CHAPTER XX
LEECH LOOKS HIGHER AND GETS A FALL
Major Leech was now one of the leading men in the State. No one hadbeen so successful in his measures. He boasted openly that he owned hisown county. Carried it in his breeches pocket, he said.
Hiram Still had become the largest property-holder in the county. “Idon’t know so much about these here paper stocks,” he said to his son.“But I know good land, and when you’ve got land you’ve got it, andeverybody knows you’ve got it.”
It was understood now that Leech was courting Still’s daughter, and itbegan to be rumored that reinforced by this alliance, after the nextelection he would probably be the leader in the State. He was spoken ofas a possible candidate for the Governorship, the election for whichwas to come off the following year.
The people were now as flat on their backs as even Leech could wish.
Fortunately there is a law by which conditions through their veryexcess are sometimes rectified. Absolute success often bears in itthe seeds of its own destruction. With the power to make such laws asthey wanted, and to gild all their acts with the tinsel of apparentauthority, Leech and his associates had been so successful that theyhad lost all reckoning of opposition, and in their security had begunto quarrel among themselves.
The present Governor, Krafton, was a candidate for re-election, and hiscity organ declared that Leech was pledged to him. He had “made Leech,”it said. “Leech was bound to him by every tie of gratitude and honor.”Leech in private sneered at the idea. “Does he think I’m bound to himfor life? Ain’t he rich enough? Does he want to keep all the pie forhimself? Why don’t he pay that rent to the State for the railroad himand his crowd leased? He talk about beatin’ me! I’ll show him. You waituntil after next session and all h—l can’t beat me,” he said to HiramStill. He did not say this to the Governor. But perhaps even countingthis Leech did not count all the forces against him. Emboldened bythe quietude which had existed so long, Leech moved more openly. Hebelieved he was strong enough now for anything. Success was at lengthturning even Still’s head.
“You got to keep yourself before the people, and do it all the time.If you don’t they’ll forgit you, and somebody else will reap yourharvest,” Still explained to his ally.
“Anybody as reaps for me is welcome to all he gets,” said Leech.
The campaign opened, and soon Leech was as prominent as he could havewished. However prostrate the people were, they were not ready to haveLeech for the Governor of the State, and they so declared. At a publicmeeting that was held, Steve Allen in a speech declared that “Kraftonis a robber; but Leech is a thief.”
Both Leech and Still were sensible of the stir; but they did not heedit. Leech was daily strengthening himself.
When the rumor started that the whites were rousing up and werebeginning to think of organizing in opposition, Leech only laughed.
“Kick, will they?” said he. “I want ’em to kick. I’m fixed for ’em now.I’ve got the power I want behind me now, and the more they kick themore they’ll git the rowels. I guess you’re beginning to find out I’mpretty well seated?” he added triumphantly to Still. Still could notbut admit that it was so.
“Fact is, things’re goin’ almost too smooth,” he said.
“You’re hard to please,” growled Leech.
“No; but you know, sometimes I’m most afeered I’ll wake up and find ita dream. Here I am settin’ up, a gentleman here in this big house thatI used to stand over yonder on the hill in the blazin’ sun and justlook at, and wonder if I ever would have one even as good as the one Iwas then in as my own; and yonder are you, one of the big men in theState, and maybe will be Governor some day, who knows?” Leech acceptedthe compliment with becoming condescension.
“That was a great stroke of yours to git the State to endorse the bondsand then git your man Bolter down here to put up that money. If thisthing keeps up we soon won’t have to ask nobody any odds,” pursuedStill.
“I don’t ask any of ’em any odds now. When I get my militia fullyorganized, I’m going to make a move that will make things crack. Andold Krafton will come down too. He thinks he’s driving, and he’s justholding the end of the reins.”
“I don’t count so much on your militia as I do on your friends. I knowthese people, and I tell you, you can’t keep ’em down with niggers.If you try that you’ll have a bust up ’t will blow you—somewhere youwon’t want to be,” cautioned Still. “I never was so much in favor ofthat militia business as you was. Comes to a fight, the whites willbeat every time—and it costs too much. My taxes this year’ll be——”
Leech frowned.
“Your taxes! If it hadn’t been for high taxes I’d like to know whereyou’d been. You’re always talkin’ about knowin’ these people. You’reafraid of ’em. I’m not. I suppose it’s natural; we’ve whipped you.”
There was a sudden lower in Still’s eye at the sneer.
“You’re always talkin’ about havin’ whipped us. _You_ ain’t whippedus so much,” he growled. “If you ain’t afraid of ’em, whyn’t you takeup what Steve Allen said to you t’other day when he told you he’d beGovernor before you was, and called you—ur worse than Krafton? He’sgiven you chances enough.”
“You wait, and you’ll see how I’ll take it up. I’ll take him up. I’vegot the government behind me, and when I’m Governor and get a judgesuch as I want, you’ll see things working even enough.”
“Well, ’twon’t do for us to quarrel, Major. We’re like two steersyoked together,” Still said, conciliatorily. “Only don’t go too fastat first—or you may break your team down before you git anywhere nearwhere you want to go.” When Still was alone with his son after thisinterview he told him that Leech was in danger of ruining everything.
“He’s gittin’ sp’iled. We must keep the brakes on him or he’ll bustthe wagon all to pieces. If he gits up too fast he won’t remember meand you,” observed Mr. Still. “Where would I be now if I hadn’t gone alittle keerful?”
“Careful,” corrected his son, superciliously.
“Well, _careful_, then; I can’t keep up with your book learnin’. But Iknow a few things, and he’s about to make a fool of himself. He wantsto break with old Krafton before it’s time, and I ain’t sure he’sstrong enough yet to do it. We may have to call on Krafton yet, and’twon’t do to let him go till we get Leech settled. He’s goin’ too fastwith his niggers. We’ve got to keep the brakes on him.”
Leech soon perfected the organization of his negroes. The Leaguefurnished the nucleus. He had quite an army enrolled. At first theydrilled without arms, or with only the old muskets which had come downfrom the war; but in a little time a consignment of new rifles camefrom somewhere, and at their next drill the bands appeared armed andequipped with new army muskets and ammunition. Nicholas Ash was captainof one company, and another was under command of Sherwood. Leech wasColonel and commanding officer in the county. Under the law, Krafton,as Governor, had the power to accept or refuse any company thatorganized and offered itself. The effect of the new organization on thenegroes was immediately felt. They became insolent and swaggering. Thefields were absolutely abandoned. Should they handle hoes when theycould carry guns! Should they plough when they were the State guard!
When Leech’s new companies drilled, the roadsides were lined with theiradmirers. They filled the streets and took possession of the sidewalks,yelling, and hustling out of their way any who might be on them. Ladieswalking on the street were met and shoved off into the mud. In a littlewhile, whenever the militia were out, the whites disappeared almostwholly from the streets. But the men were to be found gathered togetherat some central place, quiet, and apparently without any object, butgrim and earnest. Steve Allen was likely to be among them.
Steve organized a company and offered its services to the Governor,asking to be commissioned and armed. Only negro companies were beingcommissioned. The Governor referred him to Leech, who was, he said, theCommandant in that section. The
next time Steve met Leech he said:
“Major Leech, your man Krafton says if you’ll recommend it he’llcommission a company I have.” Leech hemmed and stammered a little.
“No need to be in a hurry about it, Major,” said Steve, enjoying hisembarrassment. “When you want ’em let me know. I’ll have’em ready,” andhe passed on with cheery insolence, leaving the carpet-bagger with anugly look in his pale blue eyes.
Leech conferred with Still, who counselled that they should move withdeliberation. Leech had grown impatient. He thought himself strongenough now to overawe the whites. Night meetings were being heldeverywhere, at which Leech addressed his followers. Their response wasalmost an outbreak.
A number of acts were committed that incensed the people greatly. AndyStamper, with his wagon full of chickens and eggs, was coming alongthe road when he met one of the companies, followed by the crowd ofnegroes that usually attended the drills. In a few minutes the wagonwas thrown down a bank and upset, the eggs were all smashed, and littleAndy, fighting desperately with his whip, was knocked senseless andleft on the roadside, unconscious. He said afterward it served himright for being such a fool as to go without his pistol, and that if hehad had it he would have whipped the whole company. Mrs. Cary and Blairand Miss Thomasia came near having a similar experience. They werestopped on the road in their old carriage, and nothing but Mrs. Cary’sspirit and old Gideon’s presence of mind saved them perhaps from worseusage. Mrs. Cary, however, stepped out and stood beside her horsescommanding that they should not be touched, while the old driver,standing up in the boot of the carriage, talked so defiantly and lookedso belligerent that he preserved his mistresses from anything worsethan being turned out rudely into the woods and very much frightened.
These things caused much excitement.
The first movement in the campaign was a great meeting that was held atthe county seat. The negroes were summoned from several counties round,and there was to be a great muster of Leech’s “new militia.” It was agrave time in the county. All such assemblages were serious now, morefor what might happen than for anything that had ever happened yet. Butthis one was especially serious. It was rumored that Leech would launchhimself as a candidate for Governor, and would outline his policy. Thepresence of his militia was held to be a part of his plan to overaweany opposition that might arise. So strong was the tension that manyof the women and children were sent out of the village, and those thatremained kept their houses.
When the day for the meeting at the county seat came, nearly the entiremale population of the county, white and colored, were present, andthe negro companies were out in force, marching and parading up anddown in the same field in which the white troops had paraded justbefore going off to the war. Many remarked on it that day. It servedto emphasize the change that a few years had brought. When the paradewas over, the companies took possession of the court green, and wereallowed to break ranks preparatory to being called under arms again,when they were to be addressed on the issues of the campaign. Thenegroes, with a few white men among them—so few as not to make theslightest impression in the great dusky throng—were assembled on thecourt green. The whites were outside.
There was gravity, but good-humor.
Steve Allen, particularly, appeared to be in high spirits. To see theway the crowd was divided it might have looked as if they were hostiletroops. Only, the whites apparently had no arms. But they had almostthe formation of soldiery waiting at rest. Steve sauntered up into thecrowd of negroes and made his way to where Leech stood well surrounded,talking to some of the leaders.
“Well, Colonel, how goes it? You seem to have a good many troopsto-day. We heard you were going to have a muster, and we came down tosee the drill.”
The speech was received good-temperedly by the negroes, many of whomSteve spoke to by name good-humoredly.
Leech did not appreciate the jest, and moved off with a scowl. Theyoung man, however, was not to be shaken off so. He followed the otherto the edge of the crowd, and there his manner changed.
“Mr. Leech,” he said, slowly, with sudden seriousness and with thatdeep intonation which always called up to Leech that night in the woodswhen he had been waylaid and kidnapped. “Mr. Leech, you are on trialto-day. Don’t make a false step. You are the controlling spirit ofthese negroes. They await but your word. So do we. If a hand is liftedyou will never be Governor. We have stood all we propose to stand. Youare standing on a powder magazine. I give you warning.”
He turned off and walked back to his own crowd.
It was the boldest speech that had been made to Leech in a long time.His whole battalion of guards were on the grounds, and a sign from himwould have lodged Steve in the jail, which frowned behind the old brickclerk’s office. He had a mind to order his arrest; but as he glanced athim there was a gleam in Steve’s gray eyes which restrained him. Theywere fixed on him steadily, and the men behind him suddenly seemed tohave taken on something like order. Until that moment Leech had no ideawhat a force it was. There were men of all classes in the ranks. Heseemed suddenly the focus of all eyes. They were fastened on him witha cold hostility that made him shiver. He had a sudden catching at theheart. He sent for Still and had a conference with him. Still adviseda pacific course. “Too many of ’em,” he said. “And they are ready foryou.”
Leech adopted Still’s advice. In the face of Steve’s menace and thatcrowd of grim-looking men he quailed. His name was put forward, andmany promises were made for him, revolutionary enough, but it was notby himself. Nicholas Ash, after a long conference with Leech and Still,was the chief speaker of the occasion, and Leech kept himself in thebackground all day.
The policy laid down by Nicholas Ash, even after his caution from Leechand Still, was bad enough. “They say the taxes are too high,” declaredthe negro statesman. “I tell you, and Colonel Leech tells you, theyain’t high enough, and when he’s Governor they’ll be higher yet. We aregoin’ to raise ’em—yes, we are goin’ to raise ’em till we bankrupt ’emevery one, and then the land will go to the ones as ought to have it,and if anybody interferes with you, you’ve got guns and you know howto use ’em.” Tumultuous applause greeted this exposition of Leech’sprinciples. Only the earnest counsel of Dr. Cary and some of the olderand cooler heads kept the younger men quiet. But the day passed offquietly. The only exception was an altercation between Captain McRaffleand a negro. Leech’s name had been suggested for the Governorship, andhad taken well. So he was satisfied. That night the negroes paraded incompanies through the village, keeping step to a sort of chant aboutraising taxes and getting the lands and driving out the whites.
As Dr. Cary rode home that evening on his old horse, Still and Leechpassed him in a new buggy drawn by a pair of fine horses which youngDr. Still had just got. Both men spoke to Dr. Cary, but the Doctor hadturned his head away so as not to see them. It was the nearest hisheart would let him come to cutting a man direct.
Next night after dark there was a meeting, at which were present nearlyall the men whose names have appeared in this chronicle, except Dr.Cary and one or two of the older gentlemen, and a number more besides.
The place selected for the meeting was the old hospital, a rambling,stone house with wings, and extensive cellars under it. It was in acleft between two hills, surrounded by a dense grove, which made it atall times somewhat gloomy. It had been used as a field-hospital in abattle fought near by, and on this account had always borne a bad nameamong the negroes, who told grewsome tales of the legs and arms hackedoff there and flung out of the windows, and of the ghostly scenesenacted there now after nightfall, and gave it a wide berth.
After the war, a cyclone had blown down or twisted off many of thetrees around the mansion, and had taken the roof off a part of thebuilding and blown in one of the wings, killing several of the personswho then occupied it, which casualty the superstition of the negroesreadily set down to avenging wrath. The rest of the house had stoodthe storm; but since that time the building had never been repairedand had
sunk into a state of mournful dilapidation, and few negroesin the county could have been induced to go there even in daylight.The fields had sprung up in dense pines, and the roads leading out tothe highways had grown up and were now hardly distinguishable. It hadescaped even the rapacious clutch of Land Commissioner Still.
The night after the speaking at the court-house there was a meeting ofghostly riders at this old place, which had any of the negroes aroundseen, they would have had some grounds for thinking the tales told ofthe dead coming back from their graves true.
Pickets, with men and horses heavily shrouded, were posted at everyoutlet from the plantation, and the riders rode for some distance inthe beds of streams, so that when the hoof-tracks reached certainpoints, they seemed suddenly to disappear from the earth.
Rumors had already come from other sections of a new force that hadarisen, a force composed of ghostly night-riders. It was known as the“Invisible Empire,” and the negroes had already been in a tremor ofsubdued excitement; but up to this time this county had been so quiet,and Leech had been so supreme, that they had not taken in that the KuKlux might reach there.
After the muster of Leech’s militia at the county seat the companieshad been dismissed and the members had straggled to their homes, takingwith them their arms and accoutrements, with all the pride and pomp ofnewly decorated children. But their triumph was short-lived.
In the dead of night, when the cabins and settlements were wrappedin slumber, came a visitation, passing through the county fromsettlement to settlement and from cabin to cabin, in silence, but witha thoroughness that showed the most perfect organization. When morningdawned every gun and every round of ammunition which had been issuedthroughout the county, except those at the county seat, and some fewscore that had been conveyed to other places than the homes of the menwho had them, had been taken away.
In most cases the seizure was accomplished quietly, the surprise beingso complete as to prevent wholly any resistance. All that the dejectedwarriors could tell next day was that there had been a noise outside,the door had been opened; the yard had been found full of awful formswrapped like ghosts in winding-sheets, some of whom had entered thehouses, picked up the guns and ammunition, and without a word walkedout and disappeared.
In other instances, the seizure had not been so easily effected, and insome few places there had been force exerted and violence used. But inevery case the guns had been taken either peaceably or by force, andthe man who had resisted had only called down on his head severity. Oneman only had been seriously hurt. It was the man with whom McRaffle hadhad the difficulty.
The whites had not been wholly exempt.
Leech had spent the night at Hiram Still’s. They had talked over theevents of the meeting and the whole situation. Ash’s speech proposingLeech for Governor had taken well with the negroes, and for the whitesthey did not care. The whites had evidently been overawed. This wasLeech’s interpretation of their quietude. Leech was triumphant. It wasthe justification of his plan in arming his followers. He laid off hisfuture plans when he should have fuller powers. His only regret wasthat he had not had Steve Allen arrested for threatening him. But thatwould come before long.
“D—n him! I wish he was dead,” he growled.
“Go slow, Colonel; if wishes could kill, he’d ’a’ been dead longago—and maybe so would you,” laughed Still.
“What a——unpleasant laugh you have,” frowned Leech. He did not oftenallow himself the luxury of a frown; but he found it effective withStill.
Next morning Leech was aroused by his host calling to him hastily toget up. Still was as white as death.
“What is it?” demanded Leech.
“Get up and come out quick. Hell’s broke loose.”
KU KLUX—“AWFUL FORMS WRAPPED LIKE GHOSTS INWINDING-SHEETS.”]
When Leech came out, Still pointed him to a picture drawn with redchalk on the floor of the portico, a fairly good representation of the“Indian-killer.” There were also three crosses cut in the bark of oneof the trees in front of the door.
“What does that mean?”
“Means some rascals are trying to scare you: we’ll scare them.”
But Still was not reassured. Anything relating to the “Indian-killer”always discomposed him. He had to take several drinks to bring backhis courage—and when about breakfast-time the news began to come tothem of the visitation that had been made through the county during thenight, Leech, too, began to look pale.
By mid-day they knew the full extent and completeness of the stroke. Anew and unknown force had suddenly arisen. The negroes were paralyzedwith terror. Many of them believed that the riders were reallysupernatural, and they told, with ashy faces, of the marvellous thingsthey had done. Some of them had said that they had just come from hellto warn them, and they had drunk bucketfuls of water, which the negroescould hear “sizzling” as it ran down their throats.
By dusk both Leech and Still had disappeared. They saw that theorganization of the negroes was wholly destroyed, and unless somethingwere done, and done immediately, they would be stampeded beyond hope.They hurried off to the city to lay their grievances before theGovernor, and claim the aid of the full power of the Executive.
They found the Governor much exercised, indeed, about the attack on hismilitia; but to their consternation he was even more enraged againstthemselves by the announcement of Leech’s prospective candidacy inopposition to him. He declared that he had aided Leech in all hisschemes, with the express understanding that the latter should give himhis unqualified support for re-election, and he flatly charged himwith treachery in announcing himself a candidate in opposition to him,and declined to interfere unless Leech at once retired.
In this dilemma Leech promptly denied that he had ever announcedhimself as a candidate.
Well, he allowed Nicholas Ash to do it, which amounted to the samething, the Governor asserted.
Leech repudiated any responsibility for Ash’s action, and deniedabsolutely that he had any idea whatever of running against theGovernor, for whom he asseverated the greatest friendship.
Thus the matter was ostensibly patched up, and Leech and Still receivedsome assurance that action would be taken. When, however, they leftthe presence of the Governor, it was to take a room and hold a privateconference at which it was decided that their only hope lay in securingimmediately the backing of those powers on whose support the Governorhimself relied to be sustained.
“I know him,” whispered Still. “You didn’t fool him. He ain’t nevergoin’ to help you. May look like he’s standin’ by you; but he ain’t.We’ve got to go up yonder. Bolter’s obliged to stand by us. He’s toodeep in.” He chucked his thumb over his shoulder in the direction inwhich his noon-shadow was pointing. Leech agreed with him, and insteadof returning home, the two paid a somewhat extended visit to the seatof government, where they posed as patriots and advocates of law andorder, and were admitted to conferences with the most potent men in thecouncils of the nation, before whom they laid their case.
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