Evening star., 1902-08-02

of their opponents book. The policy of
Cancellation toward the democrats urged by
Hills appeared to him both weak and futile,
and the young doctor had earned the bitter
dislike of Wallace and his followers by his
persistence in opposing them.
a half-grown, barefoot boy in ragged
jeans was sitting on the worm fence in
front of the Coleman yard as Doctor Hills
rode up. He slid off the fence to take
charge of the horse, and came forward i'm
perturbably chewing tobacco.
'Ol man Coleman were packing corn tew
the mill when thet Crnery meul O. Ills
kicked him plumb dead fer an hour" ex-
planned the youth.
The stars were out before the young
northerner left the sick man in a comforta-
bic sleep and turned his horse homeWard
He had reached the last bit of woods be-
tween him and the little town of Richmond,
and was picking his way carefully along
the corduroy road which bisected the
swamp on each side of 1t, when sound
came to him through the still night that
set him tense and rigid, with squared shoul-
ders and ears strained to localize the direc-
tion of the voice
Hills slipped from the saddle and picked
his way cautiously through the swamp. He
could distinguish voices now, one low and
pleading and the other insolent and jeering
He had time to reflect that they were both
familiar to him before the sounds took the
form of articulate words to him
one minute more, Uncle Ben. You old
reprobate haven't you any gratitude? What
yeou think they freed the niggahs for ex-
cept TO vote EN-? Hurry up and get fnt1h
line. Half minute left" drawled a cool.
languid voice.
"Marse Emmet, I dunno nuttin' tall bout
youalls politicks-"
All! Then Wen teach yeou. You own
panty approves Of educating youall with
the bud, so the can be no objections to It, -
tormented Wallace, with lazy enjoyment Of
the old negro's terror. Times up. Give
him the bud. Dave
TJa
ded to his confederate The fellow step
ped back for better swing. "UuCIe
Ben Dascomb, stripped to the waist and
tled with pawpaw strips to a dogwood tree
screamed and writhed in anticipation But
the blow never fell. Doctor Hills tore the
hickory from the ruffians hands and lashel
II twice across his masked face Dave Ford
fell back into the brush, then turned ter
ror-strlcken. and plunged headlong into the
swamp: Hills swung round at the click of
pistol, and leaped at Wallace like a wild
cat. He felt a streak of fire tearing through
his shoulder. but minded it no more than a
crop OF rain He tore the revolver from his
opponent and, shifting 1t to his hand, beat
him fercely with 1t across the head until
he fell to the round.
Robert Hills felt a curious 1iebtness os
nead complned with an intense heaviness of
limb as he dragged himself across to the
negro 1t was as If he were divorced from
his body and all things tangible But he
knew he must get out of that before Dave
Ciu etuiHeu WITH nelp. lie cut the Daw-
paw strips with his knife and dragged the
trembling old man to the road He was
consumed with desire to lie down and
have done with 1t. but he set his teeth and
fought 1t desperately. Somehow he reach
ed the saddle. and the negro mounted he
hind him.
When next Robert Hills took account Of
time he found himself at his office door
Voices and the indistinct forms OF mon
defined themselves to his consciousness He
recognized the men Brad Henderson and
Lem Fisher. The old negro was explainin o
to them TREMENDOUSLY what had hannened
Jumped right in an taken hand Wal
| loped Emmet Wallace till he were dead .
! you all said? An him toting round a buIIa,
In his shoulder? Dad burn, but l like thet
Looks like he got spunk, Brad"
Toby shore he has. But they 'uns will,
| light on him yet, lessen we 'uns air r;rht
| smart. Dave Ford an his Cache crowd
| will be deown mighty shortly. Reckon weaIl
can stand them orr
| Lem shook his head
| Then you must ride fer Colonel Das.
| COMB on yQu' mewl. They dassent counter
| ROAD an burn the wind"
| But Lem only shifted awkward,y fror,
| one foot to the other o'
Reckon yeou better take the mewl Rrad
| I low tew stay" Di"u
Nav, doggon't yeou don't. Lem. T taker
a notion tew camp right hyer myself. TAKE
| the nigger along with yeou; then we inns
| will be shet of him"
1t may have been an hour later tha,
| Emmet Wallace and his crowd of hanger,
| on rode into Richmond. They passed d0wr
the single, long street, bathed in moonlight