The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-12-31
CHAPTER ll-Continued.

IL.
It's sure hell in Green Briar these
days somebody is gettin' kilt every
day er two. The eusses travel In
gangs murderin' an burnin' from one
end O. the county to the other" He
spoke in an even, drawing voice, with
not the slightest show of emotion, as
though telling an ordinary bit Of
news: DID if know which outfit
d the wus-the Yanks or the Rebs."
which are you WITH"
who, me?" He paused in his bolt
ing of food, and gave vent to an un-
pleasant laugh. Il rather reckon it
would puzzle the Lord Almighty ter
and that out / don't give whoop
fer neither Of 'em. I'm fer Of Jem
Taylor, an it keeps me tolor'ble busy
tending ter his affairs, without both.
erin bout no government"
Then your name is Taylor?"
81 reckon it has been for bout sixty
years. Thar's slew o. Taylors over
along Buffalo crick, an SOM of 'em
are Yanks, an a parcel of 'em are
Rebs, but they don't git Of Jem ter
take nary side. At that, I'm gittin all
the fghtin' banker arter. Naturally,
I'm peaceful critter, if tn cusses let
me alone"
Quoted down some over there late.
", hasn't it?"
Huh! Thar's a regiment O. blue
coats at Lewisburg, an a few cavalry
men ridln Their pixies. Don't amount
ter hill o. beans as fer as Their boys
are concerned. All they got ter do is
go further back in the hills, an be
bit more keerful. | reckon, young
man, yen find plenty O. deViltry going
on in Green Briar, if We ever git out
that away Wal, thet's all thar is fer
us ter eat, an I'm goin' ter take a
sDOOze."
He closed the door, fastening it Sc
curely with wooden bar. and
stretched himself out on the floor
The room was dark, as the only win
dow was tightly boarded up, and using
my bundle for a pillow, l lay down
also. In short time his heavy
breathing was evidence enough that
Taylor slept Slowly my heavy eyes
closed, and / lost consciousness.
The sun was below the mountain
ridge, when the heavy hand of the old
mountaineer shook me into sudden
wakefulness With nothing left to
eat we were not long in preparing for
departure, endeavoring vainly to get
my silent companion to converse, be-
ing rewarded merely by grumbled and
eyasiVe answers. Finally desisted
In the attempt, content to follow his
lead, Taylor, astride his sorrel, with
gun resting grimly across his knees,
rode straight through the brush, away
from the pike, down the valley of a
small stream. In crossing, the horses
drank their fill.
How about the valley road?"
asked as we climbed the opposite
bank.
The leader glanced back at me.
This we're way is higher, an darn
sight NOR quiet" he answered gruffly
Soldiers been marching over the pike
all day. Mout be all right fer yer, if
yer've got pass-but l amt got none
Well hey' good 'nough ridin' in bout
a mile NOR"
You are aiming for the cutoff"
7 be-yer do kno sumthin' of this
we're kintrX | reckon, but yer'ye got
more eddication than eny Cowan
ever hooked upowith afore, Yer don't
talk none like mountin' folks"
drew a quick breath, sensing the
return Of suspicion.
That's true" | admitted readily
You see ! went to school at Coving
ton; they were going to make q
preacher out of me"
Taylor stared into my face, his
fague suspicion seemingly gone.
Well, I'll be d-d-a preacher"
de rode on into the dusk ehuckling
and followed, smiling to myself, GLAD
mat the mans good humor had been
80 easily restored.
we were fed at hut back in the
'oothills, where an old couple, the mar
anne, were glad enough to exchange
aelr poor food for the late news from
ne army, in which they had son
men we rode steadily to the south
When dawn came we we're to the wes
] Waynesboro, in broken country. ant
~ through those long night hour,
scarcely word had been exchanged
'etWeen US, We camped finally in the
'end Of small stream, where higl
snks concealed us from observation
mere was little to eat in our haver
iaeks, but we munched what we had
ald Taylor, his eyes on the horses
Ofoke the silence.
reckon the critters don't naet
loren a couple hours rest" he said
lney amt been rid noways hard. an
q Ter gittin through the gap durin
sayllght-the road amt overly goo,
igst now" 90
Ia