Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-12-01

his degradat1On, Will you permit me TO
call you Virgil In the presence Of 9th
err people"
ST thought you didn't believe in the
natural thing! But all right; I grant
your request. And now I suppose I'd
better give you some pocket-change.
It isn't we'll for even slave to be
broke"
The slaves face frightened with
hope. "You couldn't make It as much
as five dollars, could YOURS %
"No, thirty cents"
Shottle took the money and sat
dropping. brace gave him cigar, and
they smoked for time In silence. AT
last Shottle looked toward Drace, his
face guiltless Of the whimsical humor
that had hitherto possessed 1t.
Master" he said, II don't want to
be inquisitive, and If I'm prying into
what's none of my business, won't
mind your saying so. But want to
be a faithful slave, and ] can serve
YOU best if know what-what are my
masters purposes In life. For exam
Die, was there any special reason for
your learning to throw and tie that
way? Is there anybody In particular
I could help you to put the rope onT"
BRACE made no answer for a mo-
ment, but bent a searching eye upon
his new servitor. Somehow the mans
soul seemed to shine transparent In
his face: and through 1t brace saw
sincerity; moreover the longing Of
youth for comradeship was strong
within his lonely soul and won him
from reticence.
Liberty" he said, "did you ever
hear Of man named Stepho La Vitte?"
Liberty nodded. 'Yes, I've heard Of
him; they say he's an outlaw, SNUG
gler."
sand worse" said brace. Hes the
man who-Liberty, give me your
word, your oath. that youn keep this
a sacred secret!"
Liberty gave his word and his oath
with certain quaint dignity, and
Drace went on:
Liberty, before the war my father,
Alfred brace, was manager Of line
of steamboats, ON the Ohio. In his en-
ploy was the creole Stepho Ia Vitte.
After a time 1t came to my fathers
knowledge that StephO was not only
dishonest in ordinary dealings but had
been guilty of piracy along the Gulf
coast. And so my father dismissed
StephO from position which the Gre
ole's dishonesty had made lucrative
and valuable to him
"Just after that" BRACE went on,
1.-The war broke out. La Vitte became
a guerrilla-one of the men Of Guam
trells stamp, who kept out of the army
but who gathered In bands and lived
by rapine along the border. was only
a little boy, Liberty, when La Vitte's
band Of guerrillas crossed the Ohio
near Cincinnati and raided the little
town where we lived. But the horror
of that night still burns like fame
In my brain, Liberty"
Drace stopped. drew from breast
pocket card and handed it to Shot
tie. On it was written In bold black
characters: "Stepho la Vitte, with the
compliments of Alfred Braces son
Virgil"
Shottle read the card, then looked
inQuiringly at brace:
Liberty" the young man explained,
those guerrillas under La Vitte
burned our little town and killed near
ly every grown man In it. For word
was brought of their coming, and the
men-nearly all Of them married men
or old--who had not gone to the war
seized weapons and went out to de-
fend their houses.
They were massacred almost to a
man. And 1t was not plumber
alone that led them to choose our lit
tie town for outrage, Liberty, but
passion for revenge. For next morn
ing my father was found hanging to
tree. And on his breast was pinned
card that read: alfred brace, with
the compliments Of Stepho la vitte."
Liberty looked again at the card he
held In his hand, then handed 1t back
to brace. ~ reckon I understand now,
MASTER" he said. "You are huntin'
this Stepho to-"
''To hang him as high as Hannah
and to pin that card on his breast"
declared Drace passionately. "While
my mother lived, Liberty, could do
nothing. You know how women are
in such matters. But-she died this
spring, Liberty. after long years Of
grieving for the man that id out
law foully murdered. Now am free
to strike for my honor and my fathers
memory-to carry justice to that muir
derer."
With an awkward gesture Liberty
stretched forth q h;tnd, caught Braces