Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-16
CHAPTER XVIII.

The John Little lay at the landing, loade i
and bound down. Wesner engaged his
state room and kent it until the boat left,
ami he was sure Gregg was not on board.
He had no objections to meeting Gregg, but
not in Shreveport a that time. and in the
DISGUISE he then wore. as 1T was too ia
nliliar and might create unpleasant recol-
leCtinnS.
Grcgg's being there could have but one
solution. He and Beatham were together
in some plot whether Gregg's or Beatham's
I could not divine.
GIegr's abilities as detective I did not
fear. Reatham was simply shrewd county
sheriff. 1 was thoroughly disguised. but
concluded that I must be there a week
perhaps more before I would be able to
find any clue to their plans.
Again. l was a stranger, and not likely
to gain their confidence.
/ had previously received a letter from
q gertleman living some miles back from
Shreveport. asking me to come at the first
opportunity and survey a lot of timber
land, owned by himself and others. l had
returned no answer, 1 was otherwise
engaged This. however. the oppor-
tune chance. / Immediately hurried To the
steamboat landing. and, with nearly as
much celebrity as Wesner. boarded the boar.
Ieht my ticket and secured a state room.
Travel was very light at this season.
Tie boat was not advertised to Leave until
!. O'Clock. and ] kept watch of the shore
thinking Gregg might he on his way 10
New orleans. am we should have the
pleasure Of his company. but he did not
make his appearance Wesner dill, how
ever. before the boat was a dozen lengths
from the shore. l explained t. him ray
idea ard he readily fell in with it AT New
O:,ea-.s / wrote TO Mr. Richardson that
would b. ready to survey his land as SOON
oS could get my Instruments from home.
These WesLtr agreed to send to the hotel
III La Fayette / had stopped one night At
the ST. Charles on MY return with WesncT,
q lad left my trunk and samples in my
room, agreeing to pay for my room rent
while absent.
changed my clothes, removed my dis
Euise and appeared upon the street rs
Charles J. Bradley. and, going directly to
La Fayctte. l booked my name at the
hotel there. My Instruments arrived, and
with them a letter from Nesner. The let
ter was about some other business, and
contained no alluSion 10 the [. G.. K. K. Its
tone l did not like. There was a big blot
Of ink on the upper corner of one sheet.
1t was never there by accident. George
Nesner did not blot his papers An odd
phrase also alluding to II. gave me I'M
easiress There is a big blot on this
sheet ] have tried to erase it, but. as sou
Will notice, with only partial success
He had scraped a little off one corner
Alter TINS came MS SlS0aluTe
Tho evening after my instruments ar
rived was ON my way to Shreveport. Ar
irving there | found at least two weeks
work and wrote to Ncsrer TO that effect.
] had no chairman with me, and il was nee
essaty 20 hire two. one. at least, must be
q man who could read and write. | also
wanted a couple Of dxmen. l determined
10 have my friend Beatham'S assistance IN
this. Accordingly ! watched for him, IN
tcoiuced myself. stated my business ard
asked him II he could recommend a person
suitable TO take the head end Of the chain
or two men for Ch,t.arleE. (ticharGson fur
liShed his own aXmen) He said he could
and would be pleased 10 do So. He owned
IL rnuIattU boy who was brought up in New
Orleans, could read and write, was car
pe:-ter, and just at present was dong moth
Ing Of any account. Al my reques; he sent
Inn TO me I questioned him. Beatham
had not rnisreprcssn;ed the boy. He cOu'd
read and write. and had ideas above his
station Books were scarce, and his facili-
ties for obtaining them were poor. II s
principal sources of reading matter Were
the various circus and menagerie posters.
with which the south was always flooded.
He cDuia repeat fNym memory the names
IF all the famous acrubats, enormous e.e-
plants, wonderful bareback riders. heauu-
full women and funny clowns which had
been exhibited in the state for the last five
years. Ecatntm informed that his only
fault chas.ng cirCUSes, and to look out
for him if one came a 0ng. as he was sure
T. follow. He once tagged after 10 Pent-
i now fattered myself that I had the
E,ra.Sht road to Beatham's confidence, and
as he lived only about a mile from Rich
arl-rcs | spent i my spare time with
h!r0. Evenings, after l had corrected my
hcld notes | would ride over to his place.
Alec. The muiattp boy would sometimes ac-
company me I:"atnam rather patient
than oihcrw Sc. ard Alec informed me that
he Was right down good To him. l knew
well enough that Bcatham must talk soon
er or later. and asked no questions myself.
The second night | was there We were on
the veraEda smoking. An old shiEgie horse.
suTGe one had brought cut for horse
book. stood near. Ecatham sat astride
thai, pulling way at a cOrncub pipe his
those days. varied with an occasional pull
at a 7. u. The mosquitoes We're hungry.
Eea.h,tm smoked ard slapped, slapped and
smoked alternately. varying both actions
in Intensity as the mosquitoes advanced
or rrtre4ted.
Much acquainted round Tucapaw, Mr..
Bradley" he inquired.
Yes ! answered
How long been there?"
/ told him.
Know old Eb Ccverly?"
YES. sure"
You heard about the n'ggers?"
II ought to- | at the first hunt"
replied. They started from our store
Wesner & Bradieys."
had forgotten that. Didn't Wesner have q
row with the old man about yaller CIR
of his'n?"
Il don't know about that" I replied
George is pretty close-mouthed."
Here Alec. who had been standing near
krinned. Beatham saw the grin. Here