Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-05-06
THE RECOGNITION
OF JESSE BADL[IGH
SYNOPSIS.
BY II. II. GREEN

SYNOPSIS.
Amaziah Badleigh under suspicion
of operating Illicit stills in the Blue
Ridge mountains of North Carolina,
suddenly moves with his wife TO the
adjoining state of Tennessee, wherH,
between himself and stranger who
visits his cabin at night, an agree
ment is entered into for the removal
OF young child.
Soon after this agreement the Bad
leighs leave the South and journey to
the Mississippi river taking the child
with them. There Mr.. Badleigh falls
In with a party of gold seekers and
going with them to Pixies Peak loses
his life.
Mrs. Badleigh joins an emigrant
family and all become residents OF
DEBORAH, where young Jesse, the
adopted child makes good in an en-
counter with school-fellow.
Jesse Badleigh and Hiram Schoc-
Key effect rescue which nets them
some profit: while Frank Inness, a
mighty huntsman pursues stag and
stumbles upon hidden foe OF small
Ter dimensions.
Mrs. Badleigh attends an old time
quilting party which, indirectly occa-
sions a philosophical dissertation by
John Armstrong. Later Jesse and
his mother receive an unlocked for
visit from Sheriff McAndrews.
Jesse Badleigh, brought to trial
before Judge Barthell, charged with
stealing a ten dollar bill from the
meat market of Killum and Dressam,
is prosecuted by District Attorney
Harmon and defended by Judge
Eayre.
The appearance of a stranger at
Armstrong; store becomes the pre-
Jude to discussion on church af-
fairs. Which is followed by the
pledge of Tim Fleury.
Four years later Jesse and Fran
ces spend very pleasant afternoon
on the Dugway. Which leads to an
evening party at the residence OF
John and Mrs. Armstrong. The next
day at a picnic Frances is kidnap-
ed by Jim Cobb and Niger Godfrey.
Not deigning to take the slightest
notice of the treacherous Cobb, who
stood before her with guilty air, his
body awkwardly balancing first on
one foot and then on the other, in
the grovelling, cringing way, which
SO we'll became him, as though half
ashamed of his dastardly conduct,
Frances again demanded of his ac-
complete, the reason for the assault
they had made upon her, but with
out avail.
Steadily pursuing the course they
had marked out and making only
such stops as were necessary to give
the girl a little needed rest, the two
worthless were by this time we'll on
their way, expressing to each other
their satisfaction at the success
which had thus far attended the en-
terprise.
And now since Frances has been
wholly unsuccessful in her very ma
fural desire to obtain the informa-
fion she so earnestly sought for, we
feel that not only the young lady
herself, but also the reader is enti-
tied to such knowledge as may be
within the purview of the faithful
.chronicler of the events which so
nearly concern the lives and happi-
ness Of the hero and heroine of this
tale.
One of the things that was most
confusing to Frances, was the color
of CObb's accomplice. If he had been
a white man, her alarm would not
have been so terrifying, but such,
alas! was not the case; for the man
was neither white nor black, nor
was his the natural hue of the red
man exactly; he was of mixed blood,
his father having been a member OF
the Sioux stock of Indians; while
his mother was a full-blooded Ne
gress; from this parentage he had
inherited shade of rusty brown,
which gave him an appearance alto
gether different from any person
Frances had ever seen. Now this
singular half-breed who was well
known character among the whites
as well as the Indians, bore the rath-
er questionable cognomen of Niger
Godfrey" which was doubtless in
tended to be a compliment to his
mother showing as it did, happy
appreciation of that lady's worthi-
ness, on the part of Mr.. Godfrey's ac-
quaintances of different colors and
different races.
Niger Godfrey was in many ways
a remarkable man; nay, he was
more than that: he was phenomin-
al character. In some manner he
had managed to acquire an excellent
education, Of which he was very
proud, and which he took occasion to
display whenever an opportunity Of
fered which was not seldom. Always
in this conversation, he would deliv-
er himself of such choice words and
elegant sentences, as he believed