The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1923-02-01
Dsvy msnlavrg 8, lusuds tsk as5ss

HAyy mstNiAUFy vf lush0s tsk Never
right. Why, Liberty, dozens OF men
were murdered by those drunken
fiends; 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-todo and pros
-perous. 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 hurrledly ND
the money somewhere in the nelgh5or-
hood. scrubbed on piece of paper the
locatlon of that treasure and gave 1t
10 his wife before he went out with the
other men to fight. Next morning he
had been shot. md the young wife
had been carried off by those devils
her child with her, nfter the Indian
custom, to keep her from suicide. No
one knows what became of her. Nor
has that money ever been found. Llber-
ty. If 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 soraly need; for once,
some years ago. Il 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. II be-
lleve 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 a youpg man out to see tho
world H'm--hsrc comes Colonel
Josh. Suppose we talk to him. He
was a 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 bad lodged In for
smoke, he said, when Shottle had
introduced him to his master, and II
was evident that it was his aim to inn
press Drace with his military bearing
lie 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 1t" that Drace was
from the North
"Yes, but some of my people were
from the South"
"Ah | congratulate you, sir. 1 have
match, thank you"
Drace had offered him light He
filled his pipe with tobacco crumbs dug
out of his breaches pocket, and, long
legs crossed, sat back to enjoy him.
self
swell, sir, Mr.. Drace, the war has
been ended some years and il we for
get an evil as easily as virtue, sir, 1t
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
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 few Minutes more CONVERSE
ton the Colonel rose. II will now 60
back to the ballroom" he declared
himself. Liberty. came aboSl1tQ.
night with your third cousin, Miss
Lucy Sanders"
"That so? Come down, Marse Drace,
and I'll introduce you to her"
Il 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 fiddle going"
said Shottle. Come on"
Into yirgil'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.
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-
Elected that never before had his kins-
woman been so glad to see him. On
his arm she hung as she cooed, but
her eyes were on BRACE, and he lis
tened, not to her words, but to the
music Of her accent, soft as the notes
of dove. Like frOst-bitten Shang-
hal, the Colonel stood first on one foot
and then on the other. BRACE politely
asked Miss Lucy to dance with him,
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