Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-09-28
CHAPTER II-continued.

3
With an awkward gesture Liberty
stretched forth a hand, caught Braces
and wrung it warmly. you're like
like Hamleti" he exclaimed. "Tll do
my best to help you, Hamlet. Let me
be your Horatio as well as your slave
BRACE returned the fervent hand
clasp. my Horatio" he agreed. And
then, solemn again, he added: 'Its a
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
flsfds; little children were 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
the sale of some lands. When rumor
Of the raiders came, he hurriedly hid
the money somewhere in the neighbor-
hood, scrubbed on piece of paper the
location of that treasure and gave 1t
to his wife before he went out with the
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. Liber-
ty, If l could find Stepho, get him in
my power, believe I could at least
learn what became of that poor young
woman-possibly find that paper and
learn where to find the money those
poor people so sorely need; for once
some years ago. mysterious fellow
was caught digging about their yard
But I've talked enough, Liberty.
Actionl Do you know any more about
La Vitte?'
mot much" replied Liberty. IT be-
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 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-
corning BRACE. He had lodged in for
a smoke, he said, when Shottle had
introduced him to his master, and 1t
was evident that it was his aim to i'm
press Drace with his military bearing.
He had not been actually in the army,
but had acquired the title of colonel
from his adventurous work of buying
mules for the Confederate government.
The Colonel took it, that brace was
from the North.
YES, but some Of my people were
from the South"
All! | congratulate you, sir. have
match, thank you"
Drace had offered him a 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.. brace, the war has
been ended some years and if we for
get an evil as easily as virtue, sir, it
Will soon be only dim memory.
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
nsh 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-
ton the Colonel rose. 81 will now go
back to the ballroom" he declared
himself. Liberty, came aboard to-
night with your third cousin, Miss
Lucy Sanders"
"That so? Come down, Marse BRACE,
and I'll introduce you to her."
Il think, sir, that she has retired"
the Colonel was quick to -interpose,
realizing that he had thoughtlessIy sug-
gested an invasion Of his own terri
tory.
mot while there is fiddle going"
said Shottle. "Come on"
Into virgil's heart flew the hope that
the slaves cousin might be the bar
barrie girl with the roses; there could
be no mistaking her, after meeting her,