Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-06-24

iilH' 4uleteu the snflek1ng jimmy.
who feared for the life OF her hrs-
band. AS soon as the refugees had
gone the crews OF the whalehoats
fastened to leave so dangerous q To-
cality. AS they rowed away Anne felt
anxious and uneasy, left alone with
her aged grandmother and the slaves
OF the household. But her training
had been at the feet Of the strictest
Gamaliels of her sect: Resist the
evil. Trust in the Lord. Not one
sparrow is forgotten by God" Then
why did she feel anxious when the
whaleboatmen rowed away? She took
herself severely to task for her anxi-
ETY. and doubt, but she could not but
fear the return Of the refugees. Nor
was her u~neasiness groundless.
Receiving Information from scouts
and spies that the whaleboatmen had
gone, Merit and his party returned.
Ihe1r object was twofold-revenge
plumber and revenge on the de-
fenceless household for harboring the
Whaleboatmen. Their approach was
u~nheralded and the dam crossed and
mill surrounded before Jess-Billy's
son who was grinding corn-was
aware of the fact. He was taken
prisoner at once and shut up in the
-four. cooler. Captain Merit looked
about the mill for coffee that had
been stored there. Jess told him It
had been taken away.
"Where to-"
ITO White Plains for the CONT
mental. Army"
"Was it paid for, and who had the
money!" Jess could not tell. Angry
and baf1ed, Merit Numbered out:
You are lying, you black scound-
rel. but we'll squeeze the truth or the
life out of you!"
They attempted to hang the lad,
but, getting no further information,
cut him down. He fell to the floor,
blood gushing from his mouth. When
be recovered Merritt asked him If Miss
Nanny knew. He could not tell, but
If any n knew she did. They
kicked Jess out of. the mill and he
ran to the barn to tell Billy that they
were going to make Miss Nanny tell
about the coffee or hang her.
Billy waited to hear no more, but
started for the house to protect his
young mistress; but Merits men
were there before him. Anne, pale
but quiet and firm, met them at the
door. The men said grufly:
:. you must go to the mill with u.s.
One Of them seized her roughly BY
tho chn,,16orc : Than M i~oko~-
revulsion of feeling. The timid CIR
at the touch of the burly rufian wa.
, transformed from a condition of ter
) ror to perfect -fearlessness. Sh.
turned upon him, saying:
: Take thy hand Off"
E The man was cowed and shranl
back. ~
Trying to Nerves.
In her belief that a sustaining
Hand was near to support and direc
her, she allowed herself to be quietl.
escorted to the mill. She was takel
:. to the upper story. On the stairs sh
q saw stains of blood, signs Of Jess
, maltreatment, which did not reas
sure her. In the upper room Merri
and his men awaited her. From
beam overhead a rope hung, a noos
in the end. Under this she was lee
Trustful and fearless, she looked a
the crowd Of hardened men with un
quailing eyes. Some of them wer
+ known to her. Captain Merit toll
e her she need not be frightened, for
she would tell them where the coffe
e was taken no harm would come t
n her. With her steady look she said
Il am not frightened; the coffe
d was taken by the Continental con
missary."
"How much was sold, and wher
is the money!"
II do not know"
"Come, girl, you must know; 70
can tell something. What has b,
come of the money!"
le 81 do not know and cannot tell,
she said. Then he Numbered at hel
n "Now, girl, we will find a way
e get the truth out Of you!" Calm an
unmoved she answered:
s. IT have already told thee the truth
is more cannot be got out of me-"
le I'VE will see what the rope wi
c. do" He directed one of the men
lie put the moose around her neck. OF
d. stepped forward and raised the moo
le over her head. She looked hi
m squarely in the face and said:
z "Thee must not touch me-" II
u rope dropped from the mans hal
it.. and Merit said:
ey I'VE will get the truth out of "
ly this time, and-quickly, too,~or '
e. will stretch your neck" He stopp'
of to pick up the rope with a smil
sh Anne replied:
TT "If l cannot tell thee while Twin
.e- I surely cannot tell thee after bell
be hung"
u A silence followed, while she cali
IS. ly looked into the faces about hi
er- Then, turning to Merit, she sd
,e. firmly: