Year: 1869

]
around, and the open door of closet
revealed that the shelves were filled
with silver. But they We're gamblers
and playing for a great stake. Moth,
ing else would satisfy them, and they
were certain that they he'd the win
ming cards. ...


The booty they were in quest OF
could be in no other place than the
iron thest of the master of the man.
sion, and that must be in his room.
! With a few whispered words they crept
up TIE stairs and went at once to the
doSt. Spies bad informed them of
all that was requisite to be known-a
faithless slave had been bribed-there
was not the slightest uncertainty in
their actions.


The door was unlocked and swung
noiselessly back upon its hinges. Deep
and regular breathing assured them
that the inmates were locked fast in
slumber. There was no need to dis
turb them, and silent as death they
huddIed around the little store-house
of the coveted wealth. That, too, was
uniastened! Was ever a man so care
less Of his treasure? Did tickle for
tune ever bestow such favoring smiles
upon a band of robbers? They could
scarcely stifle a cry of JOY as bag after
bag Of gold was handed out. They
hastily secured the booty and turned
to retrace their steps, when lights
flashed upon them from every part OF
the room, and they saw that they were
surrounded by scores Of strong, armed
negroes, and that Colonel Jardin stood
in their midst, pistol in hand!


Surrender, robbers!" he COM
manded.


"Never = answered Gafnev. t'Cut
your way through men. Now down
the black devilsl"


In an instant hand-to- hand fight
had commenced. But the battle was
brief The slaves loved their master,
and fought for him with more than
Brute courage. One by one the rob-
beIs were Killed, disabled, or made
prisoners all save one There was
nothing that could withstand the fury
of Bloody Tom He singled out the
Colonel, determined to satisfy his ven
gence upon him; but wall of living
ebony stood between them. He might
as well have attempted to cut his way
through rocks OF granite. Already
wounded, seeing that he was being
surrounded, and soon would be pin
ioned from behind, he gave up his
mad purpose, and with howl of baI-
fed revenge, broke through the ranks
and dashed across the broad hall into
an opposite room, with the hope oi
leaping from the window and making
his escape.


And so he might have dcne had not
his devilish love .: blood staye1, nim.
lie saw almost directly IN his path the
beautiful 33aughtcr of the planter
shrinking upon the bed. Here at
least was chance for vengeance; and
forgetting his own danger, sprang to-
ward her, twisting his CORY fingers in
her long silken hair, drew her toward
him, raised his knife, and was about
to bury it in the soft bosom, when
another form, with face as white as
wintry snow, sprang up from behind
and clung to him so Us to etiectually'
rob him of all power 10 do harm.


He turned and saw her who had
been to him rs wife


BY this time the room was begin
ming to be crowded.


A pistol ball, fred by the Colonel,
whistIed through his ciisp, black hair;
q blow from the nearest negro made him
staggcr for moment; but all was too
late to save the wretched woman. He
flung himself down upon her, pinion.
ed her beneath his knees, and before
the brain had time to think, his
weapon was driven hiit deep into her
hearti


It was his last murder. Like wolves
upon . fallen deer the slaves threw
themselves upon him, and would have
torn him limb from limb, cut him in
to { thousand pieces, had the voice OF
their master not sternly forbade.


"Iiarm him not, but bind him, be-
yond the possibility Of escape" he
said, and was obeyed.


With the morning light he dipatch-
ed messengers to several of the neigh
boring planters, and soon they were
assembled. The story was told, the
eorpses shown, and short consulta-
ton held. Then a procession, in the
midst of which was the fettered pris
oner, departed from the house. The
march continued in silence until they
reached the late rendezvous of the
outlaws. Not single word was spo
ken, and the first that was uttered was
by the lips of the prisoner.


'sNot there! For Gods sake not
there! p he said, with q shudder that
could not be suppressed.


"Why?' was asked.


No answer was returned. Gafney
remained sullenly dumb.


There must be q cause" said one
OF the planters.


And hasty investigation revealed
the fact that the sod at the foot of the
tree had rec, ntly been disturbed. In
an instant the ground was torn up, and
the half-decayed body OF man, evil
dently murdered by a knife, was
brought TO light.


Here is sufficient reason" said
Colonel Jardin, ''even if there was no
other to justify cur acts. What say
you gentlemen?'


LET the hollow oak bear fruit for
the last time


AT a signal slave stepped forward
and placed rope around the neck OF
the prisoner. Then he threw the 9th
er over branch 1t was grasped by
half hundred willing hands, who on
" waited for orders TO shOist aWay."