The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-11-10

ever told, Colonel" The rider curled
his lips contemporary Uncle Wash
may tote a little of my cotton or take
a little somethin' to eat from my kit
chen, but he amt no counter-thief. an
no man shall whip him while l live"
Silently each man pulled out his
gun and faced the defender of his
fathers slave. To the man they hated
the Colonel, their master, and in their
hearts they liked Bud Seagle and
feared him; but they hated worse
than the Colonel the principles that
had changed Buds old life. They
dared not touch him. but in their fur
ious resentment they could whip his
man, and they meant to do it.
Col. Finger noted his retainers'
movements with grim smile. He
never carried gun. Leaning back
with an insuffcrable sheer Of super
iority, he took his cigar from under
his rusty, white mustache, and repeat
ed with cold non-chalance:
Go on, Andy Seventeen,
Damn ye." Bud leaped a step for
ward and bestrode his serf, who lay
grooming wrists tied to ankles, unable
to move. One moh' airy lick an
yen die. You kin kill me, but one Of
yell die fust!"
There was not a man in the room
that did not know that Bud meant
what he said. They remembered how
few years ago he had walked up to
the voting booth and insisted on be-
ing one Of the counters. This was
fatty refused. He then took his shot
gun and cleaned out the room. 1t
had been the only honest election that
the country had known in twenty
years. Bud Seagle was of quiet, diff
ferent race of blue-eyed men that
know not fear.
I'll take that belt. Andy" Bud
spoke quietly
The clerk looked at his employer,
but received no order in return. His
red, freckled hand sull,ily allowed the
strap to slip. Then the rider, with
a cat-like motion, brought a huge
hunting knife from his pocket, tore
open it's blade, deliberately slashed
the belt into short lengths and flung
llltIu at tuc SOIOHcl 1CCl. ucII ilc
bent and cut the cords that bound
the victim double.
Get up, WASH" he spoke sharply.
Did We take anything from that mans
counter" His blazing eyes pierced
the shivering negro to his very soul.
"Answer!"
Fur Gwad's sake, no, Mas'r Bud
Mob y, Of
racy demand that 1 should walk per-
pendiculah befoh my Lord upon the
green carpit that he has laid upon the
main"
At the familiar, long-winded answer,
punctuated with groans. Bud could not
repress smile. He knew the man
spoke the truth.
Cit on, out" he ordered, sharply. |
Here, you niggahs Put Uncle Wash |
on my horse"
Slowly creakingly. whimperingiy, |
the old slave unbent himself, cast the
devoted look of dog upon his mas
ter, and skunk out. Silent and blanch-
ed, the white men watched their prey
escaping. Unruffled, the Colonel
smoked.
Now. Col. Finger," Bud stepped
forward, his revolver still eager. and
looked the despot steadily in the eye. |
Zone moh' word with you. sah We
cahn't afford to die. You cahn't die
an leave all this behind But if one
hair of Uncle Wash is teched, or his !
cabin burned, or anything happens to
him-I shan't go round enquirin'
who but I'll come straight to you, |
an I'll kill we. Yes, sab, I'll kill We
as I would a dog. Good evn, genie !
men,"
Jess a minute, Bud, Col Fingers |
large jaws opened for the first time. |
The rider turned contemptuously upon
him.
you've did me. Bud. I acknowledge |
We that, an I hain't go no hard feel |
ings. I'll cotch We some day yet, and
jess as leave shake hands now. But |
we've been goin' roun' with my daugh- !!
ter. Ye can quit it right now, or she
shan't get no cent from me. I'll will |
it to hell first"
Col. Fingers face grew blotched |
with fury. Even then. at an answer
to this vicious taunt. the men would |
have shot the unarmed rider where he
stood and Bud knew it. He straight |
ened himself to his greatest height. !
He must stand the insult to himself to |
save the man. Pale and proud ne |
turned again and passed out of the |
gin.
On the other side of the track. out |
of danger, Uncle Walsh had pulled up
the horse to wait for his deliverer. AL |
ready the negroes had fed from the |
wrath Of their disappointed master 1t
is easy to use warm strap. Steadily |
Bud strobe over the red clay, past a
side-tracked wrecking car, up to his
horse. His only thought was to get
his man safely home.
oh Mass'r Bud walled the negro, |
preparing to slide down. "Ye oughtn'r |