The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-02-22
GABRIEL TOLLIVER
4 NOVEL OF RECONSTRUCTION
Sss-eBy Joe. chandIes Harrls-<<<
Cop wright, 1908 by Joel Chandler H-rrIs.

81 ot - SSSi OHauoiSI - y . -
shall remember it," said Captain Fal-
coner.
That, portion Of Shady Dale which was
moving about the streets with Its ewes
open was surprised and shocked-nay,
well nigh paralyzed- to see the Yankee
captain" on parade, as It were, with Mer-
iwether Cloptoh on one side of him and
Mr. Sanders on the other. Surely here
was food for thought. Were Meriwether
Clopton and Mr. Sanders about to join the
radicals? At last one. of the loungers a
man of middle age who had seen service,
raised his voice and put an end to COM
ment.
You can bet your sweet life he de-
clared, that Billy Sanders knows what
he's up to. He may not git the game he's
after, but he fetch back handful of
feathers or hair"
1t turned out that the captain was able
to give them some very startling informa-
ton. 1t was the general understanding
In Shady Dale that the prisoners were to
be sent to Atlanta; but the military au-
thorities, fearing an attempt at rescue,
perhaps, had ordered them to be sent to
Fort Pulaski, below Savannah. They
would be isolated from their friends, and,
so placed, might be induced to confess;
and IL the circumstances surrounding
them were not sufficient to produce such
result then other measures were to abe
taken.
Meanwhile the circumstantal evidence
against Gabriel was very strong-stronger
even that Mr.. Sanders had imagined
Bridalbin, whom Captain Falconer knew
at Boring had informed that officer of
his own supposed discoveries with respect
TO GabriePs movements; and the evidence
ha 4tFa,e4
fact that HotchlSiss had pronounced the
lads name with his last breath, made out
a case of exceptional strength. Urged on
by the vindietiveness, of the radical lead
ers in congress, it was more than proba-
bic that the military court before which
the young men were to be tried, would
convict any or all of them on much
slighter evidence than that which had ae-
cumulated against Gabriel.
Now, this is what l wanted to say"
remarked Captain Falconer, as they sat
in the library at the Clopton Place Il
was given to understand by the officer
who made the arrests that | would short
ly be transferred to Savannah, or rather,
to Fort Pulaski, and placed in charge of
the prisoners, the idea being that l,
knowing something of the young men,
would be able to extract a confession
from them by fair means. This falling,
there are others who could be depended
on to employ foul"
Mr.. Sanders looked hard at the cap
tain; he was taking the young mans
measure. What he saw or devined must
have been satisfactory, for his face sud
denly cleared up and he rose from his
chair with laugh.
DO YOU all know what I've gone an
done?" he asked.
tsXo,t do ,,,a,,,, ,1o,.on +l,i,.. WI
liam, that We cannot possibly imagine
what the newest is" said Meriwether
Clopton
We'll, sir, this is the cleverest yit. I've
come off from Lucy Lumsden's an clean
forgot my boss, It's a wonder [ didn't
forget my head. Now you might a said,
an said truly, that I'd forgit a man or
oman, but when William H. Sanders,
Esquire walks off in the broad light of
day, an forgits his boss, an that boss
the Rackin' Roam, you may know that
his thinkin machine has slipped cog
Eff you'll excuse me- I'll go right arter
that creetur."
Captain Falconer rose also, but Meri-
wether Clopton protested II should be
glad if you would stay to dinner" he
said
But the lades?" suggested the captain,
with a comically doubtful lift of the eye
brows. ''You know how they regard us
here" --
Only my daughter Sarah is here. She
knew your father well, and has a very
lively remembrance of him She was fif-
teen when you were three and many
day she was your volunteer nurse"
So it was arranged that the captain
should remain to dinner, and 1t may be
said that he spent very pleasant time
after his long period of social isolation.
When Mr.. Sanders returned he was fol-
lowed by Cephas, who was one of Ga
briefs favorites among the small boys.
Cephas was bashful enough but he al
ways felt at ease at the Clopton Place.
The small boy had sort of chilly feel
ing when he saw the officer, but he soon
got over that.
Il went an got my boss" said Mr.. San
ders, IAN he paid me back for my for
gitfulness by purity nigh bitin piece
outn my arm; an whilst I was rubin
the place, up comes Cephas for to find
out somethin' about the boys. A kinder
blind idee popped in my head, an so I
tuck Cephas up behind me, an fetched
him here"
sit on the sofa. Cephas. Have chair
William, and tell US about your blind
idea"