOldy:
Jack Dumont"
'Yes; but of course you knew nothing of
all that while you were off Ia the swamp
there. Yet. by Jingo. it was Dumont's
shooting Higbee that helped you get off
your nigger darned sight more than your
killing the dogs"
81 don't understand" returned Courtland
cOldly
''Well. you see, Dumont who had taken
mp No'tb'n principles, / reckon, mora to
goad the Higbees and please Sally Dows
than from any conviction, came over here
that night. Whether lie suspected anything
was up, or wanted to dare Higbse for be-
devilment, or was only dancing attendance
on Miss Sally no one knows. But he rode
slap into Higbee's party, called out. If
you're out hupting, 10, here's chance for
Won 10 scorep meaning their old vendetta
feud, and bringing his shotgun up to his
shoulder. Higbee wasn't quick enough.
Dumont let's fly. drops Higbee and then gal
lops off, chased by the Reeds to avenge
HIgbee and followed by the whole crowd
to zee the fun, which was little better than
nigger-driying. And that let you and Cato
cut, colonel
And Dumont~
SGot clean away to Foxboro station.