by John McElroy
CHAPTER XIV. GUARDING THE KNIGHTS
SI AND SHORTY STAND OFF A MOB AT THE JAIL.
HAVING seen their prisoners safely behind the bars, Si and Shortybreathed more freely than they had since starting out in the morning,and Si remarked, as he folded up the receipt for them and placed it inhis pocket-book:
"That drove's safely marketed, without the loss of a runaway or aplayed-out. Purty good job o' drovin', that. Pap couldn't do better'nthat with his hogs. I'm hungrier'n a wolf. So must you be, Shorty. Le'shunt up Maria, and she'll take us where we kin git a square meal. Thenwe kin talk. I've got a hundred questions I want to ask you, but ain'tgoin' to do it on an empty gizzard. Come on."
Shorty had dropped on to a bench, and fixed his eyes on the stonewall opposite, as if desperately striving to read there some hint ofextrication from his perplexities. The thought of encountering Maria'sbright eyes, and seeing there even more than her sharp tongue wouldexpress, numbed his heart.
"Yit, how kin I git away from Si, now?" he murmured to himself. "Andyit I'm so dead hungry to see her again that I'd be willin' to be a'mostskinned alive to do it. Was ever anybody else so big a fool about agirl? I've plagued other fellers, and now I've got it worse'n anybodyelse. It's a judgment on me. But, then, nobody else ever seen such agirl as that. There's some sense in bein' a fool about her."
"Come on, Shorty," called Si from the door. "What are you dreamin' on?Are you too tired to move? Come on. We'll have a good wash, that'll takeaway some of the tiredness, then a big dinner, and a good bed tonight.Tomorrer mornin' we'll be as good as new."
"I think I'd better git right on the next train and go back toJeffersonvillie," murmured Shorty, faintly struggling with himself."They may need me there."
"Nonsense!" answered Si. "We've done enough for one day. I've bin upfor two nights now, and am goin' to have a rest. Let some o' the otherfellers have a show for their money. We haint got to fight this wholewar all by ourselves."
"No, Si," said Shorty, summoning all his resolution; "I'm goin' back onthe next train. I must git back to the company. They'll--"
"You'll do nothin' o' the kind," said Si impatiently. "What's eatin'you? What'd you skip out from our house for? What'd you mean--"
He was broken in upon by Maria's voice as she came in at the head of abevy of other girls:
"Si Klegg, ain't you ever comin' out? What's akeepin' you? We're tiredwaitin' for you, and w're comin' right in. What're you doin' to themragamuffins that you've bin gatherin' up? Tryin' to patch 'em up intodecent-lookin' men? Think it'll be like mendin' a brush-fence--makin'bad worse. Where on earth did you gather up sich a gang o' scare-crows?I wouldn't waste my days and nights pickin' up sich runts as them. WhenI go manhuntin' I'll gether something that's worth while."
Every bright sally of Maria was punctuated with shrieks of laughter fromthe girls accompanying her. Led by her, they swarmed into the dull, bareroom, filling it with the brightness of their youthful presence, theirlaughter, and their chirruping comments on everything they saw. The jailwas a place of deep mystery to them, and it was a daring lark for themto venture in even to the outside rooms.
"The girls dared me to bring 'em in," Maria explained to Si, "and Inever won't take no dare from anyone. Si, ain't you goin' to kiss yoursister? You don't act a bit glad to see me. Now, if it was Annabel--"
"Why, Maria," said Si, kissing her to stop her mouth, "I wasn'texpectin' to see you. What in the world are you doin' over here?"
"Why, your Cousin Marthy, here, is goin' to be married Thursday toher beau, who's got 10 days' leave to come home for that purpose. Thething's bin hurried up, because he got afeared. He heard that Marthy wasflyin' around to singin' school and sociables with some other fellersthat's home on furlough. So he just brung things to a head, and I rushedover here to help Marthy git ready, and stand by her in the tryin' hour.Why, here's Mr. Corporil Elliott, that I hain't spoken to yit. Well,Mr. Skip-and-away, how d' you do? Girls, come up here and see a man whothought mother's cookin' was not good enough for him. He got homesickfor army rations, and run off without so much as sayin' good-by, to gitsomethin' to eat that he'd really enjoy."
Her merry laugh filled the room, and rang even into the dark cellsinside. Shorty shambled to his feet, pulled off his hat, and stood withdowncast eyes and burning face. He had never encountered anything sobeautiful and so terrifying.
Maria was certainly fair to look upon. A buxom, rosy-cheeked lass,something above the average hight of girls, and showing the Kleggblood in her broad chest and heavy, full curves. She was dressed in thehollyhock fashion of country girls of those days, with an exuberance ofbright colors, but which Shorty thought the hight of refined fashion. Heactually trembled at what the next words would be from those full, redlips, that never seemed to open except in raillery and mocking.
"Well, ain't you goin' to shake hands with me? What are you mad about?"
"Mad? Me mad? What in the world've I to be mad about?" thought Shorty,as he changed his hat to his left hand, and put forth shamedly a hugepaw, garnished with red hair and the dust of the march. It seemed sounfit to be touched by her white, plump hand. She gave him a heartygrasp, which reassured him a little, for there was nothing in it, atleast, of the derision which seemed to ring in every note of her voiceand laughter.
"Girls," she called, "come up and be introduced. This is Mr. CorprilElliott, Si's best friend and partner. I call him Mr. Fly-by-night,because he got his dander up about something or nothin', and skipped outone night without so much's sayin'--"
"O, Maria, come off. Cheese it. Dry up," said Si impatiently. "Take ussomewhere where we kin git somethin' to eat. Your tongue's hung in themiddle, and when you start to talkin' you forgit everything else. I'mhungrier'n a bear, and so's Shorty."
An impulse of anger flamed up in Shorty's heart. How dared Si speak thatway to such a peerless creature? How could he talk to her as if she weresome ordinary girl?
"O, of course, you're hungry," Maria answered. "Never knowed you whenyou wasn't. You're worse'n a Shanghai chicken--eat all day and be hungryat night. But I expect you are really hungry this time. Come on. We'llgo right up to Cousin Marthy's. I sent word that you was in town, andthey're gittin' ready for you. I seen a dray-load o' provisions start upthat way. Come on, girls. Cousin Marthy, bein's you're engaged and Si'sengaged, you kin walk with him. The rest o' you fall in behind, and I'llbring up the rear, as Si'd say, with Mr. Fly-by-night, and hold on tohim so that he sha'n't skip again."
"Me run away," thought Shorty, as they walked along. "Hosses couldn'tdrag me away. I only hope that house is 10 miles off."
Unfortunately for his cause he could not say nor hint any such a thing,but walked along in dogged silence. The sky was overcast and cheerless,and a chill wind blew, but Shorty never knew such a radiant hour.
"Well, why don't you say something? What's become o' your tongue?" beganMaria banteringly.
"Have you bit it off, or did some girl, that you bolted off in such ahurry to see, drain you so dry o' talk that you haint got a word left?Who is she? What does she look like? What made you in sich a dreadfulhurry to see her? You didn't go clear up to Bad Ax, did you, and killthat old widower?"
"Maria," called out Si, "if you don't stop plaguin' Shorty I'll comeback there and wring your neck. You kin make the worst nuisance o'yourself o' any girl that ever lived. Here, you go up there and walkwith Cousin Marthy. I'll walk with Shorty. I've got something I want tosay to him."
With that he crowded in between Maria and Shorty and gave his sister ashove to send her forward. Shorty flared up at the interference. Acuteas his suffering was under Maria's tongue, he would rather endure itthan not have her with him. Anyhow, it was a matter between him and her,with which Si had no business.
"You oughtn't to jaw your sister that way, Si," he remonstratedenergetically. "I think it's shameful. I wouldn't talk that way to anywoman, especially sich a one as your sister."
"Whose sister is she, anyway?" snapped Si, who was as irritable as ahungry a
nd tired man gets. "You 'tend to your sisters and I'll 'tend tomine. I'm helpin' you. You don't know Maria. She's one o' the best girlsin the world, but she's got a doublegeared, self-actin' tongue that'ssharper'n a briar. She winds it up Sundays and lets it run all week.I've got to comb her down every little while. She's a filly you can'tmanage with a snaffle. Let her git the start and you'd better be dead.The boys in our neighborhood's afeared to say their soul's their ownwhen she gits a-goin'. You 'tend to the other girls and leave me to'tend to her. She's my sister--nobody else's."
HAVE COME, SIR, IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF INDIANA TODEMAND THE RELEASE OF THOSE MEN. 199]
Shorty fell back a little and walked sullenly along. The people at thehouse were expecting them, and had a bountiful supper prepared. A good,sousing wash in the family lavatory in the entry, plentifully suppliedwith clear water, soap, tin basins and clean roller towels, helped muchto restore the boys' self-respect and good humor. When they were seatedat the table Maria, as the particular friend of the family, assistedas hostess, and paid especial attention to supplying Shorty's extensivewants, and by her assiduous thoughtfulness strengthened her chains uponhim and soothed the hurts her tongue had made. Yet he could not see herwhisper to one of the other girls, and hear the responsive giggle, buthe thought with flushed face that it concerned the Bad Ax incident. ButMaria was not doing any such covert work. She was, above everything,bold and outspoken.
"You girls that want a soldier-beau," she took opportunity to remarkat a little pause in the feast, "kin jest set your caps for Mr. CorprilElliott there. He's in the market. He had a girl up in Bad Ax, Wis., butshe went back on him, and married a stay-at-home widower, who's in thelumber business."
There was a general giggle, and a chorus of exclamations at suchunpatriotic and unwomanly perfidy. Shorty's appetite fled.
"Maria," thundered Si, "I'll make you pay for this when I git youalone."
"Yes," continued the incorrigible tease; "and they say the best timeto ketch a widder is while her eyes is wet. Transplantin's best inwet weather, and the best time to ketch a feller's jest when he's binjilted."
Si sprang from the table, as if he would catch Maria and slap her. Shelaughingly threatened him with a big fork in her hand. They happened tolook toward Shorty. He had risen from the table, with the sweatpouring from his burning face. He fumbled in his breast for his silkhandkerchief. As he pulled it out there came with it the piece ofMaria's dress, which Shorty had carefully treasured. It fell to thefloor. Shorty saw it, and forgetful of all else, stooped over, picked itup, carefully brushed the dust from it, refolded it and put if back inhis pocket. Maria's face changed instantly from laughing raillery, andshe made a quick movement to place herself where she would hide from therest what he was doing.
There was a rap at the door and the Sheriff of the County entered.
"Sorry to disturb you at supper," he said. "But there's some hint oftrouble, and I'd like to have you stand by to help me if it comes. Thenews has gone all over the country of the haul you brung into the' jailthis afternoon, and they say their friends are gatherin' for a rescue.So many o' the right kind o' the boys is away in the army that I hardlyknow where to look for help. I'm sending word around to all I kin reach.There's several o' the boys that're home gittin' well o' wounds that'llbe glad to help. I'm sendin' buggies for 'em. They can't walk, but theykin stand up and shoot. I'd like to have you come down to the jail assoon's you git through your supper. And, Serg't Klegg, will you takecommand? I ain't much on the military, but I'll stay with you and obeyorders."
"All right. Sheriff; we'll be right down," responded Si with alacrity."Git together a few of the boys, and we'll stand off the Knights. Therewon't be much trouble, I think."
The prospect of a fight transformed Shorty. His shamefacedness vanishedinstantly, and he straightened up to his full hight with his eyesshining.
"I don't think there's need o' disturbin' the other boys. Sheriff," hesaid. "I guess me and Si'll be able to stand off any crowd that they'relikely to run up aginst us."
"Don't know about that," said the Sheriff doubtfully. "They've bingittin' sassier and sassier lately, and've showed more willingness tofight. They've put up several very nasty little shindies at one place oranother. Out at Charleston, Ill., they killed the Sheriff and a loto' soldiers right in the Courthouse yard in broad daylight. I believethey've got rebels for officers. We mustn't take no chances."
"Let 'em come on," said Si. "We've run up aginst rebels before. We'll bedown to the jail in a few minutes. Sheriff."
The Sheriff's words had banished the ready laughter from the girls'lips, and taken away their appetites, but seemed to have sharpened thoseof Si and Shorty.
"Here, Maria," called out Si, as he resumed his place at the table withShorty, while the girls grouped together and whispered anxiously, "bringus in some more o' them slapjacks. We may have to be up all night, andwant somethin' that'll stay by us."
"Yes," echoed Shorty, speaking for the first time since he had come intothe house; "I feel as if I'd like to begin all over agin."
"I wish you could begin all over agin," said Maria in a tone verydifferent from her former one. "I'd like to cook another supper foryou. I wish I could do something to help. Can't I go with you anddo something--load guns, or something? I've read about women doin'somethin' o' that kind in the Injun fightin'."
"If you could git 'em within range o' your tongue, Maria," said Simerrily, "you'd scatter, 'em in short order. No; you stay here, and sayyour prayers, and go to bed like a good girl, and don't worry about us.We'll come out all right. It's the other fellers' womenfolks that'vecause to worry. Let them stay up and walk the floor."
As the boys walked down to the jail they saw in the darkness squads ofmen moving around in a portentious way. At the jail were the Sheriff,wearing an anxious look, two or three citizens, and several soldiers,some with their arms in slings, others on crutches.
"I'm so glad you've come," said the Sheriff. "Things is beginnin' tolook very ugly outside. They've got the whole country stirred up, andmen are coming in on every road. You take command, Sergeant Klegg. I'vebin waitin' for you, so's I could drive over to the station and send adispatch to the Governor. The station's about a mile from here, butI'll be back as soon as my horse'll bring me. I didn't want to send thedispatch till I was sure there was need of it, for I don't want to bringsoldiers here for nothin'."
The wheels of the Sheriff's buggy rattled over the graveled road, and aminute later there was a knock at the outside door. Si opened it and sawthere a young man with a smoothly-shaven face, a shock of rumpled hairand wearing a silk hat, a black frockcoat and seedy vest and pantaloons.Si at once recognized him as a lawyer of the place.
"Who's in charge here?" he asked.
"I am, for the present," said Si.
"There it is," said he, in a loud voice, that others might hear; "amilitary guard over citizens arrested without warrant of law. I havecome, sir, in the name of the people of Indiana, to demand the immediaterelease of those men."
"You kin go, sir, and report to them people that it won't be did,"answered Si firmly.
"But they've been arrested without due process of law. They've beenarrested in violation of the Constitution and laws of the State ofIndiana, which provide--"
"I ain't here to run no debatin' society," Si interrupted, "but to obeymy orders, which is to hold these men safe and secure till otherwiseordered."
"I give you fair warning that you will save bloodshed by releasing themen peaceably. We don't want to shed blood, but--"
"We'll take care o' the bloodshed," said Si, nonchalantly. "We're inthat business. We git $13 a month for it."
"Do you defy the sovereign people of Indiana, you military autocrat?"said the lawyer.
"Look here, mister," said Shorty, striding forward. "Don't you call mypardner no names, especially none like that. If you want a fight we'rehere to accommodate you till you git plum-full of it. But you musn'tcall no sich names as that, or I'll knock your head off."
"Whose head'll you knock off?" said a burly man, thrusting himself infront of the lawyer, with his fist doubled.
"Yours, for example," promptly responded Shorty, sending out his mightyright against the man's head.
"Don't be a fool, Markham," said the lawyer, catching the man andpushing him back into the crowd behind. "Now, sir, Sergeant, or Captain,or Colonel, whatever you may call yourself, for I despise militarytitles, and don't pretend to know them, I again demand the release ofthose men. You'll be foolish to attempt to resist, for we've men enoughto tear you limb from limb, and jerk down the jail over your heads. Lookout for yourself. You can see that the courtyard is full of men. Theyare determined--desperate, for they have groaned under the iron heel oftyranny."
"O, cheese that stump-speech," said Si, weariedly. "'Taint in ourenlistment papers to have to listen to 'em. You've bin warnin', now I'lldo a little. I'll shoot the first man that attempts to enter this jailtill the Sheriff gits back. If you begin any shootin' we'll begin rightinto your crowd, and we'll make you sick. There's some warnin' thatmeans somethin'."
"Your blood be on your own heads, then, you brass-button despots," saidthe lawyer, retiring into the darkness and the crowd. He seemed to givea signal, for a rocket shot up into the air, followed by wild yellsfrom the mob. The large wooden stable in the Courthouse yard burst intoflames, and the prisoners inside yelled viciously in response. There wasa fusillade of shots, apparently excited and aimless, for none of themstruck near.
"Don't fire, boys," said Si, walking around among his guards, "untilthere is some reason for it. They'll probably try to make a rush andbatter down the jail door. We'll watch for that."
The glare of the burning building showed them preparing for that move.A gang had torn off the heavy rail from the hitching-post on the outsideof the square, and were going to use it as a battering-ram. Then cameanother kind of yell from farther away, and suddenly the mob beganrunning in wild confusion, while into the glare swept a line ofsoldiers, charging with fixed bayonets.
"A train came in while I was at the depot," the Sheriff explained, ashe entered the office. "It had on it a regiment going home on veteranfurlough. I asked the Major in command to come over and help us. He andhis boys was only too glad for a chance to have some fun and stretchtheir legs. They came off the cars with a whoop as soon's they knowedwhat was wanted. Now, you boys kin go home and git a good night's sleep.I'll take these prisoners along with the regiment over to the nextCounty seat, and keep 'em there till things cool down here. I'm awfullyobliged to you."
"Don't mention it. Glad to do a little thing like that for you anytime," responded Si, as he and Shorty shook hands with the Sheriff.
At the next corner, after leaving the Courthouse square, they met Mariaand Martha.
"I just couldn't stay in the house while this was goin' on," Mariaexplained. "I had to come out and see. O, I'm so glad it's all over andyou're not hurt."
She caught Shorty's arm with a fervor that made him thrill all over.