The Portland daily press., 1897-08-25

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 surround the hou Sc
and seize him while he's asleep. The
Union cause will have one Brigadier Gem
eral less.''
Two or three of the younger hot heads
leaped up, white with excitement.
Good! That's the plan. Well make
him pay for Belmont
EThe boldness of the scheme took the
cooler men at disadvantage. Before
they could gather their limbs under them
another belligerent was in the middle OF
the floor, blazing with excitement, his
words volley. sit is glorious oppor-
tunity 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
$50 will l., said one at his side.
And l, shouted several more.
The chairman uttered % warning hiss
'tShl don't yell'' For an instant it
seemed as If the whole lodge was ready
for this bold plan, but dissentient voice
made itself heard at last. Someone
shouted, "Hold on a minute!'' and when
the rest had time to look about to see
who had spoken, Abner Taylor was seen
standing in the background.
The big cornhusker looked grim and
threatening as he stepped forward and
flung his hat on the floor
!. 1 vote mol Now see here, neighbors,
! want word right now. know this
General Grant. I've cut wood and hauled
props with him. He has eat dinner in
him, and you know that better man
never lived in this town. He's a gentle.
man and an honorable soldier, and
don't propose to kidnap man like that
under such circumstances. Why, the
man trusts US! You say he has no body
guard-well, I'll be one of his body
guards.
you Fall know I've no love rlYan.
KEGS. would cut the heart out Of Frank
Blair if I could, but Gen. Grant was our
friend and neighbor. Why, I've seen him
give his last S. to poor widow woman
whose house was burnt down. You all
remember Tom Harris's widow. Some
Of you fellow hauled props with him, and
now when he trusts us and comes home
here without bodyguard he expects to
be treated like gentleman, and by the
Almighty, he shall be if my fist has any
weight"
"He's id Yankee soldier. He's xii,
ling our men," yelled some one. tits ali
war, anyhow. I"
well, kidnappin' amt war; replied
Abner cts sneakin' business to jump
in on man when he's home to see his
wife and children, and I'm not going to
be party to it. 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 to-
morrow and the day after? There
wouldn't be 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 don't intend to be again. -
His words and voice carried conviction.
"This stops right now. 1t don't go
another step. Gen Grant, will sleep un-
disturbed tonight and he goes back to St.
Louis and Cairo undisturbed. If he is
killed or captured let it be done by Gen.
Pillow or Gen. Buckner in fair and
square fight"
The meeting ended right there. The
hot-heads apologized, and the peddler
skunk away. CAB, that was a 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 Pill
low will attend to him I"
HAMLIN GARLAND.