Evening star., 1902-03-08

Sunk deep between the thick hedge OF
the flower garden on one side and TO"
Of tall trees on the other. the private ROAD
of the Garrard farm. in the Pennyrle ols-
trict of Kentucky, looked. that night much
as a peaceful country lane might look In
many another region OF the eaFtn bul
presently came a queer. Silent processloii'
winding along through the shadows pIlhs
ing into the scene something that "ouiu
have been inexplicable In most peaceiui
country lanes-six mounted ngufeS' "hiie
robed, their faces covered with poihleo
hoods, each hood with its three hoies ioi
seeing and breathing.
AS the cavalcade approached from the
west. with the faint moonbeams playing
directly on their hideous disguise. negro
how broke from the shadow of the hedge
and tried to cross the road In front OF
them. Six voices shouted together, We've
got you covered.
The boy dropped on his knees in the dust
he might have been shot. instead Of only
threatened-and began chatteIihs.
amt done nothin, boss-I am dohe noth-
in boss-S'Gawd's truth, l tell you, boss;
L amt done
..Hush up one peremptory whltecap
commanded riding forward Where
your Mars Cap?'
The prisoner could not answer before the
incipient catechiSn was cut short by the
scdden sound of a laugh ringing out from
somewhere-no one knew where-someWnere
in the dark thickness of the garden nedge-
The spokesman of the party distinctly
start ted-eyen uttered rudimentafy
scream some said afterward: the tall erect
figure next behind also started; horses pc
gan caperng and backing into the ROADSIDE
ditch.
Here he is cried the voice in the shad-
ows land he's got you covered This thing
I've got isn't a Winchester. it's French
7 1r. on
two of your horses with one shot Don
move,
I'VE didn't offer to shoot. did we?" the
tall rider made haste to call out.
oh take one shot If you like was the
Naggravating reply, Just TO see how near
YOU can come to where | am. Remember
to poison the dogs next time. Dogs bark
Chapultepec"-t the captive negro boy
you stay where you are; | may want
you"
The man in the hedge appeared to enjoy
the grotesque humor of the thing at least
seven times much as II the SIX white
caps had shared his laugh For the present
they seemed quite unaware OF the fun II
their stuation-bunched in that narrow
roadway, covered by a powerful magazine
rife in the hands of the man they had
come to make their prisoner, While he,
with trained eye and a natural talent for
observing details, amused himself over their
appearance.
Il want to talk with the official spokes-
tall gentleman will please keep still. Now.
the person in front with the stuffed dra-
perry
At stuffed drapery'' one. at least. of the
other five white caps audibly Uttered The
wearer of the criticised costume sprang
nimbly to the ground and stood still obsti-
nately silent. on the farther side. showing
only an upsticking apex of the white head
covering above the horses shoulder.
'.Will the young lady who has just dis
mounted kindly state the object of this
visit?" And the man in the hedge laughed
again.
But no answer came; only the creak of
saddles, clink of bits and stamp Of horses
that were beginning to improve the oppor-
tunity to coop at the roadside weeds. The
man in the hedge waited a little longer
watching the uncouth outlines of the
mounted white caps making hobgoblin shad-
ows on the ashy dust of the road. AT last
he said. We'll. gentlemen, my name is
Charlton Garrard, IL that's the man you
were looking for Now, is the war over?
''Of course it is several voices an
swered.
It's clean ffZzle, anyway"
80 1t looks from up here, / must say"
And a long-limbed man in white fannels
and scarlet sash crawled down the bank