Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-14

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 q big. black-whiskered
man of alert and vigorous manner. The
members were hunched sprawling on
At last the chairman raped for order. and
said in low voice. which gradually grew
intense and savage:
Brothers of the circle: You are called
he done. You've all been just achin to do
something for tie cause, and now's yo'
chance. We've had to keep our mouths
shet. We have had to submit to these
Jackson should never have be IN surrender
ed. We have been helpless under the heel
of these northern vandals ever since. Now
We have a chance to make them pay
Brother Nose Banner las a word to say"
He took his seat thereupon amid a pro-
found silence.
What the Pedd1er Said.
Banner 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 movements
he could secure. He now stepped out into
the floor. the excitement of a big project
in his broad vissge. He plunged into the
plan at once.
Brothers, We have q chance to rob the
rorthern armies of a brigadier general.
Gen. u. s. Grant of Cairo is home on leave
of absence. He drove out today without
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 boldness of the scheme took the
cooler men at a disadvantage. Before
they could gather their limbs under them
al ether belligerent was in the middle of
the floor blazing with excitement, his
words volley. Its glorious opportuni-
ty to serve the cause Of the south. We
have been organized for just such work as
this. Now is our chance. / will be one to
do this work tonight
so will L." said one at his side.
And l., shouted several more.
The chairman uttered a warning hiss
.Sh!-don't YELL For an instant 1t see n
cd as if the whole lodge were ready for this
bold plan. but dissentient voice made IT.
self heard at last: some one shouted, Hold
on minute" and when the rest had time
to look about to see who had spoken. Alb
ner Taylor was seen standing in the back
ground.
A Dissenting Voice.
The big corn husker looked grim and
threatening as he stepped forward and
flung his hat on the floor as valiantly as
any knight ever cast his glove
Il vote no! Now, see here, neighbors,
1 want q word right now. 1 know this Gen.
Grant. I've cut wood and hauled props
with him. He has eat dinner in Our house
many time. You all know him, and you
know that better man never lived in this
town. He's a gentleman and an honora-
BILE soldier. and 1 don't propose to kidnap
man like that under such circumstances.
Why, the man trusts US! You say he has
no bodyguarIWell. I'll be one of his
bodyguards. The big fellow lowered like
a giant in his Indignation.
You all know I've no love for Yankees;
/ would cut the heart out of Frank Blair
if l could. but Gen. Grant was our friend
and neighbor- Why. I've seen him give his
last s. to a poor widow woman whose
house was burnt down. You all remember
Tom Harris widow. Some O. you fellers
hauled props with him, and now when he
trusts us and comes home here without a
boGygua-d he expects to be treated like
gentleman. and by the almighty he shall
be if my fist has any weight" His lifted
arm seemed made of solid steel as he
spoke. and his face looked old and grim
as granite.
Hes q d. Yankee soldier He's killing
orr men," yelled some one. ITS all war
anyhow"
We'll. k:dnapen amt war; replied Alb
ner. It's sneakn' business to jump in on
children. and I'm not going to be a party
to it, The circle sat ebashed at this sud-
den opposition.
More than this. It's easy to carry out
your plan. We could kidnap Grant easy
enough. but what would the northern
armies be dom tomorrow and the day
after? There wouldn't be a man of US
living. nor one brick on top of another, in
three days from now. I've been harnessed
up by 'em once, and 1 don't intend to be
again" His words and voice carried con-
viction. They all shrank before his eyes.
This stops right now. 1t don't go an
other step. Gen. Grant will sleep undis-
turbed tonight. and he goes back to ST.
Louis and Cairo undisturbed. If he is
killed or captured. let it be done by Gen.
Pillow Ger. Buckner, in a fair and
square fight
The meeting ended right there. The hot
heads apologized. and the pedler skunk
away. "Ab. that was big speech you
made said the younger brother, as they
went across the fields. You're right, but
it's terrible temptation Grant seems to
be going up steadily. but Pillow will at
tend to him.
On February 16, Ulysses Grant took Dom
elson from Buckner and Pillow. and be-
came Unconditional Surrender Grant,
COlOrs for Furnishings.