The Springfield herald., 1913-03-07

shall be hereabouts for the next fort
night. and then l 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 q
by-road in the 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 a dozen negroes
The dominic rubbed stubby chin.
and wagged his head:
wonder II 1t can be that fellow
Murreu. who's been hangin' aroun fur
the last six months on 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 ye see neither OF US ever
| met him: he comes and goes like a
| 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.
ye 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. l reckon we're kindred spirits
somehow, for know human nature
pretty well and rarely make mis-
take" with an air of great compla-
cency. II thought I'd like to have a
long powwow, for I'm 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 flt for a
king or for" stopping with lips
pursed into an enigmatic smile
Stewart gladly assented. and they
rode together a few miles farther to
the Corners. which consisted of log
tavern. n ramshackle store and rude
blacksmith shop. The ruffianly land
lord lowered at Stewart with glance
of suspicion. but quailed at the i'm
perious scowl which his more familiar
guest shot at him, as. turning with a
wave of his hand. he said: y
This is my friend. MIR -" with
| inGuiriug look.
oh. my mama is Hues. Adam Hues =
answered Stewart, wondering with
alarm whether the landlord could pos
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 sc
am 1. though not perhaps in the same
line. The world has treated me badly
and you. too, | reckon, II 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 my
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 ye to meet
him."
And SO he went on In 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
watching caEnibals 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,
II don't know who you are. but put 1t
right there! What you've said has
sounded hidden chord. feel you're
| cAdClly oil, anu lAAt we OuKQt
to 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.
ferent matters. Stewart was accosted
with the sudden interjection. II am
John Murrell!" accompanied by q
look OF piercing question.
"I suspected so last night" was the
answer. land was rejoiced to know a
man of my own kidney"
A handclasp seemed to relieve the
others mind OF any passing doubt, and
Murrell said bluntly:
II need lieutenant. a man of grit
of brains an resources. Will you be
that man. Hues? l picked you by an
unfailin' instinct. instantly I saw you
The young man agreed. and two
! hours later they parted. arranging q
rendezvous for two weeks later, as