Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-28
CHAPTER XIV.
CoeTNcNTCo 1884 ey An,cs

Although surprised aud confoupded
~ the sudden turn of events, Uncle Ben
nd NOT entirely lose his head. When
hr hoard the men crying out for revenge
and looked into their pitiless faces. he
i,lt that his last hour had come. And
vet the devotion of the ola slave WINS
never better illustrated than in what
followed. AS n portion of the crowd
started for the house. no doubt fully ex-
rcctiuc tu find Kenton there. the old
man shouted 1T the top of his voice:
Cum back yere-cum hack! Yo'
Ein Kill me II yo' wants to. but fur
coi's sake doan' put yo'r feet in dat
hanse,"
What's the matter?" asked one as
the gang came to q halt.
De ole nissus am lyin in dar dead
~ all alone, an it hain't fifteen dat yo'
should 90 in!'
WARS that Yankee? whar's the
gal: Whar's Steve Braytonl" was
shouted 1T him.
Dun goac-all dun gomez he an
swcrcd. It's jest like l tole yo'-uo-
holy in dar but dc dead missus!,
'tio ON, 20 on!'' yelled Ike Baxter.
hut look out fur yo'selves! The hull
crowd Of EN- ar in thar. and they'll
likely make a fight fur it,
The men cautiously entered the house,
firearms held ready for instant use, hut
at the end Of seven or eight minutes
they came ont to report that the cussed
lIl Niger" had told the truth.
D. 4.
they told of the corpse en- the bed.
WAL. I'm goin TO burn the house lest
the same. though mebbe Some of yo'
M, will lug the body outdoors fust.
Time nun fur that after we git through
with this old Niger. Ran he un up to
that post. Now, then, chain him there.
N9' old black devil. but I'll make yo'
s1fcr fur the rap yo' Civ me last night,
I'm guln TO begin at yo'I chin and skin
yo' clar down 70 yo'r heels, After
y0'vc lin skun we'll build a fire around
yo' and roast what's left.'
He went TO his saddle for rawhide.
one he had seemingly brought along for
'ha occasion. When he returned with it.
Uncle Ben was stripped of coat and vest
ana hls shirt torn away from his shout
doris. They We're going 10 take his life,
not mcrcitully, ms one kills savage
beast Ir bullet through the heart or
brain. lut they would torture him for
hours perhaps. He could not fail to re-
a.isc this. but he did not beg for mercy.
lie simply shut his eyes and prayed q cd
." give him strength to endure every
ffru.a g. l., gat-. IS -, l..
down the road. He would be asked to
h't~ay them. His refusal would bring
other fortunes, but he would refuse.
Now. then, yo' black hound, whar
ar the rest of the folks" demanded
Tx" Baxter as he walked up TO Uncle
Ben and ilourished the cruel whip.
I'VE. be knows the exact spot whar
they ar hidin. and he's got to tell!'
shouted two or three in the crowd.
OF co'se he knows. and I'll hev ii
outer he TN mighty quick.' replied Ike
III gpin to give yo' powerful lickin,
ole man. fur the way yo' banged me last
night, bat IL make it lcctle easier if
YOU tell whGr they all is hid away
has nuthin to say" quietly re-
Piled the old man rs he looked about
him.
What! Yo' won't tell me?'
Give it To- him! Cut his hide into
strings" yelled the crowd.
tke responded Ivy striking Uncle Ben
about 20 blows across the bare back
Each blow raised welt. and as each
on" iell the victim strained and tuggcd
~ his lasIings. Uncle Ben had been
wairpcd tine night before. bat that was
NOR" III tine nature Of an assault or AZ
attack by armed men. For the first
tiiuo in his life he had been tied up and
his back barred. He felt the shame and
iiiisuity almost rs much as the blows.
lu' kin see what brung on this yere
war. said Ike IA he paused for breath.
Them air Yankees was telliB our mig
gers that they was Jest as good as thar
masters. Yeru's case of it right yere.
u he'd bin my Niger, he'd hev bin as