Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-11-11

"Hello. JEFF" the young fellows call
ed rs they rose from the piles OF stalks
before which they sat and sauntered
toward the fence.
you're a likely chap to talk about
work ridin' around the country on a
mewel, like they wern't no wirk to do
The rider grinned. Its too late to
musk corn, anyhow. You know South
C%arolinans are always about two
months late" Suddenly his voice
changed to a tone of joyous excitement,
and he bent over the pommel of his sad
die:
"Say, the knights meet tonight"
where do we meet?'
Jim Lyons barn."
"Well, I'll tell you this: we've got to
have a lot o pickets out, for the niggers
are excited. They have an idea that
something Is going on that would inter-
est them"
"Jim'll watch out for that. Well
SO long. Be on hand"
"We'll be there"
The country about st. Louis was ut
that time more secession than Union in
feeling, and, though the farmers of the
creek were pursuing their ways quiet
ly. they were ready at any moment
for an enterprise in aid of the South.
BY a swift and decided stroke Of mill
tary foresight, Frank y. Blair had cap
tured Camp jackson and its arsenal in
May, thus saving the city its NUM-
tons to the Union, but there had
sprung up all over the country Il secret
society in sympathy with the South.
These societies We're branches of the
knights of the Golden Circle. and it
was their hope that at some time they
might be able to do some decisive work
In aid Of secession.
Nv 40 O'Clock that night Jim Lyons
barn held a score of men of all ages
and sizes, and outside a circle of pick
cts kept watch that no prying negro
came within hearing distance Of the
loft in which the meeting was held. In
the center of the group, and doing most
of the talking, was Il big, black-whis-
kered mar of alert and vigorous man
ner. The members were launched or
sprawling about on the hay listening
in silence. At last the chairman wrap
ped for order and said in a low voice:
Brothers Of the circle, you are called
together tonight because there's work
to be done. You've all been just achin'
to do something for the cause. and
now's yo' chance. We've had to keep
our mouths shet. We've had to submit
to these Yankee scrubs. who hold our
fO't. Fo't Jackson should never have
been surrendered. Wehave been helpless
under the heels of these Northern van
dals eve since. Now we have a chance
to make them pay. Brother Nose Brau-
mer has a word to say" Braumer was
a peddler who carried drugs from st.
Louis to the Confederate armies in the
southern part of the State. He carried
also whatever news of military move
ments I've could II He now stepped
out onto the floor, the excitement Of the
big project in his visage. He plunged
into the plan at
Brothers, we have a chance to rob
the Northern armies Of a big brigadier
general. Gen. u. s. Grant, Of Cairo, is
home on a leave of absence. He drove
out to-day without Il guard. Nobody
with him. He's at old man Dents,
which is not more than two miles from,
here. You all know the place. He will
be there all night. My plan is to sur.
round the house and seize him while he
Is asleep. The Union cause will have
one brigadier general less
Two or three Of the younger hotheads
leaped up white with excitement.
Good! That's the plan. Wen make
him pay for Belmont"
The holiness Of the scheme took the
cooler men at a disadvantage. Before
they could gather their limbs under them
another belligerent was in the middle
Of the floor, blazing with excitement
his words a voliey. 1T is a glorious on
p%ortunity to serve the cause of thu
South. We have been organized FOL
just such work as this. Now is on,
chance. l will be one to do this worl
tonight"
$50 will l." said one at his side.
sand 1" shouted several more.
The chairman uttered a warning his.
-"Sh!-don't yell" For an instant I
seemed as II the whole lodge wa,
ready for this bold plan, but a dissent
Ing voice made itself heard at last. Som,
one shouted, Hold on q minutew an.
when the rest had time to look ahOu
and see who had spoken, Abner Taylo
was seen standing In the background
The big corn husker looked grim an,
threatening as he stepped forward an,
flung his hat on the floor.
II vote no! Now, see here. I know
this Gen. Grant. I've cut wood an,
hauled props with him. He has Mt
dinner In n house many a time. Yo
allknow him, and you know that a bel
ter man never lived In this town. He
a gentleman and nm honorable soldie,
-~ .MEE aE&&N &