Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 31 March 1899 — Page 11

Robert W. Caldwell ATTORNEY-AT-LAW

Office at rear of Citizens' Bank Prompt and careful attention g-iveD to

all leeral business in this and ad-

Joining counties

..Light Brahtnas..

EXCLUSIVELY.

Fine Cocker.-ls for sale, scored by I. N. Barker. Have several uot scored for the farmers. If you WHittgood Brabmas,write or call. Also the large Pekin Ducks for sale Hrabnia eims. $1 ana $1.50 for 18. Duck eggs, 41.00 for 13.

JOHN A. HICKS,

Farm 1 mile soutij. r»ew Market, iud.

20 Barred Plymouth Rock

COCKERELS.

They will be sold at$l apiece ns tonir as they last. Call early aud net lirst. choice. •J F. STOVER. Proprietor of Kock Klver Breedlog Kami, 2 miles north of Crawfordsvllle.

GEORGE W. FULLER,

Crawfordsvllle, Ind. Breeder and Shlpperot thoroughbred POLAND

wCHINA

HOGS.

hogs,B.P.Hocks.

White Guineas and Fan Tall Pigeons. Stock and Eggs for sale. Eggs 11.25

per 15. Write vour wants.

DUROC E S E

I have an extra fine lot of young male hogs, all eligible to registry. Call early and secure ehoi.-e.

c. B.

MARTIN

Three miles south of Crawfordsvllle on the Whltesville road.

500 FINE BIRDS

POP Sale.

Light Brabmas, Barred and White Plymouth Rocks, Buff-and Partrldire Cochins. Also large Pekln Ducks and Bronze Turkeys Try us for floe fowls and low prices. Score card witb each bird If desired.

W. T. & S J. SAYLKR. New Market, Ind.

WALNUT FORK BREEDING FARM.

Poland China

HOGS.

Two fine male hogs for sale.

Light Bralima Chickens. Eggsjn Season.

Address J, M. Walkup, Mace, Ind.

White Plymouth Rocks

EXCLUSIVELY.

Cockerels and Eggs for sale. Call on or address

J. WINTER,

Darlington, Ind.

ALPHA J.

No. 28ZS75.

Will make the season of 1899 V4 mile east of Darlington, Ind. Alpha J's dam is a sister tu 8tar Pointer. 1:594, acd brother to Koan Wilkes. '2:04^. Dam bay. 16 hands high, has yearlings that will show that he is a sire of extreme speed. Call and see tbo horse or address JULIUS COX,

Darlington, Ind.

NOTICE!!

1

Farmers and Horsemen.

The stallions belonging to the Crawfordsvllle & Darlington Breeders' Association will make the season of 1899. Mondays, Tuesdays and TVednesdays at the barn of Y. A. Moffltt Thorntown, ind and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the barn of S. A. Miller, Darling ton.

A N I Superintendent.

Going! Going! Gone!!

Everything goes and at good prices when

A. W. Pefkini

Is the Auctioneer.

Leave orders with A 8. Clements, Craw fordsville. Telephone 257. 107 North Green street.

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11 OF

By HUGO ST. HKISTEBRE, M. D.

[Copyright. 18S8, by American Press Association.]

CHAPTER XII.

Nothing was more certain than if I remained where I stood for two minutes longer collision between the man and myself must take place. Instead of creeping along the trunk of the tree, as I had done, he walked upright, or rather slightly inclined, iiisheail and shoulders thrown forward like an Indian trailing an enemy through the woods.

Being outside of all shadow and in the lull starlight, he was in plain view, while unable to see me, though he was likely to catch sight, of mv figuro with a step or two farther advance. Ho carried a Winchester in his right band, as if it were a balancing pole, though such aid was unnecessary. At that critical instant I made the mistake of leaping from my perch to the ground.

The distance was so short that it was easily aceompished, but the removal of my weight, strong as was the massive trunk, gave it •. faint, perceptible jar, to say nothing of the slight noise made by my feet'as jy struck the ground. My pursuer noted both and c.inio to an abrupt halt midway over the natural bridge.

He did not speak, but brought his rifle aror.nd in frc.nt a::d grasped it with both bands, ready to bring it to a level and fire on the instant. I ought to have reir.ained motionless on my porch until be was within arm's length, hut having made one blundtr I committed a second by forming the sudden conviction that he saw me aud was about to fire, whereas the only information lie could receive was through his sense of hearing. "Hands up, or you are a dead man!"

My voice, low, but distinct, must have startled the bravest person under the circumstances. Like Cy Wallers, he appreciated when a foe had the drop on him, and without a word he elevated both hands, holding his Winchester as did Cy when brought to bay under somewhat similar conditions. 3?" "If yon speak or move, I shall bore you through," I added in the same impressive voice. "My pisfoi is aimed at your breast, and I only want the excuse to serve you as I did the other dog a few minutes ago."

Wormwood and gall must have been his reflections at that moment, but there was no help for it.

My dread was that Cy Walters and Archie Hunter, being so near, would have their suspicions roused aud hurry back to tho spot, in which event my own situation would be anything but enviable. I had formed my plan and now carried it out.

Nothing was heard of the couple who were threading their way up the bank

If a or move, I shall bore you through." and must have already attained considerable distance. Every second was of value, and my scheme was to hold my captive silent and motionless until the danger of interference on the part of his friends was at the minimum.

I expected my man to say something, but lie remained mute. Probably he was in the situation of the one who kept his lips sealed because of his inability to do justice to his feelings. He had straightened up, aud his pose must have been irksome with the weight of the gun in one of his hands. "Drop that Winchester," was my next command, "and do it quick!"

It would bave been unjust to accuse him of sluggishness, for my words were scarcely uttered when the rifle splashed into the water and sank from sight. Beyond question that particular individual had met with adversity that night, for his choice bloodhound and most valuable weapon were irrecoverably gone. "I have a great mind to sheet you as it is," I added, careful to modulate my voice to its most impressive base. "Don't move hand or limb until I give permission." "Who the is doing so?"

My man had found his voice at last. "And don't speak another word if you want to save your worthless life." "Who the"—

He checked himself abruptly, aware that he was violating orders. Having transfixed him, so to speak, I now proceeded to. carry out the rest of the scheme I had formulated. That was to withdra vV from tbe dau^'erous spot without his knowledge. He was so effectually cowed that he was likely to remain passive for a considerable time, provided I succeeded in my effort.

Before making the attempt I spoke: "Your right hand is drooping. Dp wjth it!"

He obeyed so promptly that I smiled. Shoving my revolver into my hip pooket, I noiselessly faced the other way, and, gently parting the bushes in front, began a stealthy withdrawal. So catefully did iwo?k__lthatjwhea. I had ao-

complished "a "cTozen steps 1 was confident a listening fawn would not have been alarmed. it w... .1 interesting to Know how long tli.:i-i-i ividual held his plaoe on the tru:\ i-i'

IIT-

10 or l."

tree. It may have been

AS

a good deal longer.

PossHJy -pit' iny care he discovered what 1 was jug and hurriedly withdrew to companions. At any rate. 1 a. M'i upon tun theory that such was the I

Ami:) flurry and contest of wits 0110 reflu.s...a Irocrbt- me more comfort than wibe sn:'p ctnl. I bad got the nest 1 llr.no i::i :i wl'u bad devoted their enn -ies tomv undoing. The grim Cy

WI.UITS

and his stepson would have

to admit to their cm 1 aniens that I slipped out of tho window while they were 011 guard, and, as they believed, without outside help, while tho man who had put bis best bloodhound on my trail bad lost the brute and his Winchester, and the three had not. yet laid hands on mo.

But it was no time to felicitate myself, for in more than one sense, I was not yet out of the woods.

Sooner or later the most unfortunate of the trio would find he was holding Tip his hands to the command of a nonentity and would make- aste to retrieve his blunder. Each and il had the most compelling reasons run me down without an hour's unnecessary delay and would neglect 110 means to do it.

Mingled with my partial exultation, which it will be admitted was justified, was the knowledge that, though I had crossed the interposing creek, I had not succeeded in obliterating my trail. Disregarding tho fact that one of my pursuers knew the precise spot where I Lad passed over the stream, it would be the easiest matter in the world for a bloodhound to trail me along the trunk to and from the point where I had landed. At daylight the vigilantes would be after me again, aud by summoning the dogs to their aid must speedily run mo down unless I adopted more drastic measures. It was because of this certainty that I decided to keep near the creek, in order to take to it the moment the necessity appeared.

My overwhelming disadvantage lay in knowing nothing about Black Man's swamp. The negro Erastus had said that its area was extensive and during and before wartimes many runaway slaves had found refuge within its recesses. It followed that it was a good hiding place, though a persistent hunt was certain to uuea^n me in a comparatively brief while.

When I had advanced a few rods, I stopped to listen. So far as I could ascertain none, of my enemies was moving near me. "What an unprecedented situation I" I reflected. "I, a freeborn oitizen of the United States, a man never before oharged with crime, am a fugitive in a Mississippi swamp from a mob of men, all clamoring for my life and certain to give me short shrift if they once lay hands on me. I am charged with doing that which it is impossible for mo to do and am strenuously believed to bo guilty, for no other reason than that the real criminal and I resemble each other. Will this tragedy go on until in some way the truth becomes manifest or will not the truth to known until I have paid tbe penalty for another 'Smisdoinc?"

The thought thrilled me with burning anger, and I felt as if it would be a pleasure to wing every one of the mob that had closed their ears to reason and refused to give me half a show for my life. Still it would only complicate matters to begin shooting, though every law would justify me, and I resolved again to reserve the three charges in my revolver for the last extremity.

At this moment, when I had forecasted, as I believed, the events of the next few hours, a wholly unlooked for incident gave a new and extraordinary turn to the whole business.

CHAPTER XIII.

It will be remembered that my plan was to keep close to the creek in the swamp in order to take to it whenever I should hear the bloodhounds baying at my heels. I had heard enough of the movements of the ex-guerrilla and his stepson to know that they had moved down stream. Therefore I shaped my course in the opposite direction.

It was perhaps 100 yards or more from where I had crossed on the curving tree trunk that I had paused once more to listen for sounds of my pursuers. Instead of hearing anything of that nature, I heard a splash in the water to my left. Curious to learn what it meant, I took a single step forward and looked up and down stream.

A couple of rods off I saw a dugout, with an aged negro sitting in it carefully paddling with a single oar. There' was a bundle of something in the front of the primitive boat, but .1 could not identify it in tbe gloom. The bfack man's back was toward me, so that,he was ascending the sluggish current in the opposite direction from that taken by my pursuers. The negro wore a dilapidated straw hat, through which I caught a glimpse of his grizzly wool. Despite this sign of age, his shoulders were erect, and evidently he was a man of

Great

muscular unwer.

He was paddling with such care and moving so slowly that I formed tbe correct conclusion regarding him. He lived somewhere in the depths of Black Man's swamp and had been out on a foraging expedition and was now returning to his homo with the proceeds thereof. Aware that he was suspected of such doings and knowing he would be punished it detected, 'he was stealing his way back with all the care he could command.

Having been guided mainly by the impulse of the moment thus far, I acted upon the thought that came to me "Hold on there, uncle I"

The negro turned like a flash. Even in the obscurity I conld understand the expression of mortal fear on the ebon countenanoe as he held the paddle suspended as if unable to stir or speak.

Stepping out from the shadows so that he might see me, I added:

"Come inshore. ~1 don't mean to hurt you." My assurance partly removed bis panic, and, dipping his paddle into the water, lie sheered tbo dugout up to whore I was standing. I perceived that he was wearing largo born spectacles and I took him to be fully threescore and ten years old. "What's your name?" I asked, trying to throw a note of kindness in my voice. "Pete," was tho reply 111 tho accent of his race. I noted that he was attentively studying my countenance, as if trying to solve my identity. I expected each moment to hear him address me as Hank Beyer and was surprised that he did not do so. Finally he asked in a quaking voice: "Who am yo'?" "Don't you know me, Pete?" I asked, shifting mv pose so as to permit the star gleam to fall 011 my features. Tho spectacles moved first on 0110 side and then 011 another as he peered into my countenance. Curious to learn his reason, I asked: "Don't you know Hank Beyer, PeteV' "I habknowed him eber sineo be was a pickaninny. YqJ look a good deal like him, but yo' ain't him dat's sartin."

I was astonished. Under tbe glare of the lamps and when the sun was shining every white man whom I encountered was unsbakably convinced that I was Ilauk Beyir, the criminal. And now in the dim obscurity of a Mississippi swamp an old negro wearing horn spectacles mid the truth. With my virtual declaration tbat I was Beyer he declared such not to be the fact. ""Well, Pete, you aro right," I said. "I am not I-Iank Beyer. I am from tho north, and until a short tin:o ago had never set foot in Mississippi. Every one whom I have met with the exception of you believes I am Hank Beyer." 'Cause dov am a set ob blasted fools," was his contemptuous reply. "Yo'r woice don't sound like his. Dat is not much, dough it's a little, and— and—somehow or dder yo' don't seei like Hank, and yo' ain't him."

That was probably the best way of sxpressing it. It looked as if Pete might bo made the valuable ally of which I stood in need. "I have been taken for Hank Beyer, I added, "as I told you, by every one but you. Hank stole a horse and then slipped away, and the mob made me a prisoner. They would have hanged me if I hadn't escaped last nifibt, but they are hunting through tho swamp for me.! "War dat yo' gun daW beerd go off" awhile ago?" "It was my pistol. I shot the bloodhound that sprang at me. Tomorrow there will be 20 men hunting through this swamp for me with lots of dogs. Pete, were you ever a slave?" "Reckon I war," he chuckled. "Runned nway befo' do wah aud hid in dis wery swamp, and I helped oders to hide. I staid lieah for more dan a yeah, and den wouldn't habcome out if I hadn't wanted to." "You are the man I am looking for. Will you give me a hiding place till I am able to get out of this infernal neighborhood?" 1 expected an instant compliance with my request, but tho African, holding the prow of his dugout against the bank, remained silent. I didn't understand it. i'/ "I will pay you a good sum of money, more than you ever made in a year's work.''

f"'

"It ain't dat, boss. I doan' want no money, but yo' see I may as well tole de truf—wheneber anyt'ing goes wrong in dese parts dey lays it to ole Pete. De fust t'ing dem folks will do tomorrer will be to come to me aud.ax wheder I hab seen yo'. Ob course it will gib me great pleasure, boss, to lie like de debbil, but I'm afeard it won't help yo'." "I have no wish to involve you in trouble, but you can give me directions or tell me where I can hide until there is a show for getting out of the swamp. After tbat I'll take my chances." "I guess dat kin be done, but it's scand'lus de way eberyt'ing am laid on to ole Pete. Why, if some folks seen dat bag a-layin dere in de dugout with de end tied up, dey would be mean 'nough to 'sinooate dat Pete had been wisitin some ob de henroosts ob de white folks— Shetup!"

Just then there was a flutter inside the bag and'the sound of clucking. The disgusted Pete gave tho recalcitrant chicken a kick as he uttered bis sharp command, aud then he looked up in my face, the picture of innocence. "Will your dugout hold both of us?"

Yaas, if yo' sots keerful." I adjusted myself as skillfully as I could and brought tho structure down to its gunwales. But there was no danger, for the water was calm as well as sluggish, and Pete knew overy obstruction. He gave 1110 a suggestion or two and then dipped his paddle into the stream. It will bo remembered that our course was the opposito of that taken by tho three men. But for this there would have been less lagging aud talking 011 our part. -Still the African pad-

"I don't mean to hurt you."

died with the caution that had become habitual with him, continually glanc-

ing from side to sine ana speaking in low tones, which I imitated. "Do you know Erastus Brown:" I asked after wo had been in full swing for some minutes. "Reckon I do, ho replied scornfully.

He am de wut bless nigger dat libe Wid Kyarnal Manslev. Say, boss, did yo' steal dat boss':" "I did not. Did you steal those chickens in that bag':'' "Neiuier none sucn a ing in my Hie, but. yo'll seoose me.''

He laid his paddle inside the boat between us and from somewbero among his rags produced an old brier wood pipo, into which he crooked his forefinger for a minute or two while punching the tobaec) in place. This done, lie drew a match along the side of his trousers leg, and, shielding the flicker from the slight, wind, held it over the. bowl of his pipe while he vigorously sucked at the stein.

The reflection of the tiny flame against, the ebony countenance brought it into full view, and it was while looking at him that I was made uncomfortable by the discovery that, instead of being an agi negro, as 1 had believed, Pete was really as young a man as myself. Ho was disguised and was playing a part, with what purpose must soon become apparent.

CHAPTER XIV.

Reflection convinced me that I ought, not to feel any misgiving over tho discovery that Pete, the supposed aged African, was really a young man. It was easy to understand why, in making his midnight raids, he should take every precaution against his identity being suspected. So long as a glimpso of the thief hurrying away showed him to be an aged darky Pete might, hope to escape suspicion, while if driven to the wall his enormous strength could not fail to serve him well.

With such a natural explanation of the negro's course it would seem 1

••ivy

I

He struck a mutch, and, as he applied to a tallow candle called me to enter. should have been satisfied, but despite the obvious explanation I could not reo myself from a troublesome distrust of him. The African raco is proverbial for its loyalty, but it has its treacherous members, tho same as others. Iliad as yet found 110 friends in whom I could implicitly trust, liven when Miss Es ther Mausley opened the way for 1110 to escape she did it under the belief tbat I was the miscreant who had brought all the trouble on me, but who was fortunate enough to possess her affection. "You may be all right, Pete," I thought, "but these aro times when it is wise to set down every man as an enemy "until he is proved a friend. If possible, I shall make use of you, but if I know myself you shall not deceive me."

With tho same regular, noiseless movement of his muscular amis Pete continued to sway the paddle and to propel the dugout until we must have passed fully a half mile from where I had joined him. It was clear that all this time ho was penetrating deeper into Black Man's swamp. I gained some idea of the fastnesses of that marshy timber and could well understand how it became a favorite refuge for runaway in the olden slavery days. With the help of the abundant water the blood hounds could be thrown off the trail whilo the slaves of tho adjoining plan tations would be eager to contribute stealthily to the fugitives when the stole out at night in quest of food.

Having paddled the distance named, during which Pete slowly puffed his pipe, he reached a spot where the creek broadened to three or four times its former width. Tho banks were overhung with hushes and undergrowth, but when be ran the prow of the dugout against, the shore I perceived a well marked path leading deeper into the wood. I stepped out, and ho followed, pulling tho end of the rude boat far enough up tho bank to prevent its being washed away by the sluggish current. He had knocked tho ashes from his pipe, and ho now slung the bag over his shoulder preparatory to moving away. As ho did so there was a vigorous clucking and struggling inside, but it caused him no embarrassment. Ho knew I understood matters, and there was 110need of affecting ignorance or discussing the subject. "Wo's purty neah home," ho remarked as ho strode off with 1110 011 his heels. He had but a short distance to go when ho debouched into a clearing similar to tbat where I turned at bay and shot tho bloodhound. It was of about tbe same extent, and the fertile ground gave evidence of being well tilled. He continued straight forward over the path to the little cabin of logs which stood in the center. Just in front of the door he swung tbe bag off bis shoulder, untied the top, and, lifting it by the closed end, shook out about a dozen roosters and hens. At first they were dazed, but soon ran behind the cabin to join a number of others that were roosting among the bushes. Then Pete led tbe way into his home. "Do you live alone?" I asked, waiting on the threshold until he struck a light. "Yaas, eber eince my daddy died, eight year*ago," he replied as he disappeared in the gloom. 4 rainute later

he struck a niatc.n, aud as to a tallow candle called mo The structure was similar that may be found today in the and southwest, consisting of twos rooms below and a sort of loft abb which was reached by means of a sloping ladder at one corner. Furniture was crude and scarce, consisting of a few stools, a ftand. some pictures cut from newspapers and the simplest articles for cooking. In that latitude a lire is rarely needed except for cooking, which wafi done in tho lou^h fireplace. Tbe caudle that i.- liirust into the neck of a bottle rested on the stand at tho side of tho room. The doer had been opened by means of tho old fashioned latchstring, which was now drawn in, thus "locking" the building against intruders. The door and two small windows, the latter without, sash or pane, were all that furnished light, and ventiation to this prhnitive home. lJete liatl taken nut a low minutes to light the caudle, but in that brief interval his grizzled wig and his bending form had vanished, and he stood before mo the young, magnificent brute that be was. He grinned, and, looking down from his splendid height upon me as I

seated myself, ho asked: "I s'pose yo' am s'prised, ain't yo'?" "Not at all. When you lit your pipe, I saw you were not what you pretended. Yon are wise in disguising yoursolf when making these littlo excursions through tho country."

He grinned nioro broadly than before and said: "I s'pose yo' am hungry?" "Not so much as I am tired. I ato a meal last evening and would as lief wait tho regular tinio for my breakfast. What I waut nioro than anything is sleep."

Ho sat down 011 one of tbe stools, which lie had evidently made for himself, with the candle between us. Despite his superb physical appearance, there was something in bis broad black face which I did not like. I inor6 than suspected he was a bad man.

Ho shook his head. "I ain't sartin dey'll be lieali at all. Leastways dey won't come till de sun am shiuin. Yo' kin sleep till I wokss yo'."

J.

What time am it?" Looking at my watch, I replied that! it was betweou a and 3 in tbo morning. "Can't gib yo' a kind ob bed dat. yo'll brag ob, boss, but I'll dodo bestesfcj dat I kin. If yo'll climb dem ladder dere, yo'll find a blanket dat yo' kia lay down 011." ,! "What are you going to do?" "Sleep heah on de floor. I'm used it. Dat's my spare room," added Pete, with a grin, as I10 rolled his shiny eyes upward. "Do yon think thero's any danger of those peoplo visiting your home before daylight?"

Truth to toll, I was so drowsy that I could hardly keep my eyes open. I had been under an intense nervous strain for hours, and now, when the immediate peril seemed to bo removed, reaction came. So I bade my dusky host good night and climbed tho few rungs of tha ladder to tho loft. Ho offered me the candle, but I replied that I did not need it. As a substitute I struck a match from my pocket safo and held it in front of my faco until I got my bearings. All tbat caught my eyo was a blanket in one corner. I struck another match and stooped to prevent bumping my head against tbo primitivo rafters, and,throwing myself down, dropped into a sound slumber.

It is easy for almost any one to awaken at the time desired by fixing his thoughts upon tbat time before going to sleep. It was my wish to be astir at sunrise, aud I should liavo done so but' for my mistake in relying upon Pete. He had promised to call me early, and I was in too sleepy a mood to give audience to my misgivings of him. The consequence was that my slumber lasted considerably beyond the time at which I wished to awake.

Although there was 110 window to light the loft, there were plenty of chinks and crevices between the logs as well as the opening through which tho ladder projected. These told me the sun had risen, and a look at my watch made known the fact that it was later than I had supposed. "This is serious," I reflected, bur-" riedly rising to my feet, for I bad not taken the trouble to remove my clothing. I listened, but. did not hear any one moving below tho stairs. The conviction that, something was wrong was strengthened when I descended the ladder and found Petowus absent from tho cabin. "lie's up to some deviltry," I iuu&> tered, preparing myself for mischief.

TO RK CONTINUED.

TIGER VALLEY

House cl-anicg is the order of the day. Paul Gerjrd is here this week cutting wo d.

Hatch Linn, of Mace, is tbe champ'on wood cutter. Miss Argie Rem ley spent Thursday at Chas Reailey's.

We were pmined to hear of tbe death of Miss Ina Weeks. Mihs Eva Galloway is spending tbe week at. Otis Robbing'.

Miss Mary Morris tried the te cbers examination Saturday. Nearly everyone in this vicinity went to the city Saturday.

Nearly everyone has hauled in their supar buckets in this vicinity. The Carver brothers, of Crawfords vllle. spent Friday at Mr. Daily's.

Mrs Mary Crawford and daughter spent Friday evening at Otis Bobbins'. Ezba Armstrong and family passed through here Friday enroute to Boone county.

James Stewart, the beef peddler, of Msce, passes through here every Thursday and Saturday.

Last Friday being the last day of school the patrons took it onto themselves to make a surprise on Mr. Loop which they did completely. A bounteous dinner was served after which an interesting programme was carried out consisting of apeechea and music.