The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-28

AY MORNING, DECEMl in the afternoon, before he went off to the war, he would strut around town in the unHorm of a cadet, and seemed te think himself better than any one else.
 'Climb in the wagon. Gabe an Cephas, an tell us about everything an ever- body. The Tanks didn't take the town on, did they?"
 The boys accepted the invitation with out further pressing, and proceeded to give their old friend all the information he desired. Francis Bethune asked no questions and Gabrael was very glad of 1t. At bottom, Bethune was very clever fellow, but the boys are apt to make up their judgments from what is merely superficial. Francis mad very attractive face, and he could have made himself attractive to ysungster on the lookout for friends, but he had chosen a different line of conduct. and, as result. Gabriel had several scores against the young man.
 The most interesting piece of news that Gabriel had in his budget related to the hanging of MT. Absalom Goodlett by some of Sherman's mon, when that commander came marching through Georgia. It seems that a negro had told the men that Mir. Goodlett knew where the Clopton silver had been concealed. and they took him in hand and tried to frighten him into giving them information which he did not possess. Threats failing, they secured a rope and strung him up to a tree. They strung him up three times. and the third time they went off and left him hanging; and but for the promptness of the negro who was the cause of the trouble, MT. Good lett would never have opened his eyes on the affairs of this world again. The negro cut him down in the nick of time. and as soon as he recovered he sent the darkey with instructions to go after the men and tell them where they could find the plate, indicating an isolated spot whereupon MT. Goodlett took his gun and went to the point indicated. The negro carried out his instructions to the letter. He found the men. who had not gone far pointed out the spot from a safe distance, and then waited to see what would happen. If he saw Tnything unusual he never told of 1t; but the men were never seen again. Some of their companions returned to search for them, but the search was a futile one. You never know" said MT. Sanders, in commenting on the story. what a man
 will do ontell he gits rank pisen mad, or starvin' hongry. or in love-"
 What would you do. MT. Sanders. If you were in lover" Gabriel asked inno- gently enough.
 Maybe I'd do as Frank does" re- piled MT. Sanders. smiling blandly: "shed scaldln' tears one minnit, an bite my fnger-nails the next; maybe l would. but I don't believe it."
 Now, I'll swear you ought not to tell
 these boys such stuff as tnat!" exclaimed Francis Bethune angrily. 'I don't know
 about Cephas. but Tolliver doesn't like
 me any way"
 How do you know?" inquired Gabriel. Because. you used to make faces at
 me-" replied Bethune. half laughing. Why, so did Man." Gabriel rejoined. Mine must have been terrible ones for | you to remember them so we'll" The reference to Nan struck Bethune, and he began to gnaw at the end of his thumb, whereupon MT. Sanders smiled
 broadly. The young man reflected a mo- ment and then remarked. his face tri- | fe redder than usual: '1snt the young | lady old enough for you to call her Mss Dorington?'
 She is," replied Gabriel. but If she permits me to call her Nan. why should
 any one else object?"
 There was no answer to this. but pres
 ently Bethune turned to Gabriel and said: Why do you dislike me, Tolliver?' Honestly" said Gabriel. II can give you no reason; and I'm not sure that 1
 dislike you. l had an idea that you felt | yourself above me because my grand
 mother Is not as rich as the CIopton 6. % | The statement seemed to amaze Be- | thune.
 Well, I never thought that a boy so | young could have such thoughts Be- | thune declared
 The wagon came just then to the brow | of the hill that overlpo6ed Shady Dale,
 and here MT, Sanders brought his team | to a standstll. It had been many long
 months since his eyes or Bethune had
 gazed on the familiar scene. I'll tell 1 you what's the fact, bCys," he said.
 drawing in a long breatA-.'the purtiest
 place this side of Paradise lies right
 wander before oltr eyes. Ef | had some
 'un to give out the lines, C cut loose and | sing a hime. Yes, sirs! you'd see ne | break out an howl jest like my old coon l dog. Louder, used to do when he struck
 a hot track. We've fit an we've feut, ! and we've got knocked out, he went on. and now, here we are ready for to take l a fresh start. The Lord send that II ;
 the right start" He would have driven
 on, but at that moment, a shaDbyloolt 1 ing vehicle drew up alongside the wagOn Gabriel .and Cephas knew at once that
 the outfit belonged to MT. Goodlett. His
 mismatched team consisted of a very
 large horse and very small mule, both i of them veterans of the war. They had been left by the Federals in d broken down condition. and MT. GOodlett was l now utilizing them not only for farm pur-
 poses, but for conveying stray travellers
 to and from Malvern earning in tns
 way many q dollar that would nave gone l elsewhere.
 Mir. Good!ett drew rem when he saw ] Mr Sanders and Francis Rcthune, and 1 gave them as cordial a greeting h. 1 could. for he was a very undemonstra;ive ! and reticent man.
 CHAPTER III.
 Hr. Goodlett's Passengers.
 The vehicle that MT. Goodlett was driv- ing was an old hack that had been used Igal.