The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-05-06
BUSHWHACKER
By KIRK MUSROE.

| As We sat over our after dinner cof
fee and cigars in the majors coy Ii
brary, one evening last winter. [ dis
covered my host to be in reminiscent
mood, and ventured to ask HIM ques-
ton that had frequently meditated.
He smiled and was silent moment
before answering.
Yes, L have, AS you suggest, expe
rlenced a number OF what may be
termed adventures since entering Tn
Gle Sans service. OF them all, how
ever, have no difficulty in recalling
one that stands ont preeminently as
as the most thrilling experience of my
life, "and then he gave this narrative
| To us:
| Shortly after the close of the war
| was ordered to a remote section of
the south, not far from the gulf coast.
to investigate certain claims against
the government that involved what.
for that part of the country. was ii
large sun of money. As for several
| reasons it was deemed advisable that
my real business there should be kept
| secret, | assumed the role of settler,
took possession of vacant tract of
land, built two pen log cabin, enga-
| ged negro servant, and proceeded to
explore the country with view to
| making the acquaintance of my neigh
bOrs
The place in which [ was located
was remote from railroads or regular
routes Of travel and was about as wild
and lawless a district as could we'll be
found east of the Mississippi 1t was
lime stone country, abounding in
sink holes, caverrs and underground
rivers. and thickly covered with a
primeval growth of timber A few
clearings at long intervals marked the
fields and garden patches of its wide
y scattered inhabitants, who were as
primitive set OF people as | had ever
encountered. During the war it had
been the very hotbed of bnshwhackirg
and its men had plundered and killed
on both sides, wit h slight predilec
tion in favor Of southerners and bit
ter hate of Yankees. Although | care
fully concealed my connection with
the arpIy and was most guarded in my
remarks whenever L alluded to the
war | could not hide the fact that |
was northern man. On that account
alone | was from the first an object of
suspicion and close scrutiny to my
neighbors, by most of whom my
friendly Overtures We're received with
a sullen unrespOnsiveness that was, to
say the least, discouraging
My nearest neighbor was giant
of a man named Case Haffner, who.
as | had learned before leaving Wash
ingtOn, was the acknowledged leader
of the district and foremost in all its
deeds of deviltry He, better than
any ether, could furnish me with the
information | wished to acquire. For
this reason | had taken up my abode
as near TO him as the unwritten law of
that country, which forbade neighbors
TO live within less than a mile of each
other, allowed. In vain did | strive
to cultivate his acquaintance. He
would have nothing to do with me-
Only by stratagem did | succeed in
meeting him, when he simply Ignor-
eel my presence and walked away
without word. He lived alone with
his son Abner, a bright, keen witted
lad of about fifteen, the pride of his
fathers life and the sole object of his
ambitions. With this boy l also tried
to scrape an acquaintance. hoping to
win his fathers confidence through
hlm, but to no purpose. He either
einded me or fled like a startled deer
if by chance we met While others of
the neighborhood sought my honse
with view of satisfying their curl
osity, with Case Hatfner and his son
'Ab | could hold no intercourse what
ever.
so the matters stood at the end of
month, when late one evening on
returning from an all days ride to a
remote corner of the settlement | was
oyertaken 10y a terrific thunderstorm
whilst still some distance from home.
was accompanied by Caesar, my ne
gro servant, and we were on horse
back. Bewildered by the storm we
we lost our way, and after balf hour
of hopeless wandering, tioundering
and general discomfort | was more
than thankful to discover feeble
light twinkling In the window Of log
cabin.
"Receiving no response to my re
peated knockings at the door, | push
ed 1t open and entered | had not re
cognized the cabin and did not know
until | saw Case Hatfner sitting on
stool before the great mud cbinked
fireplace, that it was his. The mans
face was buried IN hIs hands, and he
did not look mp mt my entrance. nor in
any way betray a consciousness of my
presence. As | glanced about the
rudely furnished room in search of
Abner, my eye fell upon bed on
which lay the motionless form of the
boy. The light was dim. and fancy
ing him TO be asleep, called him by
name.
AT this the man by the fire sprang
to his feet and glaring at me like
wild beast, cried ont with terrible
pathos that his son was dead and for
me to be gone before he killed me for
intrudlng on his misery. Instead of
obeying him | stepped to the bedside
The boy was to all appearance life
less, but disregarding the fathers
protest and making careful exami-
! nation of the boy | became convinced
that the vital spark had not get fled
He had been stricken with one of the
quick fevers of that country and had
apparently succumbed to it. With a
slight medical knowledge gained in
the army | saw that there was still
a chance of saving him.
Caesar was at once dispatched to
fetch my travelling medicine case,
while | heated kettle of water. Case
Haffner meantime regarding my move
ments with an apathetic indifference.
To make long story short l succeed
ed before morning in restoring the
boy to life and healthful sleep. At