Greene County herald., 1913-03-07
The Napoleon of
American Bandits
The Account of Forgotten National Conspiracy
BY G.. T. Ferris
By G.. I. Ferris
(copyrisht. by Ridgway Co,

trust, sir, you will find nag as good,
and all the black boys you need. /
shall be hereabouts for the next rort-
night, and then | shall obey the COM
mand of God to call sinners to re-
pentance at the campmeetin' over in
Shelby county, up Memphis way Par
don me, sir, but took an instant likin'
for you and hope we shall get furth-
er acquainted. | ride in these woods
every evenin'. Goodby till we meet
again"
He doffed his hat with great pune
tilio and spurred his horse through a
by-road in tue darkling woods. Meth
er had mentioned his name to the
other.
Stewart pondered over the meeting
as he ambled home, conscious of its
incongruities. He mentioned the oc-
currence to his host, Rev. John Hen
ming. Baptist preacher in the scatter
ed hamlet of Tuscahoma and a small
planter who worked dozen negroes.
The dominic rubbed stubby chin,
and wagged his head:
i wonder if it can be that fellow
Murrell, who's been hangin' arcun' fur
the last six months off and on. down
at the Corners Ye know two of my
boys have disappeared. Twas a fort
night since, just before you came
back, and I've suspected him of slave
stealin', but couldn't get any clue. My
Dick smells the same rat and has been
lyin' low, but We see neither of US ever
met him; he comes and goes like
shadder.
Then he's got lot of pals aroun',
and some Of my neighbors swear he's
all right; hearn him preach the finest
sermons in the world-lay preacher,
We know-and got the spurrit of God
in him."
A few days later he again crossed
the stranger not far from the scene
of the first meeting, and the latter
greeted him with an air of unmistak-
able pleasure:
Il have thought a good deal about
you, sir, since / met you the other
night. / reckon we're kindred spirits
somehow, for / know human nature
pretty well and rarely make a mis-
take, with an air of great ccmpla-
cency. Il thought I'd like to have a
long powwow, for I'm a lonely man,
though | know. many people. / am
Unexpectedly called away tomorrow
evening. Pray, sir, come and spend
the night with me at the Corners. My
host of the tavern has fine old apple
and brace of wild. ducks fit for a
king or for" stopping with lips
pursed into an enigmatic smile.
Stewart gladly assented, and they
rode together few miles farther to
the Corners, which consisted of a log
tavern, ramshackle store and a rude
shop. The ruf1lanly land
lord lowered at Stewart with a glance
OF suspicion, but quailed at the i'm
perious scowl which his more familiar
guest shot at him, as, turning with
wave of his hand he said:
This is my friend, Mr -" with
inquiring look.
"Oh, my name is Hues, Adam Hues."
answered Stewart, wondering with
alarm whether the landlord could DOS
sibly know of him.
After supper under a huge gum
tree, and with tongue well loosened
by frequent libations Of apple toddy,
the man of mystery began to unbosom
himself
You are speculator, Hues, and so
am /, though not perhaps in the same
line. The world has treated me badly
and you, too. ! reckon, If read you
Alright. See the swarms of the rich,
whose claws are fastened on all the
good things of life, the best to eat,
the best Of drink, the finest of clothes
to wear. II ye could only hear nv
friend, John Murrell. talk on the
thing! He's one of the greatest men
IN the world, sir--beats Andy Jackson
all to death, and want We to meet |
him."
And SO he went on in a fierce TRADE
against the whole order of society.
The young man had listened with |
out word. with the same feeling
that hidden spectator would have at |
cannibals at their ghastly
banquet. He had had time enough to
make up his mind, and he nerved him
self to see the thing through.
Sir he said, extending his hand. |
I don't know who you are, but put II |
right there! What you've said has
sounded hidden chord. / feel you're
exactly right. sir, and that we ought |
10 get even with our oppressors in any
way we can. You reckoned straight
when you saw in me a congenial
spirit"
The next morning as they rode |
through the woods, talking of indif- |
'erent matters, Stewart was accosted
with the sudden interjection, Il am
John Murrelll" accompanied by |
ook of piercing question.