The National tribune., 1901-12-05

Gracious, | hope he won't try it this
evening" exclaimed the Deacon, remem-
bering that he had left his faithful UNI
brella upstairs with his oyercoat anC hat.
Now, don't be alarmed" she reassured
him. You stay right by me, and you i
not get hurt. | singled you out to accom-
pany me as soon as l saw you. You
have good, honest, kindly face
Really, num-" muttered the Deacon.
confusedly, I'm a married man, and
Mrs. klegg's in good health"
Now, don't be silly, giggled Mrs. Pow
hatan Cudger. Il don't mean anything
Of that kind. But I'm the only lady of
cur kind who dared come here tonight
They're al afraid Of something happen
ing. II tell you something in deepest
confidence. | wouldn't tell you if your ap-
pearahce didn't give me the greatest faith
in you, and if | didn't know that you are
leader among the Posey County people,
who are the best friends OF Southern
Rights in the State. know that Posey
County man must be all right"
She had led him to a dark, secluded
bay window, which seemed a fit place for
plottings and conspiracies.
Go on, num-" said the Deacon, eager
to know more. You'll find me true as
steel c'to the Union," he saved his con-
science by adding under his breath) land
silent as the grave"
III tell you, that you may not be taken
unaware by anything that may happen,
and | want some one to help me meet the
crisis. There are many of our kind of
men here, but / don't want to go near
them, or introduce you, just yet, because
they are more or less under MOrton'S
suspicion, and, should anything happen,
they'll all be Arrested at once. I've no
fancy for being dragged into an Abolition
Bastile by brutal soldiery, though l am
willing to sacrifice much for our beloved
Southland. You being total stranger
cannot be suspected of having any hand
in the affair. Then, you look 30 fresh and
innocent-I might almost say, vegiant. -
Ihankee, num-" murmured the Dea-
con, though not quite so well pleased as
by her former compliments.
80, Mrs. Powhatan Cudger, you're
here, are you? I've been looking for you
everywhere" said long haired, satur-
nine-lOOking young man, stopping at the
bay window. Il wanted to tell you that
Samuel Hopkins" he caught sight
of the Deacon, and stalked away.
20, dear, they're making me very ner-
yous," complained Mrs. Cudgcr. Il know
precisely what they're wanting to tell me-
They're wanting to say that Samuel Hop
kins has found that endurance has ceased
TO be a virtue, and has reached the last
pitch of desperation. I'm glad, after ALL
that you're with me, and they can't tell
it, because l want to be able to swear
that l didn't know word of it before
hand. Now I'm going to tell you an awful
secret, which | wouldn't do if you weren't
from Posey County. and | must have
some one with me to help bear the strain
You look so strong, but harmless as new
milk"
"Thankee, num-" said the Deacon, still
less pleased at the compliment.
so like the dear old farmers that used
to be on grandfather's plantation in Vir-
Dini0-' she Ourplpd on aSThav xvara 40
voted to HIM. didn't know anything but
what he told them, and would do anything
he ordered them"
Hum" thought the Deacon. do 1
look like that?"
What L was going to tell you," con-
tinued she, was that a while ago Mr.
Hopkins told me in strictest confidence
that he had formed a band of men as
desperately courageous as himself, who
had sworn to kill Gov. Morton, IL he
should be reelected. They had drawn
lots as to the way that they should go
about it. The man who drew the first
one was to make the first attempt. II he
was killed trying it, then No. 2 should
make the attempt, and so on until they
were all killed, or Gov. Morton was Mr..
Hopkins didn't say as much, but he let
me believe that he had drawn the first
number. The time Is ripe for the deed
now. Sherman is hemmed UP and ready
W SuIIeuutI, IL ue Has HOI Already. All
the Abolitionists will be in a panic over
the disaster. Then if Morton is struck
down, and his tyrant hand loosed from
Indiana's throat, there will be no one TO
take his place, the Knights will arise in
force, the State will be turned over again
TO its rightful masters, the Indiana troops
will be recalled from their unholy work,
and peace made with the Southern Con
federacy."
Fine program. I've heard of it be-
FORE" said the Deacon, carefully conceal
ing his irony.
''As I told you before" continued Mrs.
Powhatan Cudger, "Mr. Hopkins is ca.
pable Of anything but longer submission.
I've tried to dissuade him, but how can
anyone reason with a man thoroughly
maddened by persecution, and who does
not care for his own life, if he sees
chance to wreak vengeance on his perse-
cutors and the wrongers of his country? ?"
Mrs. Cudger," said the man with
goatee, coming up, with a desperate look,
Il must tell you. Samuel Hopkins has
Murdered the Governor. o, heay-
ens!' shrieked Mrs. Cudger.
mo; he has been arrested"
After terrible fight, in which he was