The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-03-01

10 Dc house den. | t'au't you might be
'spegin' some one, sab"
Not |" ] replied. having no desire to
eonhda IN negro hosiler Has anyone
been here today
"Ics, sah. he answered, rolling bis ryes.
Heap o soldiers, kah. Deys maxim de
house upstt all iroo lookin' for somebody"
Looking for whomr asked, now
nightly interested.
Two or free pusaons an young gal, sAh.
Bat dey ncbbrr iinds dem here, no, sab
When am you goin' on, sahY'
had hard work 10 restrain my curiosity
about those who were being looked for. II
tins girl was Gertrude King and fslt fair.
y sure OF Il, then she, too, had escaped ar
rest Va lar, though Il gave me a strange feel.
ing about ,he ribs 30 lhink that she might
he suffering even a. had been. To his gusa
ton ! carclcasly answered:
Not tonight, sl all odds" For al once
considered that II the house had been
searched, It was the safest place could find
IN which TO abide.
"Ah. by the way" I inquired easily,
know yOu Of party named king''
King said he. rising and taking up the
candle. NO, sab; no Mug, 'ceptin' the
good King Gawge."
lie held the candls 90 that loT the frs,
time had a good look at him. Saw then
that he was not a iull-bloodod negro. his hair
being silky and waved, his nose straight,
with fine nostrils, and bis mouth lacking
the thick lips a. his skull lacked the prog
nathoUs development oi the true African
lis hide was abuormally black, however,
and his tongue that % the southern dagky
improved by contact with the purCr speech
Of the north With 81 ia fine points hi,
face bore no signs Of great intelligence, and
as be looked at me IL was almost expression
less.
feared that II Il ever bad been. the tsv
crn waa now no longer q refuge for those Of
my party. for it seemed clear that Nick
SlBkcr had lost the proprietorship, ht'
place having been taken hy one Burns i0i
whom / had never heardl, whose very host
Ter was OF rank tory breed. / was glad
had not put myself into the darky's hands
now even brisg afraid TO ask for Strykcl
Tor dread OF arousing sutp;c:sns against me
III y0us bonn' 10 stay all night, sab,
soon hab nice room, sah, he continued
while was watching him, and taking the
light with him, he went out with no apology
for leaving me IN the dark.
Being alone again, ] hlled my pipe and
awaited his return with the means to light
q. The difference bctwiNt the man had
been au hour since and was at that moment
was amazing, so grca; is the power Of nulri
| mcni 10 life both body and 6pirits. ! was
ready for another nights wandering II
needs be, though thanked my starr for lack
Of the Necessity. Stretching myself alone
the bench, | was almost DOING from sheer
comfort when | heard the tramp OF hOrsc'
Ia the yard. and the next minute the door
opened and two boisterous voices rams
through the room demanding lights and
service.
The violent rattling Of a chair on the floor
which one Of the newcomers had used a.
| means Of gaining attention, had hardly
ceased when the negro returned with The
candle, could not see the iaccB Of either
oi the parties from my position (which
deemed advisable 70 retain, naught bot
their legs showing. bat for two they made q
vast noise. The negro. without seeming tc
notice my apparent absence, placed bottle'
aud glasses on the table iarihcrt removed
from NINE. and the two, after ordering q
meal. sat down aud began drinking.
And without stint they drank, II one could
Judge by the sound Of pouring The shgi,
candle but broke the gloom Of the apart
mcnt, though Il was helped out by the moon
light, which strcAmed through the souti
windows and ov-: the sandsd boards BY II
! made ont that one Of the party was
cayalgman. his muddy boots and ahort
clothes prOolaiming the fact, ~ well as th,
sabrctaschc that trailed on the floor hy tn,
side oi his heavy sword The other, ais,
| booted and armed, was not Of the ranks, iol
| his brccchea were not cmbcllishcd or o.
striking color Ibis coat / could not see }
| while the hat he flung under the table wa
! but a uondeEcrpt slouoh without cockade
That they had accidentally met was al
| once made plain hy the 6rst words thai
| passed between them after the negro lcil
the room.
An ye are from the north" said the sol
| dicT. 1T were fine chance that brought
US together, for ] am nigh spent an must
ha' Travelled back on an empty belly had W,
not crossed
Have ye no news o either o them!
asked the civilian, earnestly. Ignoring The
formers remark.
Nay, man 'Tis the coldest scent eei
| put nose to. Scammclls an asa 10 think thel
| fed together, an twice an asa. too, 10 lool
I for flying usaH an woman along the maii
| highway! Have any OF your gang liz OF
/ news? This failure puts me 20 poun's gu
| o pocket, for ! was 10 ha' tina, II coul,
but locate the woman; the man he feel
sure Of.
why Of himy
That he's not telin' the likea o me
though think he means TO lure him."
Lure him! the foo.' said the civilian
"Thc man who can overcome ScAmmel
! With an ever throttle Clinton an run th
lines on his Est is no bird that can b
touched with salt. Faith! tia nothing bu
cold lead an steel that can take him, an
wish ! might cross swords with him, for al
| his bigpess."
We'll. by the piper!" broke in the col
der, banging his iss on the table, I'm fair
to meet him myself. I'D show him Ewor,
| play"
Shut up, ye brAgl lie d make but pinel
| O. ye! Better stick 20 the woman, who's
come easy when ys sighted her! What's tn
outcome along O. Beldenr
''lleldenl" e&id the soldier. with laugl
and an oath, "Cliaton win ne'er forgive bin
for bringing forward auch q mountain o
fraud He's cen prisoner on board hi
own ship, an Scammfll 10 Ia the old man
bud books for havin' blabbed something q
| the GIRL wot not what. There's the devil
own muss below, made worse by the fact tha
both man en- woman ha gone up to Heavcl
! or downward, for no sign o. them ia on tn
island, an they ha' not bad time to get Of
Il by plain means"
The girl had pass, was told"
"All passes were stopped. though not il
time at the lower lines, to my thinking.
fancy the man is in the woods to the wes,
an the lass hiding IN the city.
/ WELL Welt" said the civilian, stretch
ing his legs under the table and fetiiling hi
glssa. Here must ! bide till the rest com
up. To the devil with rebel spies. man an
wn'nanl wish | had known that Thorn
| dyke was not Isonnsbury when bad min
unarmsd. "rwonld hs' been worth Pile
but bigger pile this day caald get him
Nov all this was mighty Interesting. and
lay as stiIl a. the bench beneath me until III
civilians isst remark. Something there wa
! IN bis voice that struck me az familiar, Will
bis referencs to having met me made m
more than curious. Carefully lifting my sy,
above the tables level, heheid the card
| ghsrper al the Hul,sa Head hix s.osusss N Ia,