The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-21
lHAKlES MNG,y
1887 CHARLES KING;

SAT BY CHARLES KING;
| ringing voice that S short a time be-
fore had called for the surrender of the
safe. edward Harvey, we pledge safe
conduct for you, your sisters and your
party. Here is your wagon ready, your
team hitched in. Throw your arms out
of the door. Come forth as you please.
Put the senoritas in the wagon. Look
neither to the. right nor left, but drive
away, and God be with you. We have
no quarrel with you and yours. We
war only with these soldiers who have
killed our chief"
Put yourself in his place. Death for
him, perhaps for them-dishonor any
way-was all they could look for if no
s came. Was it not his duty to
his parents, to his sisters, eve to God,
to accept these terms-to withdraw his
little force? Why should he be peril
ing such precious lives and names in
the defense Of a government official who
had been sc wreckless as to part with
his guard and put himself and his funds
in such a predicament? From the 9th
er room, in which the major now lay,
feebly moaning, no word of remon-
STRANGE came. Even in their extremity,
then, the soldiers of the government
would not urge that he stay and en-
counter further peril in their defense.
One of the dragged troopers was begin
ming to regain some atom of sense, and
sitting UP was miserably asking what
had happened, what was the matter
now.
go and douse water over your ID
worthless head, Mullan," he heard the
sergeant say. So Feeny vas evidently
alert as ever and must have heard the
proposition from without. At his feet,
huddled close to the floor where the
thick smoke was least distressing, Fan
ny and Ruth still chung to M another,
the latter trembling at the sound Of the
voice from without. But Fanny had
quickly, eagerly, raised her head to lis
ten. For a moment no reply was made.
Then cane the impatient query:"Har-
vey, do you hear? You have no time
to lose. You have but a minute in
which to answer"
Major" he burst,forth at last in an
agony of doubt, "you hear what they
say, you see how I am fixed. IF l were
here alone, you would never need to ask
my serlces-I'd fight with you to the
bitter end--but think of my father, my
mother, if anything befall my sisters.
Can nothing be done?"
From the lips of the stricken paymas-
ter there came only a groan in reply.
"I fear he cannot hold out long, Mr..
Harvey" muttered the clerk. "Idoubt
if he heard or understood you"
"Well, why not let them have the
safe if they'll guarantee that that is all
they want? How much have you there:
I feel sure my father would make it
good"
There's over $25, 900, Mr.. Harvey"
We'll, if it was only 25 cents, MI.
Ned Harvey, all I've got to say is devil
a wan Of them would they get 80 long
as I could load a shot or pull a trigger.
Go you, if you will. Take the leddies
by all means if you think it safer, but
before I'd trust the wan sister I ever
had-God rest her soul-to the prom
ise Of any such BLACKBOARD party as
this, I'd bury my knife in her throat
An awful stiffness followed Feeny's
words. For an instant there was no
sound but quick beating hearts, the
mutterings and complainings OF poor
Mullan, staggering about in search OF
his carbine, the quickened breath and
low moaning of poor old Plummer.
Then again came the loud hail from
without:
'sOnce more, Ned Harvey, will you
come out and be saved or stay there
and roast? Surrender now and you're
all right; but, by the God of heaven,
if you refuse it's the last chance for you
or those you were fool enough to bring
here. Think for your sisters. man.
There's no hope for one Of you If you
delay another minute"
And then it was a womans voice,
tremulous bat clear.
Med, wasn't it to save Us that Major
Plummer sent his men? Wasn't it for
our sake he gave up all his escort?'
1T was, Fan, yes-at least he thought
So"
And now you would desert him,
would you? Leave him to be murdered
by these robbers. the worst gang we
ever had or heard Of? I say you shall
not. I for one will not go into their
hands. Ruth cannot go without me.
Stay and fight it out, Ned, OF you're
not your fathers son."
Fan! Fan! you're a trump! God
bless your brave hearth cried Harvey.
lit seemed cowardly to 60, yet the re-
sponsibility was more than I could
bear"
MAY the saints in heaven smile on
your purity face for all eternity" NUT
tered Feeny in a rapture of delight.
"The Young Teddy is right, Mr.. Har-