The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-13

81 think we have locked three evil
mouths to-day" observed Noah, as we
were about our return. ut is the less
important, perhaps, since already a
whole flock of these lies has been I'M
Gagged in the town..
1t is never unimportant," I returned,
ito identify an enemy. I am the more
relieved, too, since you cleared up the
mystery of that written menace. And
yet l do not make out how you sup
posed it gained emanation among these
people,
81 had no such thought in the begin
ming" replied Noah. II knew, as did
you, and with a glance, how our en-
tertainers were nothing fine nor deep,
but of harshest clay and of least in
telligence. No more delicacy was re-
quired than might do for driving pigs.
At first 1 sought to develop their where
abouts and stormed the woods with
my remarks. In that, and on the sheer
chance of it, I employed the name of
Undertake. The daughters disturbed
features were a cue. And you know
the rest. The digging up of the au
thorship of the letter was but the
birth of bold guess. However, we've
paralyzed that trio of tongues, which IS
excellent as far as it goes. And we
must beat out these fires wherever we
find them. Else they will spread, and
may come to mean confagration that
shall burn some one to cinder."
And going back for cause" I said,
my thought recurring to Peg, Il still
cannot tell the hound purpose of this
incessant, malignant pursuit of our lit
tie girl"
Sir, they reason in this guise," re-
turned Noah. LAS I've told you the
great impulse springs from the adher-
ents of Calhoun. They desire the de-
struction of the President as a method
of their mans advancement. They fear
that the President will seek to succeed
himself-there has been illustrious ex-
ample-or, in default of that. insist on
selecting his successor. They attack
Mrs. Eaton in hope of its reaction
against the administration. Suppose,
sir, they make her out to be vile, sup
pose they show the administration as
condoning and defending her vileness,
will they not have organized the wom-
en- against US? Give Calhoun the wom-
en- of the country to be his allies, and
he will go over the administration like
an avalanche"
But you''-now spoke gingerly. for
I would not hurt so true a friend nor
ruff1e him with himself-'in your pre-
tense of friendship for Calhoun. and
as we'll in other particulars. misled
our happy folk"
"I but fought the devil with fire and
shared liars with lies said he. These
she-villains were not entitled to the
truth. Only truthful folk have right
to TRUTH
When the General and were to-
gether, 1 laid before him those ethics
or word-morals of Noah: he stoutly
agreed with that diplomat.
Zone is not always bound to tell the
truth" asserted the General. would
you tell a footpad whose gun was at
hrp1 Sf whore lnApad
money? In war, would you disclose
your strengths or our plans to the
foe because he asked? Sir, truth is
property-a goods; to have right to it
one must possess title to it. The cas-
ual man, and the more If he would
work me harm, has as scant right to
search my head with his questions as
to search my pockets with his fingers.
Take my word for it, Major"-this in
high Delphic vein, for the General was
growing pleased with his argument
take my word, sir; the right in the
one is the right in the other, and he
who may lock a door may lie."
"These harpies," said I, commenting
on what had befallen, land the Rev.
Campbell have fair admitted their
guilt"
why, as to that. sir" returned the
General, 1.-THE falsity of the story was
never in doubt. But the prime thing
10 W oIilOelASl OOI AllCOC CetluIilIllGSs L
is not hard to see how this day has
been well spent"
In concord with what we had long
before agreed, neither the General nor
l, by lisp or the lifting of an eye
brow, gave Peg a least intimation of
what had gone forward about her name
and fame. And yet, she must have d.
vined her close interest, for in the early
hours of the twilight she came again
to the General, saying she remembered
books OF account kept by Timberlake's
own hand. which would demonstrate
his whereabouts for those four years.
Her mother, Peg said, had these books
in her house.
"Why, then" said the General, that
should give US the best evidence. Ma
jor, go you with the child to her moth
er's and bring me those books"
1t was not the first call / had made
on Pegs mother but this night the
garrulous old soul would so launch her
self upon wide waters of gossip, and
never quit until she crossed them from
shore to shore, that it leaned towards
ten of the clock when Peg and l, talk
ing the road in our hands, as say the
Spaniards, went forth for our return.
The night was dark and still, and
a moist promise of rain hung in the
air. Our way lay from the south, di-
agonally across the wooded patch call
ed the Mall. We were finding our
path without trouble, Peg keeping close
and warm to my side, with q hand
gripping my arm, and had gone some
distance when, in a way of dull faint
ness, sound like the fall of a stealthy
foot on the grass overlook my ear
Peg heard it as soon as /.
Are we dogged?" she asked. Peg
showed no fear, but bit off her words
in a manner vicious and resentful.
''That we may soon know" said T.
| Then l drew her I'm by a clump of
bushes where her white frock would
be screened. ut should be a strange
| thing II any save ourselves were going
| this road at such an hour"
We had been but a moment hidden by
| the trees when a dark figure crouched
| past us with furtive, hurrying step
that made II plain he followed as a
| spy. As he wJrld have brushed by. I
stretched out and seized him by the
shoulder. The creature screamed like
a hare when the dogs snap her up.
Now / lugged him to the open, and,
for all the night was moOnless and no
stars because OF clouds. IL puzzled
neither Peg nor myself 10 make out