The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-12-07

this Hicks was in no way blamable-
he had merely performed his sworn
duty, and would still die, If need be,
in defence of his prisoner He was
no tool, but only an instrument they
had found means of using
Keith was essentially man of ac-
ton, 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
ing for the formation of 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
fit, If once they scented blood. If he
was to be saved from their clutches,
he must save himself; il his inno-
cence was ever established it 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 nightfall 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 searchin G
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 a 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. 1t was the
face of coal-5lack 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 off a
blow.
20 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.
Il reckon yer guessed the name, all
right, boy. Were you the cook of
the Diamond L?"
mo, sab, nebber cooked no dionds.
Use OF Neb, sah."
"What?"
Eyes, sab, Use de boy dat libbed
wild OF Missus Cation durin' de wah.
amt seen yo', Massa Jack, sence de
day we buried yo' daddy, OF Massa
Keith But 1 knowed yo' de berry
minute woke up. Sho' yo' members
Eeb. sah?"
1t came to Keith now in sudden
rush Of memoTy--the drizzling rain
IN the little cemetery, the few neigh
bors standing about, a 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 Cations house servant, black
imp Of good humor, who begged so
hard to be taken back with him to the
war. Why, the 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,
memory of home.
"Of course, l 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?"
The negro hitched up onto the
bench, the whites of his eyes ccnspic-
uous as he stared uneasily about-he
had short, squatty figure, with ex-
cessively broad shoulders, and a face
of intense good humor.
''I reck'n dat am considerable OBJ
story, Massa Jack, de circumlocutiOn
OBJ which would take heap OBJ time
tellin'," he began soberly. But it
happened bout dis way. When de
Yankees come snoopin' long de East
Shot, reck'n maybe it des yeah aft
er dat time when we done buried de
oil Co'nel-dey burned Missus Cations
house clah to de groun'; de OF Missus
was In Richmond den, an de few mig
gers left jest materially took to de
woods. l went into Richmond huntin'
de OF Missus, but, Lawd, Massa Jack,
nebber fouh' nuthin' OBJ her in dat
crowd. Den an officer man done got
me an put me diggin' in de trenches.
Eff dat's what wah am, sho' don
want no mo- wah. Den after dat jest
materially drifted. ! reckon l Hbbed
bout eberywhar yo' ebber heard OBJ,
TO dar want no use OBJ me goin' back
to de East Sho' Somebody said dat
de West am de right place fo' a mig
ger, an so I done headed west"
He dropped his face In his black
hands, and was silent for some min
utes, but Keith said nothing. and in