Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-11-30
DO YOU really think SO. Jim? 2"

1 Ou yOu really tuilAA oOs JILL
ITO be sho, Marse Charlie. Marse
Newton, dar he knows dat most o. de
| niggers In Oakville amt struck lick
o. work in three days, an cose dey amt
/ got no money to buy nothin' to eat.
Dey's jes' been livin' on whisky, an
mean whisky at dat, an when hits out
of 'em dey's jes' as holler as a gourd.
When dark comes dis night half Of 'em
wont have nothin' to put inside OF 'etn
but ole crusts an later skins. You az
me will dey go down to de courthouse
to good supper! Marse Charlie, dem
hongry niggers II follow me down dar
| like a drove o. razorback hogs"
Political trickery was new business
to Lawton. After the plan had been
agreed upon be did not know how to
begin.
'See here, Mr.. Lawton." said Dick.
seeing his embarrassment, 'this Is no
work for you. With Jim's help, I'll take
charge now"
Eyes, Marse Charlie. Jes' leave dis
niger business to Marse Newton an
me. We gwine trap dem niggers lax
pattridges."
| "a little pen work is all we need from
| you, Mr. Lawton" said Newton. write
me few orders on the groceries and
livery stables, and you may 90 home"
| 1t was now dusk. Conspirators de-
| light in darkness. AZ night came on.
with its silence and secrecy, the plot
appeared so easy Of accomplishment 1t
seemed almost as much of a frolic to
| Newton and Jim as a poker party or a
possum supper. But they disseInbled
their glee.
"Ain't you lost, Niger" said Lucul-
home. boy, done got all yer votes.
You gotter learn to play on dis horn
fore you kin ketch liggers" And Lu-
| cullus waved a whisky bottle In the
! twilight.
Oats so, Lucullus," replied Jim,
"You got 'em dis time. I'm gwine home
an let de debbul have his day"
| By midnight Newton and Jim had all
things ready. There was no red tape
necessary to get possession Of the court
house 1t was used for assemblies OF
all kinds free of rent. Any one could
obtain the key from the sheriff by ask
| ing
| The negro hunt began at l o'clock In
| the morning after the arrival Of the
| midnight train. When the Omnibus and
| cabs returned from the station to the
various stables, Jim Lawrence and his
negro confederates were waiting at The
doors with orders from Lawton. and in
ten minutes the omnibus and fifteen
cabs were dashing over the streets Of
| Oakville in all directions.
who's Cat at my door" exclaimed
| old Jerusalem.
wake up, wake up. niger! Is yer
gwine miss it ALP" said Jim excitedly.
"What / gwine miss, Jim?"
"Ain't yer hyerd, man. bout de big
supper Marse Lawton's givin' de culled
folks down at de courthouse? De ia
bles is jes' breakin' down. Oars sar-
dimes, an salmon fishes, an Washing
ton pies, an pickles, an ginger cake,
an crackers, an all de seegyars yer kin
smoke. Marse Lawton's sont carriage
for yer. De niggers is jes' eatin' away.
Jump in dem britches."
"Wait, Jim, till get drink Of wa
ter. I'm jes' Albumin up inside"
Water. said Jim scornfully. Oars
| two bar'ls o. ice lemonade waitin' for
yer Mt de courthouse. Dar-dat's right.
| Drive on"
| From cabin to cabin dashed the cabs
and omnibus then to the courthouse.
| and back again for another load. Six
negroes were packed in one carriage
| and three on the box.
| Scenes similar to that at old Jerusa
LENS cabin were repeated again and
again.
| Sometimes Jim would exclaim:
Hurry up, niger, an jump In dis
| carriage De barrooms is all shet. You
| gwine git no more free whisky from
| Cunnel Jackson till de mex lection.
But Marse Lawton's got supper for
yer. kin smell it clean here. Jump
in, niger, jump in"
| And not negro hesitated.
Never before had Oakville heard such
popping Of whips and rolling Of
| wheels at that hour OF the night Peo-
| pie were Weakened from their deepest
slumbers and went to the windows to
look out.
"Alice. my child, what can all this