Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-21

upon inc plan laNOraDly, out Wnen ene
turned to Steve Brayton he said:
Beg pardon, miss, but can't agree
with yo'. Yele ar the situation: Over
thar on the other road yesterday mawn-
in We uns was token fur Yankee spies.
He un's a Yank straight huff, but not
a spy, while I'm a purity good rebel, as
the t'other side calls us. We uns had a
fuss with a fool Of Confederate, and
he got help and tried TO run us down.
1t wasn't over two miles away that
dropped one and winged another. L.
that plain to yo', Miss Percy!"
Yes
WAL, them critters hain't goin to
give it mp without KNOWN who We ar
and all about us. We uns will hear
from them today fur shore. Then thar
is Ike Baxter to look ont fur. Pity yo'r
Niger didn't strike leetle harder and
finish him. but it seems that Ike got
away. He un was probably sent to spy
on yo', and yo' kin bet that Captain
Wyle and his critter company hain't fur
off. We shall also hear from them befo'
the days over"
We'll, suppose We do?' asked Ma
rian. Mr.. kenton has been true and
loyal to Virginia and the south. He is
here in Confederate uniform and has
only escaped from the Federals after be-
ing taken prisoner in another battle.
Suppose the Confederates do come.''
. That's yo'r way of lookin at it, Miss
Percy" said Steve as he twirled his hat
in his hands. MY way is leetle differ
ent. Captain Wyle. Ike Baxter and the
rest of the crowd want revenge. If they
find Mr.. kenton in yo'r house, they'll
take him ont and carry him off to some
camp. They'll use him rough. They'll
make charges. They'll stick right to
him till they hev his life. I'm not fig
germ on myself tall. If they don't
shoot me offhand, I'll git court mar
tailed and be chained up sumwhar till
the eand of the war. Fact is, Miss Per-
cy, I've jest about dun cut loose from
this glorious old southern confederacy
and gone over to the Yanks!''
Then what would you adviser
Leave he un right yere fur awhile.
We uns' got two guns and revolver,
and if the crowd comes we kin stand
'em of a good deal better than at the
house. Meanwhile let Uncle Ben sot out
down the valley to find the Yankee SOL
diers and tell EN- what's up. If huff
of 'em cum, and they cum in time, We
will be all right. If not, We might as
well say our prayers!"
Both Marian and Kenton realized the
situation as he presented it, and within
five minutes Uncle Zen had his instruc-
tions. 1t was believed that he would
run across Federal cavalry within 10
miles of Rest Haven. He was to ask for
General Custer, and if he found that
commander to ask him in the name of
the Percys to come at once. He was to
call at the house and say to Mrs. Baxter
that Marian would be home within an
hour.
And while yo' un's yere to look out
fur the patient" said Steve Brayton to
the girl as the old man moved away,
iii jest git ready fur the call I'm ex-
pectin.'
The camp had plenty of. natural de-
Tense, but by moving some of the bowl
ders with lever and using such stones
as he could lift as ''chinking" he had
the place proof against anything but ar
tillery within an hour. While he works
and Marian and Kenton plan let rs fol-
low Uncle Ben. He had been intrusted
with message to Mrs. Baxter. but on
his arrival at the house be failed to find
her. Entering her room in the guar
tiers" in his search, he found things in
such disorder that he felt certain she
had packed up a few articles and fed
from the place. Under no other circum-
stances would he have dared to look
into the bedroom of the "missus" in the
other house. Alarmed at the thought
that she was helpless and abandoned, he
ventured to intrude. She was lying with
her face toward him. and the first glance
brought moan 10 his lips. He called to
her, passed into the room, called again
and finally reached out and touched the
white and wasted hand resting on the
cover. 1t was cold as ice. He pushed
forward an old black hand which had
served her and hers for half a century
and more and laid it on her face.
"Fo' de great Lawd in heaben, but
de missus has dun died:' he cried aloud
as he hurried from the room with chat
tering teeth and trembling limbs. She
had seemed to be sleeping when Marian
left the house an hour or more before,
but she might have been dying then.
The old mans first thought was to hur-
~ back to camp and tell the girl what
had occurred, but as he moved away he
checked himself and muttered:
jest wait now till we figger a Ieetle.
De good Lawd has dun Token de missus
away, an my ole hearts ready to break
wild sorrow, but mustn't give up to de
feelin. Oars Miss Sunshine, an dar's
Mars Kenton an dat soger Steve, dey's
all alive an in danger. If l tole Miss
Sunshine, she couldn't do muffin now
'cept to wing her hands an cry. No, I
won't go back dar! I'll hurry up an
find dem Yankees an tell 'em to cum a
quick as dey kin!''
He had turned about in his tracks
when he heard great clatter up the
road, and next minute he was surround
ed by about 90 mounted men. Some