Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-19
DAILY SHORT STORY
orinnshaw's Plan.

after a ha al days hoeing, enjoying tile
recreation lof practicing with an old
pistol that The had found and polished
Gumbo, as khe was called, had pas
sion for shD citing and was an expert.
Within II cir Gle of admiring darkies he
was tossingl up chips and putting bull
lets through them while in the air. Am
brose GrimS haw, the Overseer. hearing
the shots, W ent to see what it meant.
From behinIl one of the cabins he wit
messed GumnbO's skill without being
himself seen. Then, advancing, he or
dered that tthe boy receive fifty lashes
for having firearmsIin his possession.
Gumbo bore his punishment with
patient endurance. 1t was common
occurrence ON that especial plantation
owing to the cruel nature of the over
seerA The negro showed no vindictive-
ness land was always afterward ODE
dent. teven ITO servility.
Ppchet, the owner of the plantation.
was, an easy going man. with no head
for business. while Grimshaw was as
ayaricious as he was cruel One day
PrOchet discovered that all he pos
sess ed wasi about to pass to his over
seer, Grimshaw was above his class in
was fairly well born. Prochet con-
ceived the tidea of marrying his daugh-
ter to .GrimFhaw on condition that the
property be settled on him. Miss Pro
clret objected, especially since while on
a visitIto st. Augustine she had met
youngJ officer of the United States ar
my iatIFort Marion, with whom she had
fallentin love- and who had asked her
hand But when her father told her
that marriage with Grimshaw was
the only way TO save the plantation she
resolved to sacrifice herself for her IA
ther. whom she loved devotedly.
The. war came on. and while Prochet
became spoorer Grimshaw grew richer,
being interested i'll a blockade runner
that had 'made several successful trips
from Southampton to Charleston. 1t
was at thiSitimei that Miss Prochet con-
seated to mgrrylhim. The war had sep
arated her from her northern lover, and
she had heard nothing from him since
the firing OnsSumter. But one morning
about sunrise. when no one suspected
there was Il Yankee within fifty miles,
10000 of thenNcame hurrying down the
turnpike pasti the plantation, having
made a forcedtmarch du.rinC the night.
They went into,camp near by, and dur
ing the day aiyOung captain of artil-
lery rode up TO the. Prochet manor
house to cal! upon Miss Prochet. He
was Edgar Pennington, the man who
had asked her,hand.
His coming caused connection. Mr..
Prochet was in great distress about
the matter Carey's resolution was
put to Il severe test. while Grimshaw
ground his teeth and vowed that she
should never wed the young officer.
One night an officer was picked OF
| by a bushwhacker who was never dis
covered. This suggested to Grimshaw
a means of getting rid of his rival. He
sent for Gumbo to come to his rooms.
"Gumbo," he said, would you like
your freedom
Yes, massa.'
"And $1,000 besides?''
Eyes, massa." The darky's eyes were
as big as saucers.
every we'll. Tonight Captain Pen
nington will leave the plantation to
ride to camp. 1 will join and ride with
him. You follow and when 1 take off
my hat shoot him through the head"
''Why don't yo' do dat yoself,
NASSAU"
81 wish to marry Miss Prochet. If
killed Captain Pennington even in a
fair fight, it would prevent this mar
riage."
but wha' fo' d'yo' go long with him
when he git shot?"
ITO prove that | did not shoot him
myself. l shall give you signal when
some one is near TO be witness in my
favor. You must shoot from a dis
lance, but you are good shot and can
hit your mark easily"
Gumbo lowered his eyes to the
ground and thought while Grimshaw
watched him eagerly. Presently the
negro looked up and said:
Reckon / want dat freedom and de
five thousan' dollars
Every well; Turk near the plantation
gate from 10 o'clock till you see the
man come out. If you succeed, come
here tomorrow. l will keep my word"
At IL O'clock Pennington, who had
| finally secured Miss Prochets consent
to break with Grimshaw, rode out of
the plantation gate feeling very happy.
He had not gone far before he overlook
| horseman whom he recognized as his
rival.
Good evening, captain" said the lat
ter. Riding TO camp?"
Eyes" said the captain shortly.
with your permission I'll ride with
you"
GAS you like
Grimshaw made passing remarks at
intervals till an army courier, with a
dispatch in his beA, met them, when
he raised his hat. Pennington was as
tonshed to see the overseer pitch for
ward in his saddle and fall to the
ground.
1t was fortunate for Pennington that
there was a witness to prove he was
innocent of Grimshaw's death, which
was never explained, though it was be-
lieved that a bushwhacxer had intend
ed TO kill the officer and had made a