The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-29

death. and with the Red Light"
crowd behind them they would ex-
perience no trouble in getting fol-
lowing desperate enough for any pur-
pose.
The longer Keith thought the less
he doubted the result. 1t was not then
q problem Of defence, but of escape,
for he believed now that no oppor-
tunity to defend himself would ever
be allowed. The arrest was merely
part Of the plot intended to leave him
helpless In the hands Of the mob. In
this Hicks was In no way blamable-
he had merely performed his sworn
duty. and would still die, II need be,
IN defence OF his prisoner. He was
no TOOL, but only an instrument they
had found means Of using.
Keith was essentially q man OF &C.
tion, a fighter by instinct, and so long
accustomed to danger that the excite
ment Of IT merely put new fire into his
veins. Now that he understood exact
ly what threatened. all numbing feel
Ing Of hesitancy and doubt vanished,
and he became instantly alive. He
would not lie there In that hole wait
Ing for the formation OF q mob; nor
would he trust In the ability of the
marshal to defend him.
He had some friends without-not
many, for he was but an occasional
visitor at Carson--who would rally to
Hicks assistance, but there would not
be enough on the side of law and or
der to overcome the Red Light" out
TT. IL once they scented blood. II be
was to be saved from their clutches,
he must save himself; II his inno-
cence was ever established IL would
be by his own exertions-and he could
accomplish this only out yonder, free
under the arch Of sky.
He lifted his head, every nerve tin
Cling with desperate determination.
The low growl OF voices was audible
through the partition, but there was
no other sound. Carson City was still
resting, and there would be no crowd
nor excitement until much later Not
until nlghtfall would any attack be at
tempted; he had six or eight hours yet
in which to perfect his plans. He
ran his eyes about the room searching
for some spot Of weakness. 1t was
dark back OF the bench, and he turned
In that direction. Leaning over. he
looked down on the figure OF man
curled up, sound asleep on the floor.
The fellows limbs twitched as If In a
dream, otherwise he might have deem
ed him dead. as his face was buried
in his arms. A moment Keith hest
tated; then he reached down and
shook the sleeper, until he aroused
sufficiently to look up Il was the
face Of a coal-black negro. An In
slant the fellow stared at the man
towering over him, his thick lips part
ed, his eyes full Of sudden terror.
Then he sat up, with hands held be-
fore him as though warding of a
blow.
''Fo' de Lawd's sake" he managed
to articulate finally, "am dis sho' yo'.
Massa Jack"
Keith, to whom all colored people
were much alike. laughed at the ex-
preston on the negro's face.
~ reckon yer guessed the name, all
right. boy. Were you the cook of
the Diamond L?"
NO, sab, nebber cooked no di'onds.
I'se Oh Neb, sah.'
What"
Yes, sab. Use de boy dat libbed
wid OF Missus Cation durin' de wah. 7
amt seen yo', Massa Jack, sence de
Jay we buried yo' daddy, OF Massa
Keith. But | knowed yo' de berry
minute woke up. Sho' yo members
Neb. sah?'
Il came to Keith now IN sudden
rush of memory-the drizzling rain
In the little cemetery, the few neigh
bors standing about, q narrow fringe
OF slaves back Of them, the lowering
OF the coffin, and the hollow sound Of
earth falling on the box; and Neb, his
Aunt Caton's house servant, a black
imp OF good humor, who begged 80
hard to be taken back with him to the
war. Why. tho boy had held his stir
rup the next morning when he rode
away. The sudden rush OF recollec-
ton seemed TO bridge the years. and
that black face became familiar, a
memory of home.
"Of course, | remember, Neb," he
exclaimed. eagerly. but that's all
years ago and | never expected to see
you again. What brought you West
and got you into this hole?"
Tho negro hltched up onto the
bench. the whites Of his eyes conspic
uous rs he stared uneasily about--he
had short, squatty figure. with ex-
cessively broad shoulders, and face
OF intense good hnmor.