The Pulaskian., 1918-11-15

account of his good business qualities.
Among the negroes was a good look
ing Mulatto girl who was a field hand
under Johnson She had a great fancy
for tawdry iewelry and Mills noticed
that lately she had a good supply of
it. When he questioned her as to-
where she got a fine breastpin. She
tried to eyade the question, but he
threatened to accuse her of theft and
she confessed Johnson gave it to her.
Now Janet he said teasingly, "he
gives you lots of pretty things, does
he not? Come where did you get
those bright ribbons, and that fine
handkerchief you had last week? No
lying now or / will catch up with you"
Eyes sab, Mars Mills, cose he gives
'em to me, he's been mighty good
ter me, but I don't like to tell on
him so as to get him into trouble sab
Mars Johnsons a powfu1 good man
sab. ooh, of course that is all right
Janet, but you had better not think
too much of gay oyerseers, watch out.
Later when Janet's white baby was
born Mills had to call everybody's at
tention to its great resemblance of
the overseer. Now Johnson was en-
gagged to the poor but proud little
school mistress of Maumelle, and
when rumors reached her ears, she
went quietly but determindly about
to investigate the matter Shortly
Johnson received a letter breaking
the engagement, nor would she ever
receive him again.
Win war broke out he was one of
the most Iawless and daring of all the
dare-devils that infested the woods
and frightened innocent women and
children.
Charlie Goodson was another rufffan
that banded with Johnson and some
dozen others and made their home
under the hanging cliffs of the Pin
nacle. On account Of his superior cum
ming and sort of sanctified look, he
was something of a leader among
them He could play the good deacon
in the day time and by this means
find out where the best Layout"
could be had that night; when with
masks, pistols and loud oaths they
reused the frightened women and de-
manded all the grub and money there
were in the house. Some nights they
ordered a warm supper with fried
chicken, eggs and etc, while they
Iounged about and waited for it to be
prepared. Women were tortured to
get them to reveal the hiding place Of
their yaluables and many sacks Of
private property were hid away in the
Pinnacle cave
The wealthiest man in all the coun-
ty was old man Tom Fletcher. About
one-fourth of the land in the Maui
melle belonged to him and a large
proportion Of the slaves. His family
was living in Little Rock, but he sent
them TO stay on the plantation while
he was away in the army. He con
verted a large portion of his property
into money and the money into gold
and sent it by faithful servant to
his wife to bury on the farm until
the war was over. Tire 'BushWhack-
ers" got wind of the transaction
through the good gossiper, Old Aunt
Polly Clayburn, who was one Of
those that wanted every one put on
equality" She had a son among the
gang, and the same evening the box
came she sent him word that large
sum Of money was at Mrs. Fletcher's
Her inability to bury the money
that evening and fear Of robbers
prompted Mrs. Fletcher to hide the
money in nail key, and put several
pounds of nails on top. When they
aroused her at midnight she gave
them the freedom of the house; when
asked what Mr. Fletcher had sent out,
she said provisions, supplies and etc.
They searched through everything in
the house, then they came to the
key of money which was nailed up.
They asked what was in it. Gust q
key of nails Mr.. Fletcher sent out
this evening" she replied. They burst
in the head, and seeing nothing but
nails. went on further. Failing to find
the money they took what provisions
they could carry away with every
chicken and turkey Mrs Fletcher had,
tied to their saddles. The next morn
ing Mrs. Fletcher and the faithful
servant carried the kegs to the woods
and throwing it into a swamp mud
hole, where it soon sunk out of sight
There it remained until the long,
dreary war was over, then they went
to dig it up. Day after day Col.
Fletcher and two men dug and
searched for that precious keg with
gold in the bottom and nails on the
top. The whole mudhole was dug
over several times before they found
it. t had sunk six foot under ground
and 4 thicket of witeh-hazel and pus-
sy-Yi low had grown over it.
(To be Continued)
DoaI RHoIDal Gop4-i,, o,,5 Tro,,.,