The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-10-10

Tue swamp snack, were SnuSly StoWeC
away in the Layburn ginhouse.
As Ben had predicted, Brown did moi
dare to return to the shack on Black
berry creek that night. When he
reached his home at late hour, briel
torn and weary, he went to bed, but
his sleep, brief and unrefreshing, was
haunted by bad dreams. Waking at ar
early hour, he dressed himself in q
very vengeful mood and went to seek
some one on whom to vent his i'll hu
NOR. After berating every one in the
store and out of it whose time he hired
he summoned Black Jake and started
for the swamp to ascertain the fate OF
his wagons and mules. The return OF
two of the latter at the stables with
only fragments of harness attached tc
them, as reported by Jake, prepared
him for the woeful wreck that greeted
his eyes on the banks of the creek.
When he had collected the debris OF
his valuable wagons and recovered the
missing mules, which were almost dis
abled by the mad bolt they had made
the previous night, Brown estimated
mentally the amount he was out. Not
to mention the cotton which he had
failed to secure, the destruction of his
wagons and the injury Of his mules
would cost him between five and six
hundred dollars.
The result of his calculations started
Brown to swearing. He damned the
Federal garrison from it's prenatal hour
to the remotest period of time. His
profanity was almost enough to shrivel
the green leaves and set the swamp
reeds quaking. When he had exhaust
ed his oaths and his breath at the same
time and paused to wipe his perspiring
brow, Black Jake, with a shortsighted
desire to avert yicarious anger, and
also from a love of gossip, seized the
moment while his employers walls Of
wrath were refilling to give him some
information.
1t was Jake's idea that by turning
Browns anger in new direction and
giving him an opening for revenge he
would make home life more agreeable
to himself and his fellow servants.
Marse Jim, 1 got some'h'n' to tell
yo'."
"What in the devil is it?' asked
Brown Grossly.
''Marse Jim, 1 was dat skeered las
night I mighty nigh los my senses, but
after l reached home an got to thinkin'
an putin dis an dat together 1 come
to de 'clusion we's all mistaken, an
when 'riv' at dat 'clusion I went to
spyin' roun', an now I know we's all
mistaken"
mistaken about what, you black
scoundrel?"
Gimme time an don't swear at me,
an I'll tell YOU, Marse jim"
''Well, go on"
"Dem warn't no Yankees what run
on us las night"
"How do you know?'
"In de fus' place, dey didn't holler
halt lax soldyers does, but dey holler
an shoot at de same time Dey done
lax folks does what wants to skeer
somebody"
'That's so," said Brown.
"Yes, Marse Jim, an dat amt all.
When | got over my skeer 'membered
dat l heerd ole Ben Layburn's holler.
Den l 'spicioned some'h'n'. 1 got dat
curtis lef' my bed an crep' over to
Marse Alf Layburn's ginhouse by de
river an, bless Gawd, dar was Marse
Alf an Marse Jack Meriweather an
ole Ben a-rollin' cotton from de fiat
an stowin' it away in de house."
The negro went on to give numerous
no further attention. He had heard
enough. The scarlet hue faded from
his face, his breathing became slow
and regular, and, sitting down upon a
log, he remained for ten minutes abb
sorbed in thought. Only his eyes,
which glittered like those of a snake,
gave token of the activity of his mind.
The negro's story had suggested a plan
by which he might not only revenge
himself upon Layburn and Meri-
weather, but also pay off a score Of
spite that he owed to Mary Edgewood,
to whom he had had the assurance to
pay his addresses during her lovers alb
sence, and in gloating over the misfor-
tunes which he hoped to bring upon
those whom it pleased him to term his
enemies he forgot the pangs Of morti-
fication caused by his ignominious and
disastrous fight of the night before.
When he had mastered his nefarious
scheme, he turned abruptly to Black
Jake, who, finally perceiving that he
was talking to deaf ears, had retired to
potter among the splintered remains of
the shattered wagons.
"Jakev'
'Yes, Marse Jim," answered the ne
gro, coming briskIy forward.
"Jake," repeated Brown, eying him
keenly, "do you want to make $5?"
At the mention of $5 Jake in imagina-
tion pictured himself the possessor of
many plugs of tobacco and imbibing
numerous drinks of whisky.
"Co'se does. Marse Jim."
"Well, I'll give you $5 if you will
do as tell you. Now, listen. l want
you to go with me to the captain of
the Yankee garrison, Captain Adams,
and tell him what you have told me-"
Eyes. Marse Jim; I'll do dat. OATS
easy. I'll des tell de cap'n de whole
business-how we come down hyer wild
de wagons
'Stop, you scoundrelv' interrupted
Brown. "If you tell him anything
about the wagons or mention my name
in connection with the matter, I'll cut
your liver outw
fgT III