The National tribune., 1899-04-06

relighted. Billings took his seat on the
platform at the end of the room fartheSt
from the door, picked up the gavel, and
raped for order.
| "Now, brethren" said he, "having
witnessed the solemn initiation of several
brave, true men iuto onr rapidly-swelling
ranks, and welcomed them as real patriots
who have united with US TO resist to the
bitter end the cruel tyrannies of the
Abolition despot at Washington-the vulgar
railsplitter of the Sangamon. who is filling
this once-happy land with the graves of his
victims, we will proceed to the regular busi-
Eess for which we have assembled. l regret
that our gallant Captain has not yet arrived
with the supply of arms and ammunition
that he went to Jacksonville to secure
thought l heard the whistle Of the train
some time ago, and have been expecting him
every minute. He may be here yet"
Not if that guard at the switch tends to
his little business, he WON'T" Shorty
chuckled to himself.
"When he gets here" continued billings.
"we shall have enough weapons to finish our
outfit, and give every member, including
them initiated tonight, good, serviceable
arm. as effective rs any in the hands OF our
enemies. We shall then be in shape to carry
out the several projects which we have be-
fore discussed and planned. We shall be
ready to strike at any moment. When we do
strike success is sure. The Southern armies,
which have 50 long bravely battled for the
Constitution and the laws and Write mems
rights, are again advancing from every point.
Every mail brings me glad good news OF the
organization of our brave friends throughout
this State and Illinois, They're impatient
to begin. The first shot fred will be the
signal for an uprising thatll sweep over
the land like prairie fire and -
He stopped abruptly, contracted his brows,
and gazed fixedly at Shorty.
Brother Walker" said Billings, there's
n tall man settin' close by the door that
seem to've seen before. and yit don't exactly
recognize Please hold that candle nigh his
face, till I can see it more plainly"
Shorty happened to be looking at another
man that minute, and did not at first catch
the drift of Billings's remarks. When he
did, he hesitated an instant whether to
whistle or try to get out. Before he could
decide, Eph Gibbs, whom he had raided at
Jacksonville, struck him heavy blow on
the side of his head and yelled:
"He's traitor! He's spy! Kill the in
fernal, egg-suckn' hound!"
There was rush of infuriated men, which
carried Shorty over, and made him the object
of a storm of blows and kicks. So many
piled on him at once that they struck and
kicked one another in their confusion. The
door was torn out, and its pieces fell with the
tumble of cursing striking, kicking men
that rolled outside.
81 rushed forward with his squad, and in
an instant they were knocking right and left
with their gun-barrels. So many fell on top
of Shorty that he was unable to rise and ex-
tricate himself
Not exactly comprehending what was
going on, but thinking that the time for them
TO act had come, the four boys TO whom 81
had given the duty of making the rush with
the log to break down the door, came bolting
up, shouting to their comrades:
"Open out, there, for us"
Their battering-ram cleaned off the rest of
those still pommeling Shorty, and drove back
these who were swarming IN the door
Shorty sprang up, and gave rib-breaking
kick to the PROSTATE Eph Gibbs.
The crowd inside at first recoied at the
sight of the soldiers, but, frightened for his
own safety, Billings shouted, as he sheltered
himself behind the altar:
Don't give way, men. There's only a
down the scum. Drive 'em away"
A score of shots were fired in obedience,
but 81, making his voice ring above the
noise, called ont:
Stop that firing or I'll kill every man in
the house. If there's another shot fired,
we'll open on you and keep it up till you're
every one dead. Surrender, at once"
$50 at 'em with the bayonet, ST." yelled
Shorty. "Pm goin' around to ketch old
Billings. He's in there, and'll try 10 sneak
out the back way"
As Shorty ran around the corner, he came
-tO-face with stalwart Irishman. one of
the pluckiest of the squad brought from
Jeffersonville. His face was drawn and
white with fright, and he fumbled at his
beads.
20, Corpril," he said, with chattering
teeth, "Oi've jist sane the very divil him
self, so Oi have. Oi started to run up t.
the house whin the ruction begun, when
suddintly the ground opened up at me very
fate, an out kim ghost, tin fate hoigh,
wild Dyes av foire, and brathing flames, an
he shtarted for me, an Oi -
.'What damned nonsense is this, O'Brien? ?"
asked Shorty angrily. "Are you drunk, or
jest naturally added? Come along with me,
and well -
| NOt lOi Il iOiNto, EioduCu lHc
! Irishman. ''Howly saints, fwhat is old
| Clootie after ME for? Is it for atm that
| little taste o. ham last Friday? Holy Mary,
| save me; there he is again !"
"Where, you fiannel-mouthed Mick 2"
asked Shorty savagely. Where do you see
| the devil ?"
There There! That white thing
Don't you say it yersilf?" groaned the
Irishman. dropping on his knees, and call
| ing on all the saints.
"That white thing. That's only syca-
more stump, you superstitious bog-trotter,"
said Shorty with angry contempt, as he bent
his eyes Oh the white object. Then he added
| in the next breath:
''But blamed if that stump amt walkin'
off. Funny stump"
He gave leap forward for closer investi-
CATION. At the crash of his footsteps, the
stump actually turned around, and gave a
sepulchral groan. Then, seeing that it was
not soldier pursuing, very natural human
voice proceeded from it.
''Is t:lat you, Brother Welch? l thought
at first it was soldier. l motioned you
when the trouble first begun. to follow me
through the underground passage. There
was enough others there to make the fight,
and it'd never do for us to be taken by the
Iincolnites. We're too valuable to the
cause, just now, and, then If the Lincolnites
IL or, ,.,,I,,