The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-01-12

reached the Deacon's nostrils, and made his
mouth water and fond anticipations rise as
| to the GOOD it would do the boys
I'll have that grub and the boys shall
have. it," he determined, ''or there'll be
an Injianny Deacon purity badly used up"
The old man mounted into the seat
gathered up the rope lines, and chirruped to
the horse to start.
When he came opposite, the Deacon
jumped out seized the reins, and pointing
his revolver at him, commanded sternly:
Cit down from there, and git down
quick"
The old man dropped tine lines. and for an
instant gaze1 ut him with scared eyes.
Why, you robber you, what d yo mean ?'
he gasped.
Cit down from there, and git down
quick " repeated the Deacon
Whv, this is highway robbery, threats,
putin in bodily fear, attempted murder,
hoss-steain; "
Hant no time to argv law with you,"
said the Deacon impatiently ''This amt
no courtroom. You amt in session now.
Git down. and git down quick,"
Help, help! murder. robbery. thieves."
shouted the Old man, at the top of his
voice.
The negresses, who had been watching
their master depart, set to screaming, and
the O d woman rushed back into the house
and blew the horn The Deacon thrust his
revolver hack into the holster, caught the
old man with his snewy hand, tore him from
the seat, and flung him into the fence
corner. He sprang into the seat, turned the
horses head toward Chattanooga, and hit him
a sharp cut with a switch that lay in the
wagon.
1--WE got about three mile the start" he
and fresh, while theirs probably run down.
The road from here to the main roads
tollably good, and think | kin git there be-
fore they kin overtake me-"
At the top of the hill he looked back, and
saw the rebels coming out. Apparently
they had not understood what had happened.
They had seen no Yankees and could not
have seen the Deacon's tusSle with the old
man. They supposed that the horn simply
meant for them to come Ill and get their
dinner, instead of having it taken out to
them. All this passed through the Deacon's
mind, and he chuekled ove- the additional
start it would give him.
They won't find out nothin' till they Git
clean to the house." he said. by that
time I'll be mighty nigh the main road My,
but wouldn't like to have Us many dollars
as they'll be mad when they find the Yankee
trick that's bin played ON 'em, with their
dinner hauled off into the Union camp"
He ratified ahead sharply for some time,
looking back at each top of a hill for his
pursuers They did not come in sight, but
the main road to Chattanooga did, ami then
a new trouble suggested itself.
- i won't never ,iare to haul this load I'M
covered through camp" he said to himself
. The first gang o. roustabout teams:ers that
| meet I'll take every spoonful of the vittles,
and I'd be lucky if l have the horse and
wagon left. | must hide it someway. How?
That's Il puzzler."
AT length happy idea occurred to him.
He stopped by cedar thicket, and with his
jack-knlfe cut a big load OF cedar boughs,
which he piled on until every bit of Il od was
thoroughly concealed. This took much time,
and as he was finishing he heard a yell on
the hill behind and saw a squad Of rebels
riding down toward him lie sprang into
the seat, whipped up his horse, and as he |
reached the main road was relOced to see a
squad of Union cavalry APP reaching.
Here old man, " said the Lieutenant in |
command; who are you, ana what are you |
doing here?'
. M nurse in the hospital" answered |
the Deacon unhesitatingly. was sent out |
here to get some cedar boughs to make beds |
in the hospital. Say, there's some rebels |
out there comin' down the HILL They saw |
me and tux after me. You'll lind 'em right |
over the hill.
That's pretty slick horse you're driv- |
ing, said the Lieutenant Looks entirely /
too slick to belong to Chattanooga. It's