The Winslow mail., 1922-10-06
ILLUSTRATED BY
R.H.LIVINGSTONE

be your Horatlo as well as your Save.
Drace returned the fervent hand
clasp. "My Horatio!" he agreed. And
then, solemn again, he added: ITS
worthy cause, Liberty. It's not alone
my private vengeance, but the wrongs
of a whole community that the ordi-
nary machinery of justice can never
right. Why, Liberty, dozens Of men
were murdered by those drunken
tiends; little children we're trodden
under the hoofs of their horses, and
women Near our house, Liberty, an
old couple live in poverty. At the
time of Stepho's raid their son and
his Young wife lived next door to
them: they were well-to-do and pros
porous The day of the raid the son
had received ten thousand dollars from
the sale of some lands. When rumor
Of the raiders came, he hurriedly hid
the money somewhere in the neighbor-
hood. scribbled on a piece Of paper the
location of that treasure and gave 1t
TO his wife before he went out with the
other men to fight. Next morning he
had been shot: and the young wife
had been carried off by those devils
her child with her, after the Indian
custom, to keep her from suicide. No
one knows what became Of her. Nor
has that money ever been found Liher-
tv. if I could find Stepho get him in
nv power, I believe I could at least
learn what became of that poor young
woman-nossihly find that paper and
learn where to find the money those
moor people so sorelv need: for once,
some wears ago. a mysterious fellow
was caught digging about their yard.
But I've talked enough. Liberty.
Action! DO you know any more about
La vitte?"
"Not much" replied Liberty. IT he
lieve he is often seen up the River.
and sometimes down on the coast. He
has his friends. and nearly everybody
else is afraid Of him. So you've
must keep dark till we get our chance.
And you mustn't show your feelings
in your face. Remember, master,
you're just 3 young man out to see the
world. H'm--here comes Colonel
Josh. Suppose we talk to him. He
was mule-buyer In the war and may
know something about Stepho."
The door was darkened. In came
Joshua Mortimer. the man whom Miss
Lucy had piled with questions con-
cerning Drace He bad lodged In for
4 smoke, he said, when Shottle had
introduced him to his master, and 1t
was evident that 1t was his aim to i'm
press Drace with his military bearing.
but had acquired the title Of colonel
from his adventurous work of buying
mules for the Confederate government.
The Colonel took it, that Drace was
from the North
"Yes, but some of my people were
from the South
"Ah! congratulate you, sir. l have
a match, thank you"
Drace had offered him light. He
filled his pipe with tobacco crumbs dug
out of his breeches pocket, and long
legs crossed. sat back to enjoy him.
self.
''Well. sir. Mr.. Drace, the war has
been ended some years; and If we for.
get an evil as easily as a virtue. sir it
will soon be only dim memory. I
had enough Of It,"
"But you were not really in the
army, Colonel JOSH" the slave spoke
UP.
The Colonel pulled at his pipe.
stretched his neck and appeared to
fish for something down in his collar.
Liberty. my duty was scouting and
the incidental picking up of mules, as
the records of the War Department
will be pleased to exhibit. SIR
After a few minutes more conversa-
tion the Colonel rose. II will now go
hack to the ballroom" he declared
| himself Liberty, I came aboard to-
night with your third cousin. Miss
Lucy Sanders"
"That so? Come down, Marse Drace,
and I'll introduce you to her"
! II think, sir, that she has retired,
the Colonel was quick to interpose,
realizing that he had thoughtlessly sug-
] gested an invasion Of his own terri
| tory.
"Not while there is a fiddle going
| said Shottle. Come on"
Into Virgil's heart flew the hope that
| the slaves cousin might be the bar
baric girl with the roses there could
be no mistaking her. after meeting her,
for in that brief gaze he had carried
away masters painting of her,
easeled in his mind So he was quick
to hasten below with Shottle, the Colo
mel painting behind them.
Miss Lucy had just left off dancing
| No. she was not the thrilling barbar'
ian, but Drace swallowed his disap-
| pointment dry. like swamp man tax
ing quinine Shottle might have re-
| daotad tha+ pe--or bafore had hiS kinS.