River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-17
CHAPTER v.-(continued.)

Il dunno, Massa. done heerd 'em
talk some bout dey plans, an bout
some gal dey wanted ter fin, but
didn't git no right sense to it. De
Gin'ral, he was might still man.
1.-THE General? Whom do you mean?
Not Waiter"
John Sibley done called him dat.
Then Keith remembered-just a
dim, misty thread at first, changing
slowly into a clear recollection. He
was riding with dispatches from Long
street to Stonewall Jackson, and had
been shot through the side. The
first Of Jackson's troops he reached
was a brigade of North Caroiinians,
commanded by General Waite-Gen-
eral Willis Waite He had fallen from
his horse at the outposts, was brought
helpless to the Generals tent, and an
other sent on with the papers. And
Mrs. Waite had dressed and bandaged
his wound That was where he had
seen that woman's face before, with
its haunting familiarity. He drew the
locket from beneath his shirt, and
gazed at the cOuntenance revealed,
with new intelligence. There could be
no Doubt was the face of her VINO
had cared for him SO tenderly in that
tent at Manassas before the fever
came and he had lost consciousness.
And that, then, was Willis Waite ly-
ing in that shallow grave near the
Cimmaron Crossing, and for whose
death he had been arrested. Twas
strange world, and a small one. What
a miserable ending to life like his
q division commander of the Army of
Northern Virginia, a Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of his state. What strange
combination of circumstances could
ever have brought such man to this
place, and sent him forth across those
Indian-scouted plains? Surely nothing
ordinary. And why should those Dor
der desperadoes have followed,
through sixty miles of desOlation, to
strike him down? 1t was not robbery,
at least In the ordinary sense. What
then? And how was BLACK Bart" in
vOlved? Why should he be sufficient
ly interested to swear out a warrant,
and then assist in his arrest? There
parent upon the surface-some object,
some purpose shrouded in mystery.
No mere quarrel, no ordinary feud no
accident of meeting, no theory of COM
monplace robbery would account for
the deed, or for the desperate efforts
now being made to conceal 1t.
Some way. these questions, thus
surging upon him, became a call to
live, to fight, to unravel their mystery.
The memory of that sweet-faced wom-
an who had bent above him when the
fever began it's mastery, appealed to
him now with the opportunity of serv
ice. He might be able to clear this.
bring to her the truth, save her from
despair, and hand over to justice the
murderers of her husband. 1t was up
to him alone to accomplish this-no
one else knew what he knew. suspect
ed what he suspected And there was
but one way-through escape. To re-
main there in weak surrender to fate
could have but one ending, and that
swift and sudden. He had no doubt
as to Black Bart's" purpose. or of his
ability to use the Red Light outfit
as desired. The whole plan was clear
~ evident, and there would be no de-
lay in eXecution-all they were wait
ing for was night, and lax guard. He
glanced about at the walls of the
room. his eyes grown hard, his teeth
clerched.
''Neb. he said shortly, q guess that
was your outfit all right but they
were not killed by Indians. They
were run down by a gang from this
town-the same fellows who have put
YOU and me in here. | don't know
what they were after-thats to be
found out 1ater-but the fight you put
up at the camp spoiled their game for
once, and led to your arrest. They
failed to get what was wanted II
Carson, and so they trailed the party
to the Cimmaron Crossing. Then
got on their track, and fearing the re-
suit, they've landed me also. Now
they'll get rid of us both as best they
can. These fellows won't want any
trial-that would be liable to give the
whole trick away-but they have got
to put US where we won't talk. There
is an easy way to do this, and that is
by a lynching bee. Do you get my
drift, Neb?"
The whites of the negro's eyes were
very much in evidence, his hands grip
ping at the bench on which he SAT-
"Fo' de Lawd. yes. Massa Jack,
sho' does. l corroborates de whole
thing"
Then you are willing to take g
chance with me?"
''WillinI Why, Massa Jack, Use
overjoyed; l amt gwine leave yer nc
mo- Use sho' gwine ter be 20 Niger
What yo' gwine ter do?"
Keith ran his eyes over the walls
carefully noting every popularity.
Wen remain here quietly just as
long as it is daylight. Neb," he replied
finally. ''but we'll try every board ant
every log to discover some way out
Just the mopent it grows dark enough
to slip away1without being seen we've
got to hit the prairie. Once south o
the Arkansas we're safe, but not unit
then. Have you made any effort Il
get Out?"