Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-19

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white men in the state were in either
the Confederate or Union army
DE gin raj am KILN Yanks OATS
what he's been doin fur de last 400
years.
"Dc you know how many be has
killed."
Ain t sartin. but heerd 1t was leben
hundred million.
II am afraid, Rastus, that your In
formant has slightly exaggerated mat
ters: but will you tell ME what ladies
are at the house2'
mo. sah." responded the boy, with
admirable pluck
why not3'
"'Cause 20 wants to cut dere heads
off.
The ea:nestness Of the urchin made
the officer smile in turn
"You are mistaken. my boy |
wouldn't harm one Of them for the
world.
"Am dat sor Will 20 take 20
oathr'
"Yes will take my oath that |
will not injure hair Of their heads
"Cross 20 heart
The officer gravely drew his gauntlet
ed hand down and across his breast
That removed all difficulty and woDthe
confidence of Rastus
DE wimmin folks am Miss Adele
an Mrs Eldridge. "
Miss Adele, l suppose, is the daugh-
ter Of Mrs Eldridgef'
"Ain sartin bout dat but | know
de missis am de moder OBJ Miss Adele.
Admitting your premises, the con-
clusion | adduced is inevitable.
Erastus opened his mouth and stared
Not the faintest glimmering Of the
meaning of these words penetrated his
brain. but he nodded his head.
"You are sure that only the mother
and daughter are living in the houseT
The question struck the lad as IN
called for. but he inclined his head sew
eral times with much vigor Like most
Youngsters. he was gifted with well
developed bump of curiosity
Whats yo'r nameT
Lieutenant Oakman of the -th
Massachusetts cavalry Are you &C
quainted with any Of our men or off,
cersI'
"Guess not Hab 20 eber been hyah
aforer'
Never until today am stranger
IN this part Of Georgia
Den what 20 tryin to hirt wild Miss
Adele furr 70 oughter be shamed OBJ
20 self
How could firt with her when |
never set eyes on the young ladyT
Den it war de missis herself Yah
yah. yah
Lieutenant Oakman did not know
whether to laugh or be angry over the
bright stupidity Of the young African
"Rastus be said with all the
severity he could assume IL tell you
again that never before have | been in
this part of the world. nor have ever
spoken to your missis or her daughters.
80 let s hear no more Of that
He was anxious to ask the lad several
questions. but hesitated The fellow
was too observant and suspicious Lieu
tenant Oakman had others to think Of
besides himself and valuable as would
have been certain information he was
sure this youngster could give there
was peril in the inquiries necessary to
extract such knowledge
Rastus had seen the signaling OF the
officer. and perhaps it was better the
lad should rest under the belief that he
was seeking to attract the attention Of
the daughter of General Eldridge
While Lieutenant Oakman was ponder
ing over the best method of solving
problem whose greatest difficulty lay in
its simplicity the lad infused a star
Ting diversion into the situation by re-
marking in lower tone than he had
leen using
"Luftent Oakum. yo'd better git out
OBJ dis kentry.
"WhyR"
"Dere's some folks dat am lookin fur
yo',
THANK you. Rastus but have no
fear "
"Yo oughter hah cause dey hab
found yo'.
"What do you meanH" asked the Un-
Ion officer. with sudden. vague fear.
Another individual answered the
question with the sharp command
- wt,tr
quick about it,
mot muchl' was the reply OF Lieu.
tenant Oakman, who had deserted his
danger at the same instant he heard the
crisp summons