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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1907-04-25, Page 7• • • lo • • One • TIIENVINGIA.11 TIMJS APRIL 25, 1907 111111 .1 I I The night was one of the darkest, et; "1"::+1•: i -1•1-1••1-led-e• • Set there was a little light—etarlight— • and no moon, • .• REVENGE • Sty • • Capfai0 P. P,. MITCHEL., Author of ((Chattanooga," eChieltamanga," 3sto. Copyright, 1857, by Harper Brothers. %.4 • • • Ow On IMMO make 'on ail mad 'miff to eat her up!' "She Is Colonel Rutland's daughter, I suppose?" "Yes, sah. Missy Jack de apple ob Cunnel Rutland's eye, sab. Cunnel Rutland don' care nuffeu 'bout nobody but lIfissy Jack." "How about you colored people?" "What dat, sah?" "Do you like Miss Jaqueline?" "Like Missy Jack! Reckon de culled people do like Missy Jack. Culled peo- ple tub Missy Jack like de apgei ob"— "Isn't she just a bit bot temp6rede "Reckon Missy Jack is hot tempered, sah. Missy Jack, she got de hottest temper in de whole souf, Missy Jack, . she"— "Hold on; explain why you all love Miss Jack when she has a hot temper and speaks to you sharply," "Laws a -massy, she don' mean nuf- fen. Missy Jack, she scol' yid de fire- brand in de eye, but she won't let no- body else scol'. Yo' ought to see dat gal when Mars'r Bingliam—Mars'r Bing- ham, he de oberseer—Mars'r Bingham -whip de niggers, One day ilars'r Bing- ham, he whip me. I yelled lak a killed nigger. Missy Jack, she run out wit] her hair a-tlyin an ber eyes a-shinin, an sbe tak' de whip out o' Mars'r Bing - ham's han', an—golly Moses, how she lay it on dat oberseer!" "Did lie take It kindly?" "Ile couldn't do nuffeu. • Ef he tech Missy Jack, Cunnel Rutland shoot him. Cunnel Rutland, he got de biggest tem- per, 'eept Missy Jack—ain't nobody got temper lak Missy Jack In"— "Any more Rutiauds?" "No, sate Ain't dat 'nuff—all dem 'nighty line people?" "Quite enough, Now you may go, Ginger." Ginger departed with a frown that I should have called for more such peo- ,ple as the Rutlands and somewhat dis- appointed. I fancied, at not being able to impress me with the magnitude of the family temper. 1 closed the door behind him and locked it. • "John Branderstane," I said, looking at the dim reflection of my body in one of the great mirrors, "bad it not been for that little girl down stairs your being would now be no more real than that linage. Never have you bad so close a call, and you'll never have an- other so close without it being the dast. But you've no time to waste. Your situation will be more critical with the rising sun than it is this minute. Some- thing must be done." I went to a window. It was at the elect or the building. My room .was on the second story of the house, at no :great height from the ground. I turned from the window to another facing the nen They were all open, for the, weather was warm and sultry. At this •teeond window was something which :attracted my attention at ouce—a tree rowing so near that I could easily step into its branches and descend to the ground. "Thank heaven, Imre is an avenue of escape!" But nay pledge. It Is questionable If those moral heroes who prefer death to dishonor would choose the farmer If the alterna- tive were presented as it was to me. Death in the form it awaited me cer- tainly looked very ugly. If I kept my word and rema'ned till morning, my re identity was sure. to come out. If .for- tune enabled me to conceal it, if the captain permitted me to go my way, I was sure to fall into the hands of my -enemies. By leaving in the night I .... -lee, 'IF WOMEN :ONLY KNEW e Thousands of women suffer untold miser- ies every day with aching backs that really have no business to ache. A AVOIMIA back waset reeds eo ache. Under ordinary Conditions ii ought to be strong and ready to help her bear the burdens of life. is hard to do homework with an ach- ing back. Hours of misery at leisure or at work. If women onlyknew the cause. 33ackaehe conies from sick kidneys, and what a let of trouble sick kidneys cause in the world, But they can't help it. If mere work is gent on them than they can stand it's not to be ivondered that they get out of cutler. Backache is simply their cry for holk DOAN'S KIDNEY PILLS .4011 help you. They're helping *kik, Over. 'trekked kidrier —all over the world-- tnaking them atreng, healthy and etigorons. Mr& P. Ryan, Deuglati, Ont., Written "For Veer five months was troubled With hat, ha& and was unable to move without Lheao. I tried all kin& of thistete and inenti but they were no use. At last I rd tell of Dean's Kidney Pine and altar I lod teed three•qtatteris of the box *iky back was as Went and well or arse." Pri�ebOoeniperboxorthre. :fetes for Lee 41 dealers er The Men If disey ).(10.1 iterate, Ont. could give both the slip and by Morn- ing be far away or so disguised that I should not be recognized if found. I might possibly reach the Union lines. 1 had never before broken a pledge, but I had never before seen certain death staring me in the face, In the ordinary affairs of life, I reasoned, one should have a high standard, but in a mutter of life or death— Besides, who ever beard of one carrying information in war stopping at a Ile or the viola- tion of a pledge? Placing my foot on the sill, I was reaching for a branch of the tree with- out when 1 suddenly stepped back into the room, sat down in a chhir and burled my face In nay hands. A vision of Ethel Stanforth, sweet, gentle, lune - vent, stood before me. As a flash of lightning will clear a murky atmos- phere, my human reasoning vanished before a divine intuition. I could not break my pledge. Then 1 fell to thinking. How diffi- cult it Is, after all, to look into the fie titre! Who knows but some new out- let may occur tomorrow? This captain Is a singular man, and no one can tett wiatt whim may seize hint next. To day he ordered me out to be shot; to- morrow he may send me away from my enemies with an escort to protect me. Then there is little Jaqueline. She has slipped a noose about his neck that he will not easily shake off. She may find a hiding place for me or an avenue which will eventually lead to safety. I was so pleased with the prob- abilities I conjured up that I got up and walked back and forth, rubbing my hands with satisfaction. Fool, stupid human fool! The events fate bad In store for me 'were nothing as my foresight had painted. 1 heard the tramp of horses' hoofs coining through the gateway. Going to a front window and looking out, I saw ' two figures on horseback. It was too dark for me to distinguish them. Though one was very small, the other ! seemed to be a woman, for I could see her garments fluttering. They came fa -71 14 . I sat dount in a chair and buried my face tit ray hands. cantering down the roadway to the gallery and must have dismounted, for soon I heard a knocking. Leaving the chamber, I went through the hall on tiptoe and stood at the head of the great staircase, listening. There were voices below, but I could not tell whose they were. I waited some time for wore information, but those who were talking went into another part of the house, and I was obliged to return to my room unsatisfied. I sat down again and renewed my =slags — musings that were not of the pleasantest. I had not sat long when two men passed under the window. They were talking in a low tone. The voice of one was that of a white man, the other that of a negro. The negro said some- thing. that was inaudible. Then the white man asked: "Which wing?" .nar.o Is not that Jaycox's voice? It is, There is no mistaking that harsh growl. What can it mean? Ali, I see it alit He expects that I will elude this easy going captain, and he will' spread a net for the bird before it flies. Fortunate! If I bad descended by the tree, I should have dropped into bis embrace. My anxiety Was now more intense than ever. The cords were urely dratving about inc. "Nousensel" I said to myself. "I'm losing my head. True, I'm In a tight place, but tight places are interesting. Men who possess great presence of mind are best fitted to escape great dangers. When the cards run high, the coolest wins. I propose to defeat all these converging enemies by keep- ing My head. I shall go to bed and get a good sle4p. Then en the motrew shall be its shape for the fight." lty retolution, togetlier 'with the fa- tigue of an eventful day, brought slur)ber sooner than might have been 0X- peeted, But I tan *Make and, feeling alarmed, Vas Wide awake. I eat up in bed. I could look but of the window into the tree which had invited me to descend by its branchea. I thought I sae, a datk object that did not belong there. ne leaves Were tot far enough advanced to anted AO 7011fig enough to tully reveal spy object bidden there. "Imaginary terrors," I muttered. "Go to sleep." I lay down, drew the sheet up. tucked It in at the back of my neck and obeyed the command I had given myself hy wissiug brick Into slumber, I dreamed that I was standing under a great glass receiver and a man was working a pump to exhaust the air. At every stroke I felt less able to breathe till at last I was suXocating. 1 awoke and was conscious Of some one stuffing x cloth into tny mouth, I tried to cry out, but could make no sound. Two men stood beside me, one gagging me, whIle the other began to tie my bands. This done, they carried me,ov.inapotently writhing. to the win' d "Bring them clothes, Pete," said one of the men. "He'll give us away with- out 'qui? It's Toro Jaycox! I'm lost! 'rile wan called Pote• snatched me/ clothes and threw them out on the ground telow. Then the two began the work of getting inc through the window. Jaycox, who bad the strength of all ox. seized my wrists, while the man behind pushed. They got me out into the limbs of the tree, where, if I 0001inue0 to struggle, I was in danger, hound band and foot as 1 was, of pounding the earth below. I made a virtue of necessity and permitted them to lower me. Once on the ground they bustled me to a clump of trees back of the house, where I was nnbound and, covered by the muzzles of two revolv- ers. forced to put on my clothes. Then they rebound my wrists and ran me behind the barn. where three horses stoat ready saddled. Jaycox took me In his steel arms and tossed me on to cue of them with as lunch ease as if I had been a bag of meal. The two men mounted the other horses, and we start. ed off, circling. around back of the nogro huts and under trees to a side gate opening on the pike. Once away from the grounds, we set off at n gal- lop. Kidnaped! Now I may save myself any further worry. The inevitable is before me. Before daylight I shall be a dead man. CHAPTER VIII. ON VIE renertn. N, on we sped, under starlight, over stony pike, steel shod hoofs striking fire on flinty stones, suake fences writh- ing, trees dancing in a semich:cle about those beyond. We dashed over wooden bridges; we splashed through shallow streams; we flipped into hollows and tilted over crests, while now and again some startled bird stretched its wings and went whirring into the forest. On my right rode Tom Jaycox, hold- ing my bridle rein, his ugly face turned always toward me. Every crime mold- ed feature—his cold, steel eye, his knit- ted, overhanging brows—spoke one word, "Vengeance!" On the other side galloped a man; long; lean, hungry, grinding uneasily on a quid. I did not know his name, but memory brought me a picture of that same face lighted by shotguns flashing in the night. Our breakneck speed lasted till we had put some miles between us and the plantation; then we slackened our pace and walked our panting horses till they had partly recovered their wind, then struck a trot. It was immaterial to me at what gait we moved. I thought only of my approaching end. Surely it could not be far distant. Why did it not come at once? A pistol hall, a elnb— anything is enough to take a life. Then 1 shuddered as the thought struckeepe tbat I was to be kept for a more lingtN-- ing death. W.e were passing between a range of hills on our left and the Cimaberiand plateau on our right when Jaycox drew rein, and we all came to a halt, There was a sound of horses' hoofs behind, coming at a brisk canter, but no sooner had we stopped than the sounds ceased. Both the men listened until all was si- lent, then Jaycox started on. "All right, Pete," he said. "Whoever it Is has either stopped or left the road." "Some un goin home late, I reckon." We proceeded on our way, but bad gone scarcely a quarter of a mile when we again beard the hoof beats in our When "sweets" lose their sweetness— and "substantials," their charm—there are always MOONEY'S PERFECTION CREAM SODAS to coax back the appetite. Do YOU know how good they are? 105 OF COURSE YOU CAN CURE loosened the horsee, and his eorapan- YOUR RHEUMATISM I lea kelit me covered with his gun while No matter how long you have suffered I mounted. .4s I put ray foot in the or what remedies you have tried without Stirrup I happened to glance aside and relief, Buitt will cure you. saw two horsemen approaching. In a, We know. what flu -Ju has done for moment I recognized Buck Stanforth people, bedridden aud helpless. We know and Ginger. How they came to be what livejit is doing every day for people tortured with Rheumatism, Sciatica, b there Was a mystery. 1 only knew they Lumbago. Neuralgia. Dieju, The (...1..were t ere aud reiolced. At seein" Kidney Pill, eines Rheumatism because ine Buck, was Omit togtve a shout it acts directly on the kidneys and stops when he bethought himself that such the poisonous deposit a uric acid in the a proceeding might be fatal and re - blood, which causes Rheumatism. gained his composure just as his pres- 13o-1u will care your Rheumatism. Take it piece was discovered. Ginger showed on our guarantee that your. money NVI" I be prom- no signs of recognition whatever. oIlpt1y refunded should it fail. son a large box. At draggi•cts or bY matt from Th•• etanin shot a quick glance at Jaycox to see if chemical co. hituitee, witnisor, Ont. issf he recognized the negro, To +ay relief, ' be did not appear to know either puck or Ginger. 1 "Say, yo' men," called Duel; "can we get sornepin to eat tiyar?" "Ef thar's any vittels left," said Jay - cox, "What yo' uns doin out this tine o' day?" "011," said Buck—I trembled lest his wits should desert him at a critical moment—"I'm takin thbs nigger to his new master. He's sold." • "Yer a peart un ter d'Ilver a nigger. Reckon be don't mind goin with yer." Buck and Gilmer dismounted as we ' departed. I was obliged to part with them without being able to utter a word or make a sign. Still, their pres- ence gave me hope. Hope! What could n simple negro and a boy do to rescue me from two stalwart brutes who were watching. me like cats? All day we moved northward, the men riding close beside me, now and again turning their ugly faces toward me with a gr)n of satisfaction or a scowl when I did or said anything to displease them, often bending close to me, sickening inc with their rank to- bacco smelling breaths or the worse odor of their unwashed bodies. We met no one. The only comfort I de- rived was from the natural objects of the mountains. A red fox stole away under cover; a chipmunk, fearless and free. sat on a log. looking at us curi- ously as we passed; a budding wild ' rose brushed my boot; It was like tbe I kiss of a loving, companion; even the twittering birds seemed to be offering sympathy. Toward evening, as the sun stood • just above the horizon, a dull red ball, a shadow resting on the lower land - ,"••••••1 rear. Again we pulled up and listened. "By gosh, Tom," said Pete, "thet be,a,sthsernte up" pr, Both listened, waiting to beer the sounds renewed, but as they were not we started on. For the second time the hoof beats recommenced and this time a little nearer. "We must git outen this," said Jay - cox. "Let's take ter the hills here in- stead o' finder on." Turning to the right we passed through timber, beginning, a gradual ascent of the plateau. jayeox rode ahead, bolding my bridle rein, while l'ete followed, revolver in band. Who were on the road I knew no more than my abductors, but as a drowning mun will catch at a straw 1 east about for some method of letting them know of our digression. Bending low in the saddle, I peered through the gloom, watching for something with which to produce sound, for my gag prevented my shouting, and a shout would have brought punishment. Com- ing upon a tint rock, by a pressure of the knees I guided my horse over it, but it was too firmly imbedded to be moved. Soon after I encountered an- other right on the edge of the trail. Digging my heels into my home's thinks and forcing my body out of equilibrium. I forced him to prance. A vigorous pull on my bridle rein by Jayeox saved him from going, over the incline. carryinit me with hint. But 1 bad accomplished my purpose. I beard the stone go crashing- down the nioun- 181'`111:ou infernal dog." cried the man In the rear, "A yer do thet ;lain I'll Ma a knife atwist yet. shoulders!" -Er be does It ag'in. yer needn't trou- ble yerself ter stick him. The fall 'ud finish him." nigher. higher, we mounted. farther from the dark plain below. upon winch hew aud there shone a lonely light; notIrOr 10 the patches or (levee in 1110 110:1V0DS end the stars looking ,down from above. Then came a calm light in the sky and a gray tinge over the country below. Woods, streams, fields, houses. barns. grew out of the thirktiess. nip light bron(ksned: there were gil(mi eicluds in the ensf: the sun vest its first saurus over the heights and upon the landseape below. We had reached the impel, level; we were on the piateau. Espying a log house ahead, the inert consulted and determined to try for some breakfast. They took the gag out of my mouth. and Its soon as I was free to speak, anxious to be at once put beyond sulViring and the terrible sus- pense of au impending murder, I cried: "You dogs! You cowards! You're going to kill met Why do you delay?" They looked at each other knowingly aud grinned—a horrible, soulless grin. "Do ye reckon yer goin ter git ter heaven without payin fo' th' damage ye done?" snarled Jaycos, with an ugly light in his eye. "Al, that's your game!" "We know you uns ter be as well fixed fo' property as any young man in ; Tennessee. An we're goin ter hey a slice too. But yer needn't reckon thet's goin ter save ye. Yer got ter shell out, an then"— Ilis look told the rest. "Give me oue shot with my back against a tree, and I'll fight two such cowards as you." "Shet up!" snapped Jaycos, showing his teeth within it foot of rny face antl with a glance like that of an auery bulldog. Then, riding, up to the en- trance of the hut, he shduted: "Hello titer!" An old woman came to the door with an iron spoon in her band. "Waal, what's wanted?" "Snack." "Haifa got nothin but pone."' "Got any coffee?" "Coffee? D'y' reckon Abe Lincoln's goin ter let us hey coffee away up in these mountings when they hain't got none down in th' towns? I got a yarb '11 do purty ward, though." ry captors dismounted, breakfasted, then arranged for a. short nap, one watching while the other slept. Jay - cos first sprawled himself on the ground and was asleep in a twinkling, while his comrade sat staring at me with Itis gun ready cooked. I knew that it I made the slightest movement with a view to escape he would shoot rue. Occasionally he looked impatient- ly at a handsome gold watch, doubtless Mime in spoil, as if anxious for the ex- piration of his hour of duty. Toward the last he nodded. 1 was near some low bushes and began to roll toward them. Ire awoke with a start and quick as a flash brought his gun to his shoulder. "Yo' hound:" Jaycox opened his eyes and, seeing a murderous look in his companion's face , awl it gun right over his foot pointed , at me, kicked the weapon upward, ' charging it, thus doubtless for the time saving My life, This finished the first watch, and Jaycox took his tUrn, admonishing inc that if 1 tried the experiment again he would tie int up by the thumbs. X dreaded this torture end gave him no CIUSO to enforce IL Besides, he kept *Wake during his entire watch. The men having 'feared the needed tett, we broke our blvoufte, 1aycox MS companion kept me covered with his gun while 1 mounted. scape. one of nty captors gave a whoop. It was answered by a man abi'md. and in a moment a dozen wore started front about a campfire. "Got hint?' yelled the foremost of the group. "Yo' bet!" With a cheer every man sprang for his gun. "Ilold on, thar!" roared Janos with his bull's voice. "Don't yer be fo'get- tin we're gain ter be paid fo' our losses fust." A man by no means as repulsive as the rest, slenderly built. with a weak mouth, long,. black hair and a beard through which shone a tinge of color on his cheek. stepped to the front as with authority, and It was soon evi- dent that lie was in command. He in- quired about eertain of the gang who were lurking. about Huntsville. Jay - cox mentioned the name Ike. though 1 could not hear what he said, whereup- on the captain turned and glanced at me. I inferred that Ike was the Mall who had tried to kill inc and whom I had kilted for his pains. Then the cap- tain and Jaycos went into a thicket near by, evidently for consultation, and were followed Ily the others, while I remained behind, still sitting on my hone and watched by Pete, who stood on the ground, a great, gaunt figure, one hand holding the bridle rein of his horse as he nipped the grass, the other grasping a cocked revolver. He was looking at Inc from under his faded sombrero, 115 eyes peering into mine malignantly, his jaws grinding on his quid, the juice of Which soiled the cor- ners of his Mouth. I could not endure to look at him and turned toward the landseape below. The„sun bad set. It was the beginning of night. Was it not the beginning for me or the eternal night? *NI* ClIAPTEtt, IX'. erarxrs. IT was plain to rae that I was in the hands of that terrible 'ital.- time scourge of the eouth, the guerrIlle. This bald had been made up in east Tennessee and had moved out of their original stamping ground to get away from their old homes and find a better field for pit - loge. From the Cumberland plateau they could swoop down toward Nash- ville. Murfreesboro, McMinnville, Slid. byville, Fayette or Huntsville and, if chased, could easily take to the mountains, where It was difficult to fel- low them. On ono of theft fordy8 Tom Jaycox and rote Italliday bad got wind ot ray whereaboute and, with Several or the gang, %eliding the tion I had shot, had gone down to look atter 7 The Hind You Have Always Dought, and which has been, in use for over 30 years, has borne the signature or • and has been made under his per.* • 414sonal supervision Since its infancy. 4 Allow no one to deceive you in thief. All Counterfeits,Imitations and "aust,as.good." are but Ilikeperinaents that trifle with and endanger the health of Infants and, Children—Experience against Experiment* What is CASTORIA Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oli, Pare* goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups, It is Pleasant. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms and allays reverisinness. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation. and. Flatulency. It assimilates the i?ood, regulates the Stornaeh. and Bowels, giving healthy and, natural sleep. The Children.'s Panacea—The Mother's Friend. CENUME CA. T ALWAYS Beare the Signature of Tho Ed You Have Always Bought En Use For Over 30 Years. THR CENTAUR Ct...V.PANY. 77 1511.41RAY S1OT. NM YORK CITI. v'ity,y4teLVX..4:47=111:. ,e4f,; nttr me. The country in and about Hunts - elite was too civilized for open assas- sination, and Jaycox, after the failure of the attempt on my life, had pro- cured my arrest as a spy. Then fol- lowed the plan to kidnap me and force me into a payment of money before the final revenge. We bivouacked where we had met the band on the plateau, under the trees that waved above us, their sprouting leaves lighted up by our campfire. I lay awake the greater part of the night, watching for an oppor- tunity to escape, but one sentry after another was placed over me, and morn- ing came without my having made the attempt. At sunrise we moved northward, as on the day before, my captors still keeping a strict watch over me. Dur- ing the day Jaycox pushed on in ad- vance. Why I did not know, but sur - (To be contitAted.) le 1840 Austrian whim:nen could legally claim two days. a week of un- paid labor from all their tenants, who were at that date practically eerie. Excitement is rife in the northern par of the county over the reported indica. tion of valuable oil deposits, and visions of big fortanes are floating before the eyes of those who have interested them- selves in the discovery. Just what the indications of the presence of oil deposits in that section are we have not learned, but the promoters of the project are very ounfident and have already taken pros- peotor's leases on some 1,200 acres of land around Lochalsh. The owners of 1°,111 2'. YA the land are to get ten per cent, of the flow of oil in return for the leases. Some of the leading people of the section, far - mere and others, are concerned in the projeot, the plan being, we understand, to form a joint stock company and carry on drilling operations. From time to time there have beau reports of discover- ies of oil or gas indications in the neigh- borhood, and although a good many are okeptioal others are sanguine enough to be willing to stak3 money on the chance of becoming oil maguatee. 1 Never 3k el! Since eirlhood Mrs. E. J. Vanderburgh, of Eargern Welland avenue, St. Catharines, Ont,, writes: "For twenty-one years I was badly afflicted with heart trouble, nerv- ousness and cramps in the limbs, 'also twitching of the muscles and nervous headaches. I became weak, debili- tated and emaciated. My condition was distressing, and I was made worse through worry and loss•of sleep. "I tried a hundred remedies in vain, and, reading about Dr. Chase's Nerve Food, I decided to try it. After having used half a dozen boxes of this prepara- tion my old trouble had entirely van- ished and I was enjoying better health than I had since girlhood. I am now past middle life and am in perfect health. I would not take worlds to -day and go back to my former state," Dr. Chase's Nerve Food is especially popular with the women because. of its gentle action and remarkable restora- tive influence; 50 cents a box, 6 boxes for 52.50, at all dealers, or Edmansort, Bates & Co., Toronto. OFFICIAL This brand—on a bag or barrc.1—is the mark of a BLEND:ED FLOUR of Ontario Fall Wheat and 'Manitoba Spring Wheat, milled by the hest millers in Ontario. Ask your grocer for a Il1en,le,1 Maw —and leek for the above brand uherever vu -u buy., "Mack in Ontolo"