The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-11
CHAPTER X. Mir, Sanders in His Cups.


 When Nan came in sight of the court house she saw a crowd of men and boys gazing at some spectacle on the side op- posite her Some were laughing. while others had serious faces. Among them she noticed Francis Behune. and she also saw Gabriel, who was standing apart from the rest with very gloomy coun- tenance Arriving near the crowd she paused to discover what had excited their curiosity; and there before her eyes, seated on the court house steps, was MT. Billy Sanders, relating to an imaginary audience some choice incidents in his family history. His hat was off and his face was very red.
 MT. Sanders was not regarded as a dangerous man in his cups, but on one well remembered occasion he had fired into a crowd of men who were inclined to be too familiar, and since that oay ne had been given a wide berth when ne took seat on the court house steps ana began to recite his family history While Nan stood there, MT. Sanders drew pis- tol from his pocket, and, smiling bland- ly, began to flourish it around As he did so Gabriel Tolliver sprang into the street and ran rapidly toward him. Some one in the crowd uttered a cry of warning. Seized by some blind impulse Nan ran after Gabriel. Francis Bethune caught her arm as she ran by him, but she wrenched herself from his grasp and ran faster than ever.
 f1oa6 Sanders in an angry voice, raising his pistol. For one brief moment the specta- tors thought that Gabriel was doomed, for he went on without wavering But when MT. Sanders saw who it was, he replaced the pistol remarlking. You ought to hang out your sign, Gabe. Eff I hadn't a had on my furseein specks, I'm afeard I'd plugged you"
 At that moment Nan arrived on the scene, her anger at white heat She caught her breath. and then stood looking at MT. Sanders, with eyes that fairly blazed with scorn and anger. "Ef looks d burn, honey, they wouldn't be cinder left of me-" said MT Sanders, moving uneasily "Arter she's through wi me- Gabriel, plant me in a shady place. an make old Tar-Baby thar" indicating Tasma rid, who had followed Nan make old Tar-Baby thar set on my grave, an warm it up once in a while. An have piece put in the Malvern pa per, statin' that l was one of the most populous and public-spereted citizens or the county.
 What Nan had intended to say, she left unsaid Her feelings reacted while MT. Sanders was talking, and she turned her back on him and began to cry. Under the circumstances 1t was the very thing to
 f111 al the honest truth, Gabriel-I never know'd that anybody in the roun' world keer'd a continental whether I was drunk or sober alive or dead; an I'd lots ruther some und stick knife through my gig gard than to see that child cryin'.'
 He rose and went to Nan-he was not too tipsy to walk-and tried to lay his hand on her arm, but she whirled away from him. Honey" he said, What must I do? I'll do anything in the world you say.'
 ..Go home and try to be decent she answered.
 q will, honey, eff you an Gabriel will go wi me. sI need some un for to keep the boogers off. Now, hitch on here''- he held out both elbows, so that each could take him by an arm-"an when you're ready to start give the word"
 Nan dried her eyes as quickly as she could but before she would consent to go with MT. Sanders, insisted on search ing him. She found flash of apple brandy and hurled 1t against the side of the court house. .
 Nan he said ruefully, that's twice you've broke my heart in a quarter of an hour Ain't there some way you can break Gabriel sss'
 "I just know my eyes are a sight" she said in reply. Are they red and swol- len, Gabriel3s"
 "They are somewhat red, but"
 But whatss" she asked, as Gabriel paused
 ''The yare just as pretty as ever"
 MT. Sanders that is the first com pliment he ever paid me in his life"
 You'll remember 1t longer on that &C., count" said MT. Sanders.
 Well, sr,'' said Nan, addressing Ga briel with a pretty formality, "since you are kind enough to pay me a compli- ment I'll be bold enough to ask you to take tea with me this evening; and I'll have no refusal"
 Gabriel found himself in an awkward predicament. He felt bound to discover what part the Union League was play ing. He had read of its sinister influ- ence in other parts of the south, and he judged that the hour of its organization at Shady Dale was the aptest time for such a discovery. He couldn't tell Nan what his plans were-and he hardly knew what to say. He was silent so long that Mir Sanders had an opportunity to ask Nan if she hadn't made a remark to Gabriel
 "Yes; I asked him to tea" she replied in a low voice; "he has forgotten it by