The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-15


facing the terrified prisoner and his two
guards. and one Of them, whose red
baldric marked him as the leader. raised
his hand and pointed solemnly at the
negro.
Eli Chadbu'n. you have been tried and
found guilty OF the crime OF disturbing
the peace OF the State by stirrIn' up the
higgers 20 the aidge OF an Instruction
You have exho'ted and advised them 10
diErega'd their CONTRACTS; 70 set at
nought the bindin' promises made to
their benefactaws-''
NO. sab. please. sab I nebber done
datt''
"SIenceI" commanded the leader.
You not only did that. but you shell
ted and c1untenanced Niger called
Henry AIIei,. an escaped criminal undeh
whose ordehs you have been working.
and by whose confession you stan con-
victed. The sentence OF this cou't faw
such crimes as youh'n is death but OWN
TO youh past good behavyeh. and TO the
fact that this heah is youh first offense.
it has been eommuted IN youh special
case 70 fawty lashes with the hic$-ries-"
Eli would have groveIed at the fees
OF his merciless Judge. but even this
poor privilege was denied him AT a
sign from the leader the two guards
dragged the unresisting negro 20 the
bole Of a giant sweet gum. unbinding his
hands and flashing him upright with HIS
face against the rough bark OF the tree.
With pitiIess CELEBRITY FIVE OF the ghost
ly figures selected hickory rods from the
pile beside the fire and ranged them
selves in line behind the writhing vic
tim Then the nearest man raised his
instrument OF torture. and brought 1t
down with a singing cut across the
bare black shoulders.
There was a stihed cry mingled with
the sound Of galloping horses, and the
executioner paused with uplifted rod as
two armed horsemen dashed into the
group in the glade.
Drop that hick'ry. sch. and turn that
thah boy Ioosei" commanded the fore
most OF the two intruders- There was a
moment OF sullen hesitation, and then
the order was obeyed When Eli was
free. the colonel waved his hand ma
jestically toward the road. Gentlemen.
youth hawses are oven yOndeh: when
need any OF yOuh 'sistance TO maintain
awdeh moDg my niggers I'll notify the
las one OF you by name. sch I have
he honeh to wish you a Ve'y good
eveuin'"
While he was speaking the ghostly
figures began 10 melt away as IL by
magic. and when he had finished all Of
them had vanished in the darkness. Ell
had flung himself upon the ground be-
side the colonel's horse in an ecstasy OF
gratitude.
ooh, Cunnll Hawdy, You's done sabe
me rom de tawment! De good Lawd
mus had fotch you en- Mars Harry t
hep de DO Eli"
Get up. boy, get up and go long back
to bed They All won't pesteh you
again tonight. And while you're 1hankin'
the good Lawd don't fcwget to make
mention o. that little black rascal o
youh whats his name Pete he
stole one OF the enemy's hawses and
rode straight 20 whah he reckOned he
could find help.
Eli followed the colonel and his son 10
the road, and babe them good-by. rs
gwine In de mawnin'. praise de Lawd-
I gwtne 10 de Ian wha' de po' niggah
don't hab ter git his OF mars out'n de
/ bald in de nighttime Z sabe him f'om de
/ tawment; VIVA -'
! The colonel laughed. Don't be too
hard on Old Mississippi. Eli. tn be the
home OF good many niggers afteh
we're both put away undeh the sod
The next day when he was riding to
Toceolona. the colonel noticed that the
small cabin in the edge OF the swamp
was deserted.
/ Six weeks after the incident in which
/ he had figured at the rescuer OF Unc'
] al q 81 r7rT
| across the CoOsahatchee bridge on his
way 10 spend the evening with Judge
/ Ellis. at Oberon Mills. 1t was early Cwi-
/ light, and when he turned the bend in
the long causway. he saw group OF ne
I grOes coming along the road toward the
eastern approach to the bridge They
We're heavily laden. and even IN the dis
I lance they appeared detected and for
\ lorn. The colonel needed no gift OF
( prescience TO tell him that Ellis expert
menJ had failed, but he was scarcely
prepared for the eXtravagant outburst
1 OF JOY that greeted him as he rode up.
/ ''Bres de Lawd, hits de colonel hiss
self Drap 20 bun'les. Celie. honey. en-
mex yo' 'spccts L CunneI HEWdy-yOu
1 boys. tex of yo hats-been so long
/ folks dat dey don los deil mannehs
/ 'pletely. sab.
'Reckoned you'd come back 10 OLD
! Mississippi did you, ELY"
1a-aS. san gd-dSs san AK 90
! Lawd ives done got back; hit done TUX
de las pic'yune, sab, but we all amt
gwine pesteh none bout dat, no. sab
We'll. reckon you know heap more
/ bout the West than you did before"
ooh, Lawd. Cunnel doau bre'k po'
uiggah's back like dat Des nothin' but
fat, oil prairiee Ian, so hawd dat Dc
pillow des skcet long 'dOut ebber mekkin
I a mawk Dey amt had no rain faW
I seben weeks, en- dey ant gviae hab mons
my 'pinion- En- de po' niggahs is Ges
campin' out in de win en- freezin'. cause
dar amt no logs faw mekkin' de cab
ms"
! Then the great emigration scheme
was a swindle just as I allowed 10 was"
Hit am dat, faw sho'. Cunnel: deg
/ amt keer faw nothin' but gettin' de po'
/ niggah's money. Wen OATS gone. hs
kin des shIf' faw hisseT like white
! foIksI"
/ The colonel smiled. II reckoned that
. l - Fs