The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-18
CHAPTER xl. Caught In a Corner.

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 It was no difficult matter for Nan Dor rington to infer what course of action Gabriel intended to pursue. The Union leagues established in the south under the auspices of the political department of the Freedman's bureau had already excited the suspicion of the whites The reputation they instantly achieved was extremely sinister, and they had become the source of much uneasiness. There was an air of mystery about them which, however, pleasing 1t might be to the ne- groes, was not at all relished by those who had been made the victims of radi- cal legislation. There were wild rumors to the effect that the object of these leagues was to organize the negroes and prepare them for an armed attack on the whites.
 These rumors were to be seen spread out in the newspapers, and were to be heard wherever people gathered together. Nan was familiar with them, and, while both she and Gabriel were possibly too young to harbor all the anxieties entertained by their elders, they nevertheless took a very keen interest in the situation; and it was not less keen because 1t had curiosity for it's basis.
 Gabriel had no sooner digested the pur- port of the conversation to which he had listened than he made up his mind to unravel, If he could, the mystery or the Union league and to discover what mart the newcomer, the companion or the Rev. Jeremiah Tomlin, proposed 10 play. It was characteristic of the iad that he should act promptly. When ne left Nan so unceremoniously, ne ran to the Clopton Place to report what he had heard to MT. Sanders, but he found that worthy citizen in no condition to give him aid, or even advice.
 It was then that Gabriel made up his mind that he would act alone. He knew the old schoolhouse in which the league was to be organized, as well as he knew his own home. It had formerly been call ed Shady Dale Male academy, and US reputation, before the war had gone Tar and Wide Gabriel had spent many happy hour there. and some that were memorably unpleasant. Among the things that Gabriel remembered was the 1act that the space under the stairway-tne building had two stories-was boardeo up so far as to form a large closet, Wnlch
 
 fractory pupils, and this was one req son why Gabriel remembered 1t so well.
 The building had been abandoned py the whites during the war. At the close of the war it was turned over to the negroes. who established there flourish ing school.
 Gabriel thought 1t best to begin oper- ations before the sun went down. lie made a detour wide enough to place the
 l,s nd so that by any chance his movements should attract attention he would have the appearance of approaching the build- ing quite by accident. Under the circum- stances, it was perhaps fortunate that he took this precaution, for when ne drew near the schoolhouse, the Rev. Jere- miah Tomlin was standing in the back door flourishing broom.
 Hello Jeremiahl' said Gabriel by way of salutation. "What's up now?"
 "Good-evenin, Mister Gabe," respond- ed the Rev. Jeremiah. "Dey been hay'n some plasterin' done in my clutch, suh, an de lowed we'd hor pra'r-meetin here ter-night. But whar you been, MT. Gabe?' inquired the Rev. Jeremiah, crafty changing the subject.
 Just walking about in the woods and fields" answered Gabriel.
 '"Twant no use fer ter ax you, sub; you been uOln uaL Sence you Wuz DlB nun ter cline a fence Eff you want wid Miss Nan, you wuz by yo'se'f. You wuz wld Miss Nan dis ve'y day" The Rev. Jere- miah dropped his head to one side, and smiled a knowning smile. "Oh, yoii needn't be shame un 1t, suh," the negro went on as the color slowly mounted to Gabriels face. "I uv said 1t befo an I'll say it ag'in, and I don't keer who hears me-Miss Nan Is boun' ter make de finest 'oman in de lan.' An dat aint all, suh; when I hear folks hintin' dat she gwine ter make a match wid Mir. Frank Be- thune, sez I, 'Des keep yo' eye on MT. Gabe; dat zackly what I sez"
 ''Oh, the dickens and Tom Walker!' exclaimed Gabriel impatienty; who's been talking of the affairs of Miss Dor rington in that way?"
 "Why. purity night everybody, suh," re- marked the Rev. Jeremiah smacking his lips. What white folks say in de par Tor, you kin alters hear In de kitchen" said the Rev. Jeremiah, smacking his lips.
 The Rev. Jeremiah went to work with his broom and made a great pretence of sweeping and moving the benches about. The lad followed him in, and looked about him with interest. It was the first time he had revisited the old schoolhouse since he was a boy of ten. and he was pleased to find that there had been few changes. The desk at which he had sat was intact. His initials, rudely carved, stared him in the face, and there, too, was the hole he had cut in the seat. Be- tween those times and the present, the wild and furious perspective of war lay spread out, and Gabriel could imagine that the idler who had hacked the desk belonged to another generation altogether. He went to the blackboard. found piece of chalk, and wrote in a large hold