The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-01
By Joel Chandler Harris. . Copyright asoz. by Joel Chandler Harria

ably ont of hearing. Gabriel heard some ono calling his name.
 "Who are your" Gabriel asked. 'One" replied the other.
 'I don't know your voice." said Ga- briel: 'how did you know mer' That is a secret that belongs to the Knights of the White Camellia." an- swersd the unknown. If you don't come down, I'm afraid I'll have to shake you out of that tree" "Gabrdsl slid down the trunk of the small tree and found that tho owner of the voice was no other than Major Tom lin Perdue. of Halcyondale.
 You didn't expect to find mo roosting around here. did your" the irrepressibie Major asked. as he shook Gabriel warm | ly by the hand. Your grandmother told me an hour. ago that I'd find you moon ing about on the hills back there. I came around by the road. was loafing here when you came up, and knew 1t was you, as soon as heard you slipping up that tree. But that hill business. and the mooning-how about them? We'll. l don't blame you. She's a fine gal. aint | shef"
 "whor' inquired Gabriel.
 ''whols cried Major Perdue. mockingly. why. there's but ono gal in the Dale. You know that as well as do. 0ahgael laughed somewhat sheepishly. "well. you deserve good luck. my boy" the Major went on. Everybody that knows you Is singing your praises-some for your book-learning, some for your modesty, and some for the way you fer reted out the designs of that fellow who was last to leave the church. But for you these dirty thieves might have got the best of us. Why, we didn't know, even at Halcyondale what was up till we got word of your discovery. Well, sir, as soon as we found out what was go- ing on. we rot together. and wiped 'em up. Why, you've got the pokiest crowd over here ever heard of. They just sit and sun themselves. Why don't the folks here wake upf They can't be afraid of the Yankee soldiers can they? Why the Captain here is rank Democrat and a right down clever fellow"
 He is . clever gentleman" Gabriel as- sented. T have met him walking about In the woods. and like him very much. He is a Kentuckian, and he's not fond of these carpet-baggers and scalawags at all. But you know how they are. espe- c1ally the women-they hate everything that's clothed in blue"
 well. by George! you are the only per- son in the place that keeps his eyes open. You saw that rascal talking to the nig- gers awhile ago? Well. he's the worst of the lot. I happened to run across him tother day, and told him I'd give him twenty-four hours to get out of town. He stayed the limit; but when he saw me walk downtown with my shotgun. he took a notion that really meant busi- ness and he lit out Minervy Ann found out where he was headed for, and I've 1 followed him over here.
 Major Perdue paused q moment in his | talk. ''Can you keep secret. Tolliver?"
 he asked. after awhile.
 well, I haven't had much practice, Major. but if it Is important, I'll do my best to Keep it.
 'Oh. 1t is not so important. That fell low you saw talking to the negroes awhile ago Is named Bridalbin."
 "Brfdalbin?' exclaimed Gabriel. "Yes: he goes by some other name. I've forgotten what. He's the fellow that married Margaret Gather; you remem- ber her; she came home to die not so very long ago. Now, Tolliver, whatever you do, don't breathe a word about this Bridaibin. There's no need of worrying that poor girl. his daughter: she has all ready had trouble enough in this world. I'm telling you about him because I want you to keep your eye on him. Gabriel promptly gave his word that he would never mention anything about Bridalbdn's name. and then he said-"But this parade-what does 1t mean?" 1 The Major laughed. ''Oh, that was just some of the boys from our settlement. They are simply out for practice. They want to get their hands in. They don't
 belong to the Kuklux that you've read
 SO much about They have no signs or
 passwords, but simply a general agree,
 ment. You'll have to organize something
 of that kind here, Tolliver You've got
 to get e move on you. There's no way
 out of it. The only way to fight the
 devil is to usa> his own weapons. The
 trouble is that some of the hot-headed
 youngsters want to hold the poor nig-
 gers responsible, as I said just now.
 and the niggers are no more to blame
 than the chicken in a new-laid egg. Don't forget that. Tolliver." They walked back to the village the
 way Gabriel had come. On top of the
 Bermuda hill. Major Perdue paused. and
 looked toward Shady Dale.
 The Major waved his hand in that di-
 rechon. remarking. That's what makes
 the situation SO dangerous. Tolliver-the
 women and children. It looks to me.
 my son, as if we were between the devil
 and the deep blue sea. I, for one. don't
 believe that there's any danger of a nig-
 ger-rising. But look at the other side,
 may be wrong; I may be a crazy old
 fool too fond of the niggers to believe
 they're really mean at heart Suppose
 that such men as this-ah. now I remem-
 ber!-this Boring-that is what Bridalbin
 calls himself now-suppose that such men
 as he were to succeed in what they are
 trying to do? I don't believe they will,
 but we can't afford to take any chances"
 Gabriel agreed with all this very heart.
 fly. He was glad to feel that his own
 views were also those of this keen, prac-
 teal. hard-headed man of the world
 'But men of my sort will be misjudged,
 Tolliver," pursued the Major; violent
 men will be in the saddle. and outrages
 will be committed. Public opinion to the
 north of us will say that the old fire
 eaters. who won't permit even a respect
 able white man to insult them with im- punity--the old slave-drivers-are trying
 to destroy the oolored race. But you will live, my son. to see some of these same radicals admit that all the injustices and all the wrong is due to the radical pol Icy"
 This prophecy came true. Time has abundantly vindicated the Major and those who acted with him.
 to find the walls and the fences in all public places plastered with placards, printed in red ink The most prominent
 feature of the typograph, however. was the image of a grinning skull and cross
 a. proclamation. It was dated Den No.
 Ten, Second Moon. Year 2t,0o0 of the
 Dynasty" It read as follows:
 aarr- ' AR nd nr