The National tribune., 1900-01-04


roof and lay down there. Can't. Smoots
walked up and down, experimenting this,
i'll compliance with orders bawled by Col.
Tate, aud adding his own loud voice to the
din. He was Il red-faced fusSy. important
man, and clearly felt that this was the
| biggest job that he had ever been given.
| His homeSpun coat, ornamented with big
| horn buttons, he had buttOned to his chin,
| III severely military style, and beside the
| big pepper-boX revolver in holster to his
| belt, he had an old-fashioned broad-bladed
sword, with a fancy, curved hilt, such as
| had been worn earlier in the century by an
officer of the militia. He was perspiring
| freely, from the heat of the day added to
| his boiling feeling of Importance, and In the
| intervals between issuing his orders he
mopped his blazing face with large yellow
| bandanna. When ne had gotten all in. he
| wanted to Oclimb to the top Of the car, but that
| was too nimble a task for his girth and stiff
ness. He decided to get into the car where
| 81 and Shorty were, called a negro, who
| piled up ties to make steps, and placed III
| side a box for him to sit on. Then the Cap
tain got in. glared around with official
severity. 10 impress every one that he was
not to be trified with for an instant, and
seated himself stifiiy, with one hand on the
| hilt Of his antique sword and the other ON
| the handle of his almost as antique revolver
| The train pulled out, and ST and Shorty
craned their neckS 10 get a view of the
country, and what further obstacles the
army was likely to encounter in its adj
vance upon Atlanta. But Capt. Smoot5
sternly ordered them back to their places.
and made those standing near turn their
| faces inward.
''Hain't a-gwine ter have you spyin' out
the country fer your army, and SendIn'
the news back" he said. You Yanks is
jest too sneakin1y cunnin ter live. Mebbe
some O. You done got tuck ter have n chanst
tar tbp I1 nd for fla SbarTnn rot
him. He's the meaneSt white man alive
ef he is white, which | much miSdoubt.
Staid down in Louisiana amongst us till
he got all the information he could an
then sneaked off an jined the Yankees"
Shot followed by 4 scattering fuSillade.
rang out from the top of forward ear.
and produced great excitement. The train
was passing through shallow cut, where
the brush came close to the edge of the
bank. A daring man had made bold
dash for liberty by suddenly jumping past
the guard and up on to the bank. But
there he was caught by charge of buck
shot from one of the guards on the roof,
and FELL while the others emptied their
guns at him. AS the train ran on his
mangled body could he plainly seen from
the car. This had deterring effect upon
Stand Shorty, who had been contemplating.
when the train should pass near the woods,
making a rush, toppling over the Captain
and his guards, and getting into the cover
of the brush.
Them spawned idiots mayn't know
anything else, Shorty whispered to 81.
bat they kin shoot, and are mighty quick
on the trigger. Guess We'll have to give it
up. Even if we could git away they'd kill
some o the boys"
The train pounded on monotonously for
hours, there vas no further incident, the
day was broihng hot, the stencil was sitting.
and the Captains dignity began to sit very
heavily upon him. He relaxed his grip
on his sword-hilt in order to ply his ban
danna. and then let go the handle of his
revolver Presently his fat. coarse face
showed unmistakable signs of general
tredness with the whole business. No
body had spoken a word for long time, or
done ANYTHING TO call forth stern warnings.
ST thought he would open up a converSa-
ton, and something might develop.
mighty hot day, Captain, and guard
dooty's hard work, he ventured in friend
ly tone.
The Captain started, scowled for a mo-
ment at the thought of a possible deroga-
ton to his dignity in having a neighborly
remark addressed to him by prisoner,
and then answered curty:
"Silence in the coaht.' Then, remem-
bering himself, he added: "Who gave you
lief, sah ter speak ter me?"
Nobody done So ST answered pleas
antly. My tongue got tired layin' on one
side, aud | thought I'd turn it over. I |
heard them call you Capt Smoots. We |
have Judge Smoots up in our country"
"A Judge. did YOU sayY' said the Captain, |
a little modified. Probably some kim /
The Smoots all take nacheruily ter the |
law"
You resemble him much" continued
ST. Il noticed it when | first saw you.
Are you on the bench?"
I've done bin Justice o the Peace an
Magistrate o the Oconee District for II
years hand-rInnin' nOw," answered the
Captain. swelling up. 'One o my Con-
stables is with ME rs Fust Lootenant, an
t'othcr is Second i.ootenant. If / live
through this war | expect to he Ordinary
o. my County"
20. you'll live" ST assured linn. "You
amt the kind to die or git killed (when ther's
a big Office II sight"), he added under his
breath
20, he'll live" echoed Shorty soto rocc
Unless he breaks Il blood vessel running
away from ollr cavalry"
"Your voice reminds me O. Judge
pursued ST. Now, the Judge
"A great many call me Judge" inter
rupted the Captain. though I'm not really
entitled to hit till I'm an Ordinary, or
what is in some places called Il Probate
Judge. But I've bin so long Il Magistrate.
and decided so many important cases,
that I'm often called Judge. I've had
afore me some O. the weightiest cases that
ever come up in Jawgy. I've tried two men
that was afterwards hung. I've
He stopped, looked around him and rose.
He saw an audience larger than ne had
not get away from him. He could get off his
favorte speech where ii would do the most
good by impressing alien enemies with