The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-11-06

er pretended legal right or title over
Leon. He knew he had never pur-
chased him. He had not forgotten
the exception in the deed. He was
conscious that his possession resulted
from 4 shameful kidnapiLG, 1~d his do
minion had no other basis than might
He felt that, tried upon its merits of
law and fact alone, the issue would be
determined against him. Therefore
other influences must be brought to
bear upon the contest. and ready to his
hand lay the anti-.tmerican prejudice
and antiaDolition passion. The thought
of Oakfell triumphing over him stung
as an OK lash. The barrenness and un-
worthiness Of lis cause stimulated him
to e1ertions and inspired tactics which
were revelations Of endurance and in
genuity.
In as many nights be rode to Man.
sura. LIE Coigne, Bordelon slough, lie
de Cote, Marksville, Bayou Blanc, Pa
ren Haut, Coude d'C2uf, Bout de Bay
on and Pointe Maigre and sounded the
| head man cf each Of these settlements.
Laure Luneau was his embasSadress
| to the women of Coude du Francois.
men or their descendants, small plant
ers Of the nonslaveholding class, keep
| ers Of cabarets and roadside shops,
blacksmiths, shoemakers, gardeners,
charcoal burners, fishermen and hunt
ers Of the mallard and the papabote.
The insinuation was dropped among
them that The suit was a move on the
part Of the abolitionists and Oakfell
was their agent, and close upon it fol-
lowed the rumor, traceable to no source,
that while at Baton Rouge he received
numerous letters from Boston, Albany,
Philadelphia and Oberlin.
The night Of the Sunday preceding
Christmas found Quillebert presiding
at the baize covered table in the back
room of Dede's cabaret at Mansura.
There were no cards or chips on the
tloth. but in their stead were dishes
and q great bowl Of steaming guml'c
prepared by Dcde's wife Che had 10
negroes and glasses and pitchers or
hot rum spiced b. Dcde himself.
Around the board were DR.. De ItouX,
Aristides Portvie, Fulgence Jadot, Mar
tin Brille, Alec ltobelin, homer Tit
bout, Norbert CaZebat and Tibource
Pratican. The last was 4 swarthy, big
iawed, low browel u",n, short and
broad shouldered, lawyer who in the
last election had been IN unsuccessful
candidate fer tbs juGgeship. His rest
less black eyes, small and set close TO-
gether, hooked nose>ard twitchiIS lips
over an assertiva chin revealed the splr-
il and faculties suited to further the
PURPOSES Of Quillebert. The outer doors
we're locked and windows barred. Nine
saddled horses stood under the long
low shed at the rear Of the cabaret IN
closure.
Listen, Constant" said Pratjean.
"In the court l shall say the plalntlh
was born a slaye: his master never
emancipated him. Emancipation must
be express; it cannot be inferred from
conduct. Born slave, never emanci-
pated, whence got he the right to sue
and stand in judgment? Answer me
that! First, the question, Has he the
right to sue? If you can answer yes 10
that, only then the second ques1ion'
ownership vel non. # you must an
sver no, then, though N. QuilleDert
owns him not, the plaintiff is out OF
court and cannot be heard. No right,
no suit; that's ALL
That's sow came from his AUDITORS
in enthusiastic chorus.
Softly! Softly! Not so fast! ex-
claimed Quillebert, humping the table
with his glass. "All that fine logic
may do for the day of trial or II may
not. The judge truckles to the Amerl-
cans too much for My taste"
"He does," assented Pratjean.
"Therefore," Quillebert continued,
1--WE would be fools to run to him. Slow
is the word Delay, postpone, put OIL
tire them out. threadDare the case,
starve it, so that when it finally gets
into court it must be carried on lit
ter. You can do that, ell, Tibource
THAT is my forte" the lawyer an
swered, chucklinG.
meanwhile" Quillebert went on,
"prove to your neighbors, your wives
and daughters that it is all an aboll-
ton trick; that the people are being be-
trayed by this Dragging American ana
the aping lowlanl creoles. Why, that
Latiolais girl is already ashamed 20
speak French in company"
"Bahw calculated three Of the listen
ers and spat on tie floor.
"When the true French get to under
stand rightly what this case MEANS
Oakfell will not have courage to try it,
or, II he does, the judge will not dare
to decide in favor Of the negro" Quille-
bert emphasized this forecast with a
noisy blow from his fist upon the table.
"But, Constant" De Roux inquired,
"what about Leon in all this delay"
81 have considered that" Quillebert
replied. THE rascal has gone, spirited
away, Of course, Eecakfell. I tracked
him to the steamboat wood pile on the
Atchafalaya near Simsport and will
hunt for him no farther. If win this
case, ! will sue Oakfell for $4,000
damages for abductins my jockey and
$4,000 more for dcfaming me. will
teach him what it is to threaten q
Frenchman with lynch law. And old
Latiolais shall weep a bucketful OF
tears for the meddling Of his pearly
granddaughter, for hold $4,000 Of h's
notes."
"Aye, vi 81! Leonidas be hanged''
cried Dede, and the glasses clattered
approval
$50 you see there is fine campaign,
with spoils for you, Tibource," said
Quillebert.
"And planned with the skill of
general" the lawyer declared, his mean
little eyes sparkling, while his tongue