Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-11

steward without comment
Lanier would have preferred to "a.
turn to the north, but the tourney Mas
| of more moment than today. Beside
he had no money, and, although hs
could have borrowed all he wanted
from panters-whose Hberality wa.
proverbial-he did not care to do so
A gentleman who desired a secretary
met him the day after his leaving Coz.
mel Sinclair's and gave him employ.
ment in that capacity. Lsnier woujd
be ready to go north within a few
months to pass his examinations for
the bar and could save money enough
! from his salary to pay his way.
There were no children In the home
of Lanier's new employer and the
| young man had no complications to
fear He, however, declined all inyI
tations, desiring to avoid meeting
| Alma Sinclair lest he should lay him.
self liable to charge OF remaining In
the neighborhood with view to prese-
cutting his suit. Alma. who had learn
ed of the cause of his discharge but
was too young to take any action In
the matter, simply suffered in silence.
While Colonel Sinclair treated his
slaves with every kindness, it Is not to
be supposed that in all cases this IN
duced q return. There was one man.
called Jim, who under whatever civil
system he had lived would have been
a criminal and desperate. The colo
mel had been Obliged to discipline him
on various occasions and during one OF
them while receiving his punishment
in the presence of his master declared
who knew no fear. thought little Of the
threat, but his wife and bis family
from that moment lived in terror lest
the man make it good. Mrs. Sinclair
begged her husband to sell Jim to some
one who would take him to Texas,
as far from Georgia as any point
where slavery existed. but the colonel
declined on the ground that he had no
right to transfer a danger to any one
else. He therefore kept Jim and
sought to win him from his ways By
justice and liberal treatment
One afternoon Lanier was sent By
his employer to collect a debt owing
him. The only road by which he could
reach the desired point was past the
Sinclair plantation. He was on horse
back and was skirting the plantation
with q fence only between him and 1t
when in a grove beyond he heard high
words. He recognized in the voices a
white man and a negro, that OF the
white man sounding like Colonel Sin.
clair's. Dismounting. be threw the
reins over a rail and. climbing the
fence, saw Jim, who was a powerful
negro, advancing quickly upon his mas
ter
Within the grove was the Sinclair
family cemetery. The colonel had lost
child, whose grave he visited fire.
quently. Jim had been watching for
an opportunity to take revenge upon
him and bad entered the grove from
a different direction. AS Sinclair was
placing flowers on his chlld's grave be
heard a twig break and saw Jim CON-
ing with club in his hands quite big
enough to kill him. He ordered the
negro to his quarters in a tone of au-
thority which he hoped might COW him.
Jim told him that he had come to re-
pay the punishment he had given him
and continued to move toward him
The colonel. being unarmed, had
choice between this unequal contest
and flight He disdained the latter
and stood his ground.
The negro was within a dozen yards
of his victim when he felt his arms
pinioned from behind. Lanier had sto-
len up unseen by him and grappled
with him. But Lanier could not cope
with the giant for long. Colonel Sin
clair darted forward and threw his
arms about the negro's legs, and Laner
pulled him over. Between the two
h frn ma fhAx- k.gr nd
for help. and he was soon secured
When he was led away with his arms
ted behind him the colonel seized La
nier's hand
II owe you my life, sir. One blow OF
that cudgel would have finished me.
Come home with me-" II
II am on my way TO perform
luty" Il
Then come when you have per-
'ormed it"
Lanier returned to his horse. mount
ID him. rode away, and when ne re-
urned stopped at the Sinclair pianta.
ion.
He found the conditions far different
rom those that bad marked his depar-
ure. Alma, taking advantage Of the
hanged situation. assured her father
hat Lanier had never spoken word
f love TO her. but that she bad doubt
sss shown by her manner a prefer
nee for him. Having heard this from
is daughter. the colonel added 10 his
hanks for saving his life an apology
Or the way he had treated the man
tho had saved It Lanier was restored
} welcome in the Sinclair household
nd In time avowed his love But too
roud to ask the girl to be his wife
e returned to the north and was al
lifted to the bar. Later he returned
nd took her home with him as DIS
tfe.
June IL in American