The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-19
foreclosure. T. B. had urged him to

foreclosure. T. B. had urged him to
take lead in having it repaired. His
efforts, however, were unsuccessful.
While my host was getting out his
car Dick Rudolph came tearing up on
horseback and urged him not to go.
He said he had heard through some
Of his black friends that the message
was a fake and that Tom Nearing
was planning to trap him in the woods
and have him beaten up by a gang OF
tough niggers bribed by gin.
T. B. called up the store from
which the message came and was as
srred that the child's father himself
had sent the call and seemed anxious.
We determined to go in spite of the
warnings of poor Dick, whom we as.
sumed to be under the influence Of
liquor. I insisted upon going along
for company, although T. B. urged me
to stay and rest up for my trip home
the next day. This country church
work was getting more and more alb
sorbing. &
We sped down the State road for
several miles and then turned into
the woods road that led to our desti-
nation. The going was now very
rough and very slow. Twice we were
stuck but managed to work out.
Finally we had to abandon the car and
proceed on foot, and could see in the
bright moonlight that here and there
some crude attempts had been made
to fill in the mud holes with brush,
which only added the foul smell of de-
caying vegetation to the other I'M
pleasant aspects of the road.
now began to recall Dicks warn.
ing and to hear strange noises in the
woods. After a while I mentioned
this to my companion. who laughed
and said it was city siicker's ague,"
common to all fiat dwellers when away
from the arc lights and trolley cars.
I pressed on, treasured but not con-
WINGED. I felt that we were being
surrounded. Then my heart jumped
and stood still. heard an unmis-
taxable rustling Of leaves and cracking
of twigs.
Nothing but a cow rubbing of
mosquitoes" laughingly assured T. B..
and by way Of verification the silence
of the night was shattered by the
|
lonely and uncomfortable lady bovine
who thus shamelessly advertised her
| grief to an unsympathetic world. The
penetrating uproar echoed and re-
echoed away among the trees, and
silence again kept US ominous com.
pany.
Suddenly T. B. motioned me to his
side, at the same time indicating eau
ton and maintaining his steady stride.
AS drew closer he said under his
breath. There is a gang in there,
after all. On the right. But don't
let on you see them yet. They prob
ably plan to attack at the new cut
! where retreat would be difficult. Be
fore We get there we pass an old
gravel pit full of water and they
will be between us and the edge of
the pit. Let's rush them there. Well
| have the advantage of higher ground
and they will be on the uncertain
edge and not expecting an attack.
| Here's q monkey wrench. have a
jack"
There was a magic in this re-
markable man which put physical
courage and unnatural strength in
my fiabby body. I grasped the unusual
weapon with a joy that surprised
me, for the mere thought of physical
combat had heretofore been repellent
| Now, however, 1 was eager for the
signal, There was something mad
dening In that skulking, unseen foe
that called to high heaven for punish
ment. and I felt myself the minister
Of high heaven to inflict that punish.
ment. I know now that 1t was the
reflected attitude of T. B. that gave
me this thought.
Then the woods opened a space and
the road was bordered by low. bushes
only, beyond which could see the
water of the gravel pit shining in
the moonlight
"Ready?" inquired T. B.
"You bet" I replied. astonished at
my use Of this slang of a former gen.
Grafton.
Charge when I yell"
With that he let out the most blood
curdhng noise I had ever heard and
plunged through the yielding brush al
q group of crouching. shadowy forms
most OF which Strengthened up and
fed in confusion. but few stood In
blank amazement uncertain what tc
do under these unlooked-for circum-
stances. A blow from T. B. sent one
SPRAYING into the water of the pit
To my utter establishment I sent an.
! other scrambling down the crumbllne
bank. Something very hard buttec