Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-17

Mot H. replied, having no desire I'd
confde in negro hostler. "Has anyone
been here to-day?"
Eyes, sab" he answered, rolling his eyes.
Heap O. soldiers, sab. Deys maxim de
house upset all froo lookin' for somebody
Looking for whom? asked, now
nightly interested.
1.-TWO or free pussons an a young gal, sab.
But dey nebber finds dem here, no. sab.
When am you goin' on, sah?"
had hard work to restrain my curiosity
about those who were being looked for. If
the girl was Gertrude King, and felt fair
ly sure of it, then she, too, had escaped ar
rest SO far, though it gave me q strange feel
ing about the ribs to think that she might
be suffering even a. ! had been. To his ques-
ton 1 carelessly answered:
"Not tonight, at all odds" For I at oaes'
considered that If the house had been
searched, it was the safest place I could sind
in which to abide.
"Ah, by the way" I inquired sasily,
'know you Of a party named King!"
"Kingw said he, rising and taking up the
candle. "No, sah; no King, 'ceptia' the
good King Gawge."
he held the candle 30 that for The frst
time had a good look at him. I saw then
that he was not a full -blooded negro, his hair
being silky and waved, his nose straight,
with fine nostrils, and his mouth lacking
the thick lips as his skull lacked the prog
nathous development of the true African.
His hide was abnormally black, however,
and his tongue that of the southern darby
improved by contact with the purer speech
of the north. With all its fine points his
face bore no signs of great intelligence, and
as he looked at mo it was almost expression
less.
feared that If it ever had bssn, the tay.
ern was now no longer . refuge for those Of
my party, for it seemed clear that Nick
Stryker had lost the proprietorship, hia
place having been taken by one Burns (of
whom had never heard), whose very host.
Ter was Of rank tory breed. / was glad I
had not put myself into the darky's hands,
now even being afraid to ask for Stryker
for dread of arousing suspicious against me.
"H yous boun' to stay all night, sah, !
soon hab nice room. sah," he continued,
while / was watching him, and taking Tie
light with him, he went out with no apology
for leaving me in the dark.
Being alone again, filled my pipe and
awaited his return with the means to light
it. The difference betwixt the man had
been an hour since and was at that moment
was amazing, so great il the power Of nutri-
ment to life both body and spirits. was
ready for another nights wandering III
needs be, though ] thanked my stars for lack
of the necessity. Stretching myself along
the bench, was almost DOING from sheer
comfort when heard the tramp Of horses
in the yard, and the next minute the door
opened and two boisterous voices rang
through the room demanding lights AMI
service.
The violent rafting OF chair on the Aoas,
which one of the newcomers had used . D
means of gaining attention, had hardfS
ceased when the negro returned with tie
candle. could, not see the faces Of sithes
of the parties from my position (vAsA ]
deemed advisable to retain), naugA but
their legs showing. but for two theT made .
vast noise. The negro, without seeming to
notice my apparent absence, placed bottles
and glasses on the table fartAest removed
from mine, and the two, after ordering =
meal, sat down and began drinking.
And without stint they drank, Il one could
judge by the sound Of pouring. The single
candle but broke the gloom Of the apart.
ment, though it was helped out by the moon
light, which strcamed through the south
windows and over the sanded boards. By it
/ made out that one of the party was
cavalryman, his muddy boots and short
clothes proclaiming the fact, az well a. the
sabretasche that trailed ON the floor by the
side of his heavy sword. The other, also
booted and armed, was not of the ranks, for
his breaches were not embellished or Of
striking color (his coat could not ssee),
while the hat he flung under the table was
but nondescript SLOUGH without a cockade.
That they had accidentally met was at
once made plain by the first words that
passed between them after the negro left
the room.
can We are from the north" said the SOL
der. at were fine chance that brought
Us together, for am nigh spent an must
ha' travelled back on an empty belly haa III
not crossed" Sf,lIElel
Have ye no news O. either O. thsmI,'
ssksd The civilian, earnestly. isnssti ~