The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-09
CHAPTER VI.
THE MAN OR BRUTE IN EMBRYO.


Two months later General Worth,
while busy rebuilding his mills at indie
pendance, had served on him a summons
10 appear before the Agent of the Freed
mans Bureau at Hambright and answer
the charge of using abusive language"
10 . freedman
The particular freedman who desired
10 have his feelings soothed by law was
Il lazy young negro about sixteen years
old whom the General had ordered whip
ped and sent from the stables into the
fields on one occasion during the war
while on visit to his farm. Evidently
the boy had long memory.
Now don't that beat the dewitt ex
claimed the General.
What is it?'' asked his foreman
eve got TO leave my work, ride on an
old freight train thirty miles. pull
through twenty more miles of red mud in
a buggy to get to Hambright and lose
tour days. to answer such charge as
that before some little wizen-eyed skunk
OF a Bureau Agent! My God, it's enough
10 make Union man remember seces-
sion with regrets"
My stars, General, We can't get along
without you now when We are getting
this machinery in place. Send lawyer"
growled the foreman.
Cant do 1t, John-I'm charged with a
crime
We'll III swear!''
do the best you can, I'll be back in
four days, If don't kill a nigger!" said
the General with a smile. i've got
settlement 10 make with the farm hands
anyhow"
There was no help for it. But when the
court convened. and the young negro saw
the face of his old master red with
wrath, his heart failed him. He fled the
town and there was no accusing witness.
The General gazed at the Agent with
cold contempt and never opened his
mouth in answer to expressions of re-
greet at the fiasco.
few moments later he, rode up to the
gate of his farm house on the river hills
about a mile out of town. A strapping
young fellow of fifteen fastened TO open
the gate.
We'll, Allan, my boy, how are your"
''First rate General. We're glad TO
see you! but we didn't make a half
crop. sir, the niggers were always in
town loahng around that Freedmans
Bureau. holding meetings all night and
going to sleep in the felds.''
Well show ME the books" said the
General as they entered the house.
The General examined the accounts
with care and then looked at young
Allan Mcleod for a moment as though
he had made a discovery.
Young man you've done this work
we'll"
Il tried TO- sir. If the niggers disputed
anything, / fixed that by making the
store-keepers charge each item in two
books, one your account and one on
an account kept separate for every Mig
ger"
Good enough. They'll get up early to
get ahead of YOU"
Pm afraid they are going TO make
trouble at the Bureau, sir That Agents
been here holding Union League meetings
Two or three nights every week, and he's
got every niger under his thumb"
The dirty wheip!" growIed the Gen
er:l
= If you could see me out of the trouble.
General, I'd like TO jump ON him and beat
the life out of him next time he comes
our here"
The General frowned
Don't YOU touch him-any more than
you would a pole cat. I've trouble enough
just now"
Il could knock the mud out OF him ia
TWO minutes, ii you say the word. :" said
Allan eagerly.
Yes, I've no doubt of it, The Cen
eral looked a him thoughtfully.
He was u well knit powerful youth Just
turned his fifteenth birthday He had
red hair freckled face, and forid COM
piexion. His features were regular and
pleasing, and his stalwart muscular
figure gave him handsome look that
impressed one with indomitable physical
energy His lips were full and sensuous.
his eyebrows straight and his high fore
head spoke OF brain power as we'll as
horse power.