The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-11-14
CHAPTER XIV.
H. - AA

to get Strengthened around Then we
went down to the Morena cabin.
am not going to dwell on what we
found there. All four Of its inmates
had been killed with buckshot and the
place ransacked from end to end. APP
parently the first vOlley had killed our
former partners and Sonora Morena
as they lay. Morena had staggered to
his feet and halfway across the room.
The excitement caused by this fright
ful crime was intense. Every man
! quit work. A great crowd assembled.
Morton as sheriff was very busy, and
loud threats were uttered by his satel-
lites as to the apprehension of the
murderers. The temper Of the crowd,
however, was sullen. No man dared
trust his neighbor, and yet every hon
est breast swelled with impotent In
dignation at this wholesale and un-
provoked massacre. No clew was pos
Bible. Everybody remembered, OF
course, how broadcast and publicly
the fact of the gold had been scatter
ed. Nobody dared utter his suspicious
II he had any.
The victims were buried by a large
concourse that eddled and hesltated
and muttered long after the graves
had been filed in. Vaguely 1t was felt
that the condition of affairs was In
tolerable, but no one knew how it was
to be remedied. Nothing definite could
be proved against any one, and yet
believe that every honest man knew
to a moral certainty at least the cap
talns and instlgators of the various
outrages A leader could have raised
an avenging mob, provided he could
have survived the necessary ten min
utes!
We scattered at last to our various
occupations. was too much upset
to work, so | returned TO where Yank
was smoking over the fire. He had,
as near as | can remember, said not
one word since the discovery of the
tragedy. On my approach he took his
pipe from his mouth.
Nothing done?" he inquired.
Nothing" replied. "What is there
to be doneT
"Don't know" said he, replacing his
pipe; then around the stem of 1t, 81
was fond of those people"
$50 was L." ! agreed sincerely.
"Have you thought what lucky es-
cape you yourself had?"
Yank nodded. We sat for a long
time in silence. My thoughts turned
slowly and sullenly In a heavy, i'm
potent anger. A small bird chirped
plaintlvely from the thicket near at
hand. Except for the tlnkle of our
little stream and the muflled roar of
the distant river, this was the only
sound to strike across the dead black
silence of the autumn night. So per
sistently did the bird utter Its single
call that mt last 1t aroused even my
downcast attention, so that remark
ed on It carelessly TO Yank. He came
out of his brown study and raised his
head.
"It's no bird; it's human" he said
after listening n moment. THAT'S a
signal. Go see what It Is. Just wan
der out carelessly."
In the depths of the thlcket found
4 human figure crouched. 1t glided to
me, and made out dimly the squat
form of Pete, Barnes negro slave
from the hotel.
"Lo-dee, massa," whispered he, done
thought you nevah would come
what is 1t, Peter" l asked In thu
same guarded tones.
IL done got somefin' TO tell you
While | ketchin' Ill bit of sleel
'longslde that white trash Notion
place | done heah dey all plannln' t
Git out warrant for to arres' Mass
Fairfax and Massa Pine and Massi
= Mash for a-killin' dem men las week
, and | heah dem say dey gwlne fer +
Glib dem trial, and If dey light de
gwne done shoot EN-"
THAT is serious news, Pete" said
"Who were talling?" But Pete, VIII
was already frightened half to deatl
grow suddenly cautious.
!. 81 don Jest rightly know, sah," b
said sullenly. II couldn't tell. Je
Massa Motion He say he gwinesw'i
in good big posse"
. 1 Cun DtllNNt llldlt F"'N N''fNeN''
fully. "Pete." | turned on him SUI
denly, don't you know they'd SIX
you alive if they found out you'd bee
hereg"
Pete was shaking violently, aud
my words a strong shuduer we
through his frame. and his teeth stru'
family together.
why did you do itT'
"Massa Fairfax is quality, sah,'
replied with certain dignity. Il 1e
pore niger, but ] knows guam
J when sees it, and don't aim TO ma
no pore white truck kill none OF q
folks If | can help 1t"
. Pete" said l, fully satisfied y
are good fellow. Now get alo
y back"
IA He disappeared before the wor