The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-05-17


contents of which could almost be stored
away in drummer's trunk. so tiny were
they. But the Dutch pasha kept an eye
upon them and constantly levied tribute
Seeing one in rather fourishing condi
ton. he demanded quite a sum of back
sheesh." The owner plucked up his cour
age and refused to pay it,
"Den." cried the Dutch pasha, "I shut
up dis sheebang"
And it accordingly was shut.
Another source Of profit was to levy q
tax on every carload of refugees that
passed through the town. II they re-
fused, they were detained until they paid
It, which they finally did rather than be
turned out of the car and left In At.
lanta minus funds and shelter.
Young G. now had the pleasure OF
interviewing these cormorants. After
vainly refusing, demonstrating and en-
treating he. by the advice Of friendly
citizens. paid the tax. some $40. but II
seemed an enormous sum to the ruined
refugees.
In his absence one Of the robber crew
came down to the car to inspect the
family and their belongings and then
calmly demanded his tribute. Mr.. G..
was a fiery old man, and he scornfully
refused to pay 1t. A hot alteration en-
sued. 1t must be allowed that the Yam.
kee. q tall. raw boned man. preserved
his eQuanimity. which only served to ex-
asperate the other.
"l'n pay you nothing" cried the old
man. 81 have General Croxton's trans
portation papers that take me home. and
not a cent will pay you"
ssvThap yo,, dnp,f loo vo horo 10 cold tho
other coolly.
"You have no right to demand money
from me over your superior officers or
ders. Just show me your authority. sill"
1T is the rule here for all refugees to
pay" said the man calmly, land you
must"
"The rule? Who gave you any right to
make q rule? I'll bet you can't show me
any proof Of your authority for so do
ing"
with an indescribable drawl. IL have
conscientious scruples about It."
you" cried the old man. now badger
scruples! You'll God bless my soul!
Your He dropped back In his chair
speechless with anger.
Having thus spiked his enemy's guns,
the blackmailer, after again calmly as
surfing him that he should not leave
without pay. took himself OF.
Young G. soon after appeared and
stated that he had paid the tax. as they
could not stay over In Atlanta and camp
by the railroad track, and 1t was not
worth while resisting when resistance
was useless.
They soon after started on their jour.
ney over the toughest road on earth, for
It had been torn up many times BY the
contending armies, and legend was In
circulation that when the iron rails had
been 90 twisted as to be unfit for use sap
lings had been improyised into rails and
nailed TO the cross ties 30 as to take a
train over the gaps. The road was 80
rough that the story did not seem incredi-
BILE.
Marietta. their next stopping place.
seemed deserted, The only people they
saw were a lot Of men busy with ma
chine Strengthening railroad rails, 50 az to
use them again. And they had certainly
been twisted into the most wonderful
shapes In the world.
The travellers route lay now through a
dreary country and endless scenes Of des-
olation. They failed to recognize It 1t
was the "Shermanized district" and only
chimneys and heaps Of ruins marked the
sites Of what bad been smiling villages.
At last they reached Resaca and then
home. 1t had been, In army parlance.
sacked and Quilted" Every window was
gone. A soldier. II was said. had tried his
prowess with pickax to see IL he could
destroy a window at a single blow. He
succeeded. the gaping holes causing the
house to look like blind thing.
But the roof was there to shelter them,
and Il belonged to them, and that was a
great thing. So they set to work to make
themselves comfortable.
Before a great while they had In can
vas window glass, which, II II kept out
most Of the light, also kept out most Of
the wind.
Reminders Of the battle were scattered
about. The lock of the front door hav-
ing been broken. II was kept closed By the
aid Of a weight made out Of half tor
pedo. with which General Wheeler had
blown up the railroad track near their
house. Old Parrot shells were used to
prop open the windows. and the fire was
stirred with q bayonet, and empty car
fridge boxes were used as troughs to feed
the cows In. 90 that there was q warllke
favor about things.
But in a years time the returned refu-
gees had got so to rights that there was
little to tell that the house had been In
the center Of the battlefield and been
hotly contested spot-only the grave Of
Confederate soldier, who slept peacefully
In the flower garden, where the roses
waved above his head and scattered their
perfumed petals over his grave.-Atlanta
Constitution.