Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-06-09
BY GARlEs B.lswS M.OUApS {


Pe"leo ut the door and backoned To
"o'her and daughter in an excited way
anu whispered: DE socers bey cum
inr de Yankee. an dev's pwine TO do
=" awful to HINT Dey wants he un
Gum outdoahs right smart!''
Marian. '' "'A''
why, dem soldiers dat's paradin M
az oown an maxim SIGH a fuss! OAR q
ooer hundred Of 'em aroun de house!''
And they want Mr.. Kenton?"
| les m-want him right bad.
neard 'em talk 'bout tar and fedders.'
Whispering to her mother to entertain
their caller, the girl excused herself and
r"sseu down the hall and out at the
'front.' door. Just as she opened it Steve
hrayton was reaching out to ring the
yell. Behind him were q dozen or more
| men.
Well, what is wanted:" quietly
asked Marian rs Steve pulled oft his
nat ana shifted about in nervous way.
N-nuthin. ma am, nuthin 'tall!' he
replied ms he backed off. THAT is, we
Jest considered that we'd better call
and-and'--
Dld You want to see any one here?"
Why don't you un tell herr" ex-
claimed Ike Baxter as he pushed him
self forward.
wal, ma am, We uns cum we're to
see somebody" continued Steve.
Yes, We uns cum to gee that Yam
keel" added Ike.
You mean Mr.. Kenton... ouer,ec
Marian.
That's it! They say he's Yankee
spy, and it's our dooty to hev little
talk with him.
Who says he's Yankee spy"
Reckon it was Duke Wyle. ma am,
and he orter to know. He's goin to be
hrst lootenant of our company, yo'
KNOW
And Mr.. Wyle told you that Mr..
kenton was Yankee spy, did he. de-
manded Marian as her eyes flashed and
her breath came quickly.
Yes, ma ram
steve Brayton. yo' un fool 7" call
a: voice from the crowd-the voice of
some ono who knew that Wyle was a
caller at the house.
He dun told me so, and it's left fur
Is to find out!" continued Steve, who
wanted TO square himself.
And you want to question him.
asked Marian.
AS a dooty, ma am, rs a dootv to
Virginny. Can't hev no Yankee spy
about we're. yo' know. We hahn t got
nuthin agin him as man. but if he un s
spyin on MS that's different. Will yo'
please call him out?''
NO! Three of You can come in and
question him.
Steve Brayton, Ike Baxter and Tom
Henderson followed her into the house.
while the Others crowded up on the
veranda to wait for what might happen.
Mr.. henton, some callers to see
you, said Marian as they entered the
parlor, and he rose up, with a puzzled
look on his face.
Steve Brayton had broken the ice and
recovered from his embarrassment. He
did not propose to do any talking.
kenton was either for or against. The
quickest way TO ascertain was to present
the enlistment paper. He took it from
his pocket. extended it to the young law
yer and said:
MIR. kenton. some folks around
we're ar talkin that yo' un's a Yankee
spy. Will yo' put yo'r name down on
this paper:'
Il will, and I'll go with Your COM
pauy whenever it is ready to go.'' was
the prompt answer as he drew a pencil
from his pocket and wrote his name.
which was the fifty-third on the roll.
Twenty minutes later Steve Brayton
and his companions appeared at the
hotel. where Duke Wyle was impatient
ly waiting for news.
We'll, Steve, is il tar and feathers?"
he asked as the crowd came up the
steps.
Does that look like tar and feath-
ers?" replied Steve as he handed out
the paper and pointed to the name of
Royal kenton.
What, he volunteered in this COM
pany!"
EXACTLY"
Ibid You threaten him?"
mot a threat! Reckon we'd better
make him second lootenant, eh?''
But Duke Wyle did not answer. He
sat and stared mt the name and was
dumb with amazement.