The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-05-25
GUILTY HANDS.

INHABITANTS OF ole squire tTodb0lt S
quarters were the only one who knew
that sign. Marin Hubby originated the
idea. She would stand in the midst of
d conclave Of woolly heads, and pointing
to shadowy clouds just rising above the
horizon would roll her eyes in most orac-
ular fashion, and her words would
emerge ponderously, as the telling blows
of a sledge hammer.
de smoke am 'cendin, she would
say, land de Yanks am hittin hard.
Chillun, we am gwine to lebe here
soon."
No M doubted her. They had great
faith in Marin Hubby, and she told their
fortunes in coffee grounds and chased
the witches away from their beds. But
there was n man who did not believe
in signs. That was Terror Fire. He
would grpnt~ disdainfully at her prognos-
tications and heap ridicule upon her
signs.
"Nebber yo' min, Terror Fire" she
would scream wrathfully, "some OBJ my
signs am gwine ter be yo' ondoin. Now,
yo' min. Yo' amt done been bit fo'
times by a moccasin fer muffin. OATS
sign enuff dat de debble am in yer.
Now, all yo' niggers hear me talkin?'
1--WE hears yo', Marin Hubby, T" they
would say, and Terror Fire would laugh
a loud, slow laugh and trot off to his
cabin. He was great, Terror was. He
was the surly, cynical Diogenes of the
plantation, and Squire Godbolt often
found it in his heart to obstruct some of
his sunshine, and once he was aided and
abetted by Marin Hubby. You see it
came about this way:
Attached to the 'big house, and not
far from the quarters there was a poul-
try yard, and in this poultry yard there
1ourished and grew many fowls of both
sexes. They were beautiful birds and
the pride of Mrs. Godbolt's heart. Very
well. There were more hens than roost-
ers; consequently the latter were rare
and much priced. However, there were
several ROSTERS, but one big fellow, who
was sultan of the harem. He ruled the
roost, and every morning Just at day
his voice wa the first living sound to
be heard. This fellow was named Adam
and was the apple of Mrs. Godbolt's eye.
She knew his crow from all the others
and every morning would arouse herself
to catch the liquid notes of his early
s~alutation; then she would fall asleep
again. satisfied that he was there.
But n day she awoke and listened,
and listened in vain, for the call of the
chanticleer. The shades of midnight
vanished, and the rising sun peeped in
through the cracks, and still no sound
had reused the sleeping world. Not a
cock had crowed. They were waiting for
the great lord to have his .'say, but the
great lords voice was silent, and Mrs
Godbolt's heart shuddered within her.
She awoke the squire, and together they
repaired TO the fowlhouse. There, on
the roosts and in the nests and on the
ground, were all the chickens, safe and
sound. all but-Adam. Mrs Godbolt
gave a little scream, and the squire
rushed into the house and blew the horn.
Madly, iercely, he blew it, and the
sounds brought all the negroes into the
yard.
Now" said Squire Godbolt, IT
want You all to listen, for I have got
something to say. You are all paying
attention.
Eyes, sah, they chorused, and Marin
Hubby whispered, de Emancipation am
done come; de smoke am a 'cendin from
Richmond"
But she was wrong; the next words
showed how wrong, and scattered ali
ecstatic hopes.
WELL roared the squire, Adam
is gone, and 1 am going to find him.
Now, the niger who has that rooster
step up and hand him over"
His words fell like a thunderbolt.
They ali knew Adam, and they saw
from the squire's determined look that
he meant what he said.
"Hand him over" reiterated the
squire, and every negro's knees shook.
But we amt got him, squire, an
how can we han him ober when we
amt got him?"
It was Terror Fire who spoke, and
some of them wondered at his nerve, but
Marin Hubby smiled and shook her head.
'Thunderationr' yelled the squire.
well, he's gone, and somebody's got
him, and I mean to find out where he is. -
They argued there for two hours, and
at the. end of that time were no wiser
than at first. Then Marin Hubby came
to the rescue. She stepped up to the
squire, and dropping q tcurtsy" wished
to have a word In private The negroes
were dumfounded.
Marin Huldy couldn't a-stole DAT
rooster. y they said. Marin Hubby am
hones'r'
But whatever Marin Hubby was con
Tossing it pleased the squire, and he
bowed his head and smiled two or three
times during the discourse. Then Marin
Hubby stepped back, and the squire adj
yanced to the front.
lyon may all go now. he said. but