Red Rock: A Chronicle of Reconstruction

by Thomas Nelson Page

  CHAPTER XXXVIII

  IN WHICH MR. LEECH SPRINGS A TRAP WITH MUCH SUCCESS

  The developments of the trial decided Jacquelin to offer immediately anamended bill, setting up all the facts that had come out. Steve Allenwent South to follow up the fresh clew and obtain new evidence, and onhis return it was rumored that he had been successful. Meantime Stillhad recovered sufficiently to be taken to a watering-place—for hishealth, it was said—and Leech was engaged in other parts of the Statelooking after his prospective canvass for the Governorship. Leech’scandidacy and the final issue of the Red Rock case had become closelyassociated. It was charged that Leech had been engaged with Still inthe attempt to perpetrate a fraud; and it was intimated that, if theRed Rock case should be won by the Grays, it would be followed by theprosecution of Still and possibly of Leech. Captain Allen’s connectionwith the case, together with the part he had taken in public matters,had brought him forward as the leader of the opposition to Leech, notonly in the County, but throughout the State. Dr. Still was absent,dutifully looking after his father, and, rumor said, also looking afterhis own prospects in another field. Whether these reports were all trueor not, the three men were all absent from the County, and the Countybreathed more freely by reason thereof. It was an unquestioned factthat when they were absent, peace returned.

  It was, however, but the calm before the storm.

  In the interval that came, Jacquelin once more brought his suit. Itwas based on the disclosure made at the first trial, and the bill wasthis time against Still alone. Major Welch, as stated, had insisted onreconveying his part of the land to Jacquelin. He said he could notsleep with that land in his possession. So Jacquelin and Rupert werethe owners of it, and Major Welch took it on a lease.

  The suit matured, and once more the term of court approached. Thepeople of the County were in better spirits. The evidence that Stevehad secured in the South was believed to fill the broken links. On thedecision depended everything. It was recognized on both sides that itwas not now a mere property question, but a fight for supremacy. Theold citizens were making a stand against the new powers. There was talkof Rupert’s coming home. He had been in the West with Captain Thurston,acting as a volunteer scout, and had distinguished himself for hisbravery. One particular act of gallantry, indeed, had attracted muchattention. In a fight with the Indians, a negro trooper belonging toone of the companies had been wounded and during a check had fallenfrom his horse. Rupert had heard his cries, and had gone back undera heavy fire and, lifting him on his horse, had brought him off. Thefirst that was heard of it in the County was through a letter ofCaptain Thurston’s to Miss Welch. When Rupert was written to about it,he said he could not let Steve and Jack have all the honors: “And thefact is,” he added, “when I heard the negro boy calling, I could notleave him to save my life.”

  Within a month after the reinstitution of the suit, Captain Thurston’scompany had come back from the West, and there was talk of effortsbeing made to have the old prosecution against Rupert dismissed. Itwas reported that he would come home and testify at the trial. Sincehis memory had been refreshed he recollected perfectly the incident ofstepping on the paper.

  Rumors of what might follow the trial were increasing daily. It waseven said that Leech was trying to make up with Governor Krafton, andthat negotiations were pending between them by which one of them wouldbecome Governor and the other Senator.

  Steve Allen asserted boldly that it was much more likely that one ofthem would be in the penitentiary, unless the other pardoned him. Thisspeech was repeated to Leech, who blinked uneasily. He went North thatnight.

  In view of these facts, the old County was in better spirits than ithad enjoyed for some time.

  Dr. Washington Still’s attentions to his father, after the father’s“attack” at the trial of the Red Rock case, were, however, not sofilial as they were reported to be. Had the truth been known, hewas not so attentive to his father’s interest as he was to that ofanother member of the Still family. While the trial and its strange_denouement_ had affected the elder Still to the point of bringing on aslight attack of paralysis, it affected Dr. Still also very seriously,though in a different way.

  After the entertainment at Red Rock, Dr. Still fancied that he sawmuch improvement in his chances with Miss Krafton. He had expected toimpress her with Red Rock, and she had been impressed. The pictures hadparticularly struck her. He had told her of as many of the portraitsas he could remember, inventing names and histories for most of them.He had not thought it necessary to go into any elaborate explanation,consequently he had not mentioned the fact that they were the ancestorsof the man who was suing for the recovery of the place. Miss Kraftonhad heard of the suit and referred to it casually. Dr. Still scoutedthe idea of his title being questioned. His grandfather had livedthere, and his father had been born on the place. He did not mentionthe house in which his father was born. He only intimated that in someway they had been straitened in their circumstances before the war,at some period which he made vaguely distant; and he spoke of theirlater success somewhat as of a recovery of their estate. The suit, heasserted, had been instigated purely by spite. It was simply one ofthe customary attempts to annoy Union men and Northern settlers—it wasreally brought more against Major Welch than his father. Miss Kraftonhad met Major Welch, and had declared that she adored him. Dr. Still’seyes blinked complacently.

  Miss Krafton was manifestly interested, and the Doctor after this beganto have more hopes of his success than he had ever had. He allowedhimself to fall really in love with her.

  His father’s connection with the bonds of his former employer suddenlythreatened to overthrow the whole structure that Dr. Still was socarefully building. The story of the bonds was told, with all itsaccessories, in such newspapers as were conducted by the old residents;and although Miss Krafton might never have heard of it from them, asshe had never seen a copy of such a journal in her life, the papersthat were on her father’s side undertook to answer the story. It wasan elaborate answer—a complete answer—if true. It ought to have beencomplete, for Dr. Washington Still inspired it, if he did not writeit. The trouble was, it was too complete. It was not content withanswering, it attacked; and it by innuendo attacked Major Welch. MissKrafton might not have believed the story, if it had been confined toMr. Gray and Mr. Still; but when Major Welch had accepted the story,and, as was stated, had even reconveyed his property to Mr. Gray, itwas a different matter.

  Miss Krafton had conceived a high opinion of Major Welch. He was sodifferent from all others whom she had seen at the entertainment at RedRock or had met at her father’s table. She knew of the Welches’ highsocial standing. She had met Miss Welch, and had been delighted withher also. The partial similarity of their situations had drawn her toRuth, and Ruth’s sweetness had charmed her. When the story of the RedRock suit came out, Miss Krafton’s curiosity was aroused. She wrote toMiss Welch and asked her about it.

  Dr. Still had now begun to press his suit in earnest. He too hadschemes which a union with Governor Krafton would further. Leech wasbecoming too constant a visitor at the governor’s mansion to suit theyoung physician, and the latter was planning to forestall him.

  When Dr. Still called on Miss Krafton next, after she had made herinquiry of Miss Welch, as he waited in her drawing-room his eye fellon a letter lying open on a table. He thought he recognized thehandwriting as that of Miss Welch; and as he looked at it to verifythis, he caught the name “Red Rock.” He could not resist the temptationto read what she had said, and, picking up the letter, he glanced atthe first page. It began with a formal regret that she could not acceptMiss Krafton’s invitation to visit her, and then continued:

  “As to your request to tell you the true story of Mr. Hiram Still’sconnection with the Red Rock case, which the papers have been sofull of, I feel——” What it was that she felt, Dr. Still did notdiscover, for at this point the page ended, and just then there wasa rustle of skirts outside the door. Dr. Still replaced the letteronl
y in time to turn and meet Miss Krafton as she entered. He hadnever seen her so handsome; but there was something in her manner tohim which he had never felt before. She was cold, he thought—almostcontemptuous. He wondered if she could have seen him through the doorreading her letter. Partly to sound her as to this, and partly tomeet the statements which he feared Miss Welch had made, he turnedthe conversation to the Welches. He began to praise them mildly, atthe same time speaking of their impracticability and prejudices, andincidentally hinting that Major Welch had sold out to the Grays. Tothis Miss Krafton replied so warmly that the young man began to tryanother tack. Miss Krafton, however, did not unbend. She launched outin such eulogy of Major Welch, of Mrs. Welch, and of Miss Welch thatDr. Still was quite overwhelmed. He mentioned the account that hadappeared in her father’s organ. Miss Krafton declared that she did notbelieve a word of it. Major Welch had stated that it was wholly untrue.She asserted with spirit, that if she were a man, she would ratherstarve than have a dollar that was not gotten honestly; and if ever shemarried, it would be to a man like Major Welch. Her color had risen andher eyes were flashing.

  Dr. Still gazed at her in a half-dazed way, and a curious expressioncame over his face. It was no time for him to push matters to anextreme.

  Well, some women are innocent, he thought, as he came down the steps.And his eyes had an ugly look in them.

  When he reached home his father was waiting for him. The young manattacked him so furiously that he was overwhelmed. He began to try todefend himself. He had done nothing, he declared feebly; but whateverhe had done, had been for his sake. His voice was almost a whimper.

  His son broke out in a fury:

  “For my sake! That’s your plea! And a pretty mess you’ve made of it!Just as I was about to succeed—to make me the talk of the State!—tomake me appear the son of a—thief! You’ve stood in my way all my life.But for you, I might have been anything. I am ashamed of you—I’vealways been ashamed of you. But I did not think you’d have been sucha—fool!” He walked up and down the room, wringing his hands andclutching the air.

  “Washy—Washy—hear me,” pleaded the father, rising totteringly fromhis arm-chair, and with outstretched hands trying to follow his son.

  Wash Still made a gesture, half of contempt and half of rage, and burstout of the door.

  As his son slammed the door behind him, Hiram Still stood for a moment,turned unsteadily to his chair, threw up his hands, and, tottering,fell full length on the floor.

  The newspaper of which McRaffle was one of the editors stated a dayor two later that “our fellow-citizens will be glad to learn that thehonored Colonel Hiram Still is rapidly recovering from his paralyticstroke, owing to the devoted attentions and skill of his son, theeminent young physician, Dr. Washington Still, for whom we are preparedto predict a remarkable career.” It “further congratulated all honestmen that Colonel Still would be well in time to attend the trial of theso-called suit, instituted against him by his political enemies, whichsuit, to the editor’s _own personal knowledge_, was neither more norless than a malicious persecution.”

  How much Dr. Still paid for this notice was known only to two men,unless Leech also knew; for Leech and McRaffle were becoming veryintimate.

  It had been supposed that Mr. Hiram Still’s illness would put offthe trial of the Red Rock case; but Mr. Leech, who had just returnedfrom the North, declared publicly that the trial would come off asalready scheduled, at the next term. He further intimated that thosewho were setting traps for him would learn that he could set a fewtraps himself. This declaration set at rest the fears that had beenentertained that the Red Rock case would be postponed.

  Leech made good his word, and when it was least anticipated sprang thetrap he had prepared. It was a complete surprise and almost a completesuccess; and when Leech counted up his game, he had, with a singleexception, bagged every man in the County from whom he had received anaffront, or against whom he cherished a grudge.

  One Sunday morning, about daylight, as Jerry was returning toBrutusville from some nocturnal excursion, when only a mile or twofrom the village, he was startled to come on a body of cavalry, on themarch. They were headed toward Brutusville, and with them were ColonelLeech and Captain McRaffle. A shrewd guess satisfied Jerry that it mustmean some mischief to Captain Allen. Curiosity and interest promptedhim to fall in with them; but the men he addressed knew nothing, andwere grumbling at having to take a long night-ride. Jerry pressed onto the head of the column, where he saw Leech. He touched his hat, andpassed on as if he were in a great hurry. Leech, however, called him,and began to question him, but soon discovered that he was drunk—toodrunk to be wholly intelligent, but, fortunately, sober enough to givea good deal of valuable information. Leech gathered from him that noone had the slightest idea that troops were coming to Brutusville,unless Captain Allen had. The Captain, Jerry said, had left Brutusvillethe evening before, and had gone to a friend’s in the upper end of theCounty to spend Sunday. Jerry knew this, because the Captain had toldhim to meet him there with his horse in time for church; but Jerrywas not going. He “had had enough of that man,” he said. He was notgoing to work for him any more. The Captain had threatened to beathim. Here Jerry, at the memory of his wrongs, fell into a consumingrage, and cursed Captain Allen so heartily that he almost propitiatedLeech. It was a matter of regret to Leech that Steve Allen was notin Brutusville, and so could not be arrested at once. This, however,could be remedied if a part of the company were detailed to catch himbefore he learned of their arrival. Leech would himself go with themen who were to undertake this. He wished to be present, or almost so,when Captain Allen was arrested. He would have taken Jerry with him,but Jerry was suddenly so drunk that he could hardly stand. So, havingdirected that the negro should not be allowed to go until after all thecontemplated arrests had been made, Colonel Leech, with a platoon, tooka road that led to the place where, according to Jerry, he should findCaptain Allen preparing to attend church.

  It was just daybreak when the remainder of the company reached theoutskirts of the county seat, and, in accordance with the instructionsthat had been received, began to post pickets to surround thevillage. This was done under the immediate supervision of CaptainMcRaffle. Jerry remained with one of the pickets. The morning airappeared to have revived him astonishingly, and in a little while hehad ingratiated himself with the picket by telling a number of funnystories of Leech, who did not appear to be at all popular with the men.He presently insinuated that he knew where the best whiskey in town wasto be secured, and offered to go and get some for the picket before theofficers took possession. He could slip in and come right out againwithout anyone knowing it. On this, and with a threat of what would bedone to him if he failed to return, he was allowed by the picket to goin. He started off like a deer. It was surprising how straight he couldgo when he moved rapidly!

  As soon as he reached the village he struck straight for thecourt-green. Jacquelin had spent the night at the court-house withSteve, and was about to start for home in the first light of themorning, and, just as Jerry flung himself over the fence, Jacquelincame down from the rooms that he and Steve occupied. Jerry rushed upto him and began to tell him the story of Leech’s return with thesoldiers. He had come to arrest the Captain, Jerry declared.

  At first Jacquelin thought that Jerry was merely drunk; but his anxietyon Captain Allen’s account, and the cleverness of his ruse by whichhe had outwitted Leech, satisfied him; and Jerry’s account of Leech’seagerness (for he did not stick at telling the most egregious lies asto what Leech had told him) aroused Jacquelin’s anxiety for Steve.Jacquelin, therefore, took instant alarm and sent Jerry to saddleSteve’s horse, while he himself hurried back to Steve’s room and rousedhim out of bed. At first, Steve was wholly incredulous. Jerry was justdrunk, he declared, sleepily. But when Jerry appeared, though certainlyhe was not sober, he told a story which made Steve grave enough. Thewhole expedition was, according to his account, to capture Steve.Leech and Captain McRaffle and the
captain of the troop had all saidso. Steve’s horse was saddled at the door. Steve still demurred. He’dbe condemned if he’d run away; he’d stay, and, if what Jerry said wastrue, would settle with Leech, the whole score then and there. He wentback into his room and put his pistol in his pocket. This Jacquelindeclared was madness. It would only bring down vengeance on the wholeCounty. What could Steve do against Government troops? Jerry addedanother argument: “Colonel Leech ain’ gwine to meet him. He done goneoff with some other soldiers,” he asserted.

  Steve turned to Jacquelin. “How can I leave you, Jack? I’m not a dog.”

  “Why, what can they do with me?” laughed Jacquelin. “They are after youabout the Ku Klux, and I was not even in the country.” He was stillhurrying him.

  Thus urged, Steve consented to go, and mounting his horse rode outa back way. To his surprise, he found the lane already picketed. Heturned to take another road. As he wheeled into it he saw a squadron oftroops at either end riding into the village toward him. He was shutin between them, with a high fence on either side. The only chance ofescaping was across the fields. He acted quickly. Breasting his horseat the fence, he cleared it, and, dashing across the court-green,cleared that on the other side, and so made his way out of the village,taking the fences as he came to them.

  Ten minutes later Jacquelin was arrested on a warrant sworn out beforeMcRaffle as a commissioner of the court, and so, during the morning,was nearly every other man in the village.

  Jacquelin no sooner looked at Leech, than he knew that it was not onlySteve that he had come for. As Leech gazed on him his eyes watered, ifhis mouth did not; and he spoke in a sympathetic whine.

  Dr. Cary heard of the raid and of the arrest of his friends thatmorning as he came home from Miss Bush’s sick bedside, by which he hadspent the night. He was tired and fagged; but he said he must go downto the court-house and see about the matter. Mrs. Cary and Blair triedto dissuade him. He needed rest, they urged. And, indeed, he looked it.His face was worn, and his eyes glowed deep under his brows.

  “My dear, I must go. I hear they have made a clean sweep, and arrestednearly every man in the place.”

  “They may arrest you, if you go.”

  “They cannot possibly have anything against me,” he said. “But ifthey should, it would make no difference. I must go and see about myfriends.” The ladies admitted this.

  So he rode off. Mrs. Cary and Blair looked wistfully after him as hepassed slowly down the road through the apple-trees. He rode moreslowly now than he used to do, and not so erect in the saddle.

  He was about half-way to the village when he met Andy Stamper ridinghard, who stopped to give him the news. They had arrested nearly everyman in the village, Andy said, and were now sending out parties to makearrests in the country. General Legaie, and Jacquelin Gray, and Mr.Dockett, and even Mr. Langstaff had been arrested. Leech had come withthem, and the prisoners were being taken up to Leech’s house, wherethey were to be tried before McRaffle, the commissioner. Captain Stevehad got away, and had tried to meet Leech; but Leech was too smart forthat.

  “And they are after you and me too, Doctor,” said Andy. “Where are yougoing?”

  Dr. Cary told him. Andy tried to dissuade him. “What’s the use? Youcan’t do any good. They’ll just arrest you too. My wife made me comeaway. I tell you, Doctor, it’s worse than the war,” said Andy. “I neverwould have surrendered, if I’d thought it ud ’a come to this.” Therewas a sudden flash of wrath in his blue eyes. “I’ve often been temptedto git even with that Still and that Leech, and I’ve shut my ears andturned away; but if I’d known ’t ’ud come to this, d—d if I wouldn’thave done it!”

  Dr. Cary soothed him with his calm assurance, and as the Doctor startedto go, Andy turned.

  “If you’re goin’, I’m goin’ with you,” he said. “But first I must go byand tell Delia Dove.”

  The Doctor tried to assure him that it was not necessary for him tosurrender himself; but Andy was firm. “It might have been all right,”he said, if he had not met the Doctor; but Delia Dove would neverforgive him if he let the Doctor go into a trouble by himself andhe stayed out—’twould be too much like running away.” I tell you,Doctor,” said Andy, “if Delia Dove had been where I was, she’d never’a surrendered. If there’d been her and a few more like her, therewouldn’t ’a been any surrender.”

  The Doctor smiled, and, leaving him to go by and make his peace withMrs. Stamper, rode slowly on to town.

  He found the roads picketed as in time of war; but the pickets let himthrough. He had scarcely entered the village when he met Leech. He wasbustling about with a bundle of books under his thin arm. The Doctorgreeted him coldly, and Leech returned the greeting almost warmly. Hewas really pleased to see the Doctor.

  The Doctor expressed his astonishment and indignation at the step thathad been taken. Leech was deprecatory.

  “I have heard that I am wanted also, Colonel Leech,” said the Doctor,calmly. “I am present to answer any charge that can be brought againstme.”

  Leech smiled almost sadly. He had no doubt in the world that theDoctor could do so. Really, he himself had very little knowledge ofthe matter, and none at all as to the Doctor’s case. The Doctor couldprobably find out by applying to the officer in command. He passed on,leaving the old gentleman in doubt if he could know what was going on.Within ten minutes Dr. Cary was arrested by an officer accompanied by afile of soldiers. When he reached Leech’s house, he found more of hisold friends assembled there than he could have found anywhere else inthe County that day. It was with mingled feelings that they met eachother. In one way they were deeply incensed; in another, it was sogrotesque that they were amused as one after another they were broughtin, without the slightest idea of the cause of their arrest.

  However, it soon ceased to be matter for hilarity. The soldiers whowere their guards were simply coldly indifferent, and ordered themabout as they would have done any other criminals. But Leech wasfeline. He oozed with satisfaction and complacency. Andy Stamper wasone of the last to appear, and when he was brought in he was a sorrysight. He had not been given the privilege of surrendering himself.As he was taking leave of his wife a posse had appeared, with Perduethe jailer at their head, with a warrant for him. Andy had insistedthat he would go and surrender himself, but would not be arrested. Afight had ensued, in which though, as Perdue’s broken head testified,Andy had borne himself valorously. Andy had been overpowered; and hewas brought to jail, fastened on his mule, with a trace-chain abouthis body and a bag over his head. The prisoners were first marched toLeech’s big house, and were called out one by one and taken into a wingroom, where they were arraigned before McRaffle, as a commissioner, onthe charge of treason and rebellion. The specific act was the attack onthe jail that night. The witnesses were the jailer, Perdue; a negro whohad been in the jail that night, and Bushman, the man whom Steve Allenhad ordered out of the ranks for insubordination and threats againstthe prisoners. Leech himself was present, and was the inspirationand director of each prosecution. He sat beside the Commissioner andinstructed him in every case. Toward Jacquelin he was particularlyattentive. He purred around him.

  When Dr. Cary’s turn came, neither he nor anyone else had any doubtthat he would be at once discharged. He was one of the last to becalled. He had taken no part whatever in the attack on the jail; allthat he had done had been to try and dissuade from it those who madethe assault, and, failing in that, he had waited, in case anyone shouldbe injured, to render what professional aid might be necessary. When hewas brought before Leech he was sensible at once of some sort of changein the man. Always somewhat furtive in his manner, the carpet-baggernow had something feline about him. He had evidently prepared to acta part. He was dressed in a long black coat, with a white tie whichgave him a quasi-clerical touch, and his expression had taken on asympathetic regretfulness. A light almost tender, if it had not been sojoyous, beamed from his mild blue eyes, and when he spoke his voice hada singular whine of apparent self-abneg
ation. The Doctor was instantlyconscious of the change in him.

  “The tiger is loose in this man,” he said to himself. Leech called theCommissioner’s attention to the Doctor’s presence, and greeted himsadly. The Doctor acknowledged the salute gravely, and stated to theCommissioner his views as to the error that had led to his arrest.Before he was through, however, he was addressing Leech. A glint shonein Leech’s eyes for a second.

  “Yes, it would seem so,” he said, reflectively, with a slight twang inhis voice. “I should think that all that would be necessary would befor you to mention it to the Court.” He looked at the Commissioner asif for corroboration. McRaffle’s sallow face actually flushed; but hekept his eyes on his paper.

  “Why, you are the real power,” said the Doctor; “you are the one whohas authority.”

  Leech smiled almost wanly.

  “Oh, no, my dear sir, you do me too much honor. I am but the humbleinstrument of the law. I bind and loose only as it is given me, my dearsir.” His voice had grown more nasal and his blue eyes beamed. He laidhis hand tenderly on the Doctor’s shoulder and smiled half-sadly. TheDoctor moved a step farther off, his thin nostrils quivering slightly.

  “Very well. I am not afraid. Only don’t my-dear-sir me, if you please.I shall state frankly all I know about the matter, and expect to bedischarged now and at once.”

  “Yes, that’s right. No doubt of it. I shall be glad to do what I canto further your wishes. I will speak to the Commissioner.” He smiledblandly.

  He did so, holding a long whispered conversation with McRaffle, andthe Doctor’s case was taken up. The Doctor made his statement, andmade it fully and frankly, and it was taken down. When, however, itwas finished, he was not discharged. He was asked to give the names ofthose who were in the crowd that night, and refused. Leech approached,and tenderly and solicitously urged him to do so. “My dear sir, don’tyou see how impossible it will be for me to assist you if you persistin what is really a contempt of court?”

  “Do you suppose I would tell you to save my life?” said Dr. Cary.

  Leech shook his head sadly. He was really grieved.

  “Perhaps your Commissioner might supply you names,” snapped GeneralLegaie. McRaffle looked up at him and tried to face his gaze; but itwas in vain. His eyes dropped before the General’s withering scorn.

  The Doctor was held “on his own confession,” the commissioner said. OldMr. Langstaff was sent on in the same way; and by nightfall the entireparty were in jail, sent on to the next term of the court to be held atthe capital.

  It was late in the afternoon when the prisoners were conducted toprison. Leech himself headed the procession, walking with impressivesolemnity a little in advance of the guard. Quite a large crowd hadassembled, mostly negroes; though there were some white men on theedges, looking on with grim faces and glowing eyes, their hats drawndown and their speech low, hardly articulate mutterings. All daylong, since the news of the arrival of the soldiery and their work,the negroes had been coming into the village, and they now lined theroadside and packed the court-green near the jail. As the processionmade its way they followed it with shouts of derision. “Awe, my Lawd!Ef dee ain gwine put ’em into de _jail_!” cried out a young slattern,shrilly; at which there was a shout of laughter.

  “Amy, come heah, and look at _dis_ one,” shrieked another. “Look at datole one. Don’t I hope dee’ll hang de ole deble!”

  “Shut your mouth, you black huzzy,” said a tall old negro, sternly, insolemn rebuke. The girl gave a shrill, nervous laugh, and, pulling herfriend by the hand, pushed her way nearer the prisoners.

  “Dese heah young gals is too free wid dee moufs!” complained anotherold negro to the taller one. Old Tarquin vouchsafed no answer. Hisburning eyes were fastened on his master’s tall form as the Doctormarched to the black door before him.

  On the edge of the throng, though sufficiently disguised not to berecognized casually, was another form, also with burning eyes, whichwere, however, fastened not on Dr. Cary, but on Colonel Leech. SteveAllen had come back that day, determined if he met Leech to offer him apistol and settle the questions between them, on the spot.

  As Dr. Cary passed into the jail, he involuntarily stooped. As theheavy door closed behind the prisoners, there was such a wild shout oftriumph from the ragged crowd that surged about the space outside thatthe dull, indifferent soldiers in line before the door looked up andscowled, with side glances and muttered speeches to each other; whileon the outskirts the white men gathered together in groups and talkedin low tones, their faces dark with impotent rage, but none the lessdangerous because they, too, were bound by shackles.

  Excitement was hardly the name for the extraordinary sensation thearrests had caused. It was a bolt from a clear sky. By some curiouslaw, whenever a step was taken against the whites the negroes becameexcited; and the arrest of so many of the leading men of the Countyhad thrown them into a condition of the wildest commotion. Theycame flocking into the village, forming and marching in a sort oforder, with shouts and yells of triumph. They held meetings about thecourt-green, preached and prayed and sang hymns, shouting derisivelyabout the jail, and yelling insults against the whites. Had anyone seenthe throng, he would never have believed that the wild mob that hootedand yelled about the village were the quiet, orderly, and amiablepeople who but the day before tilled the fields or laughed abouttheir cabins. It needed all the power of the troops stationed at thecourt-house to restrain them.

  It, however, was not only the negroes who were excited. The news hadspread rapidly. The whites also were aroused, and men from everydirection were riding toward the county seat, their faces stern andgrim. By nightfall the village was overflowing, and they were stillarriving. As always, their presence awed and quieted the negroes. Manyof them stopped outside the town. The presence of regular soldiersmeant the presence of a force they were compelled to recognize. Thetwo words heard were “the Government” and “Leech.” Suddenly the twohad become one. Leech was _the_ Government, and the Government wasLeech: no longer merely the State—the Carpet-bag Government—but theGovernment. He represented and was represented by the blue-coated,silent, impassive men who were quartered in the court-house and movedindifferently among the citizens—disliked, but careless whether itwere so or not. The carpet-bagger had suddenly ceased to be a mereindividual—he had become a power. For the first time he was notonly hated, but feared. Men who had braved his militia, which hadoutnumbered them twenty to one, who had outscowled him face to facea hundred times, now glanced at him furtively and sank their voicesas he passed. Leech was quick to note the difference, and his heartswelled with pride. He walked backward and forward through the throngmany times, his long coat flapping behind him, his mild eyes peeringthrough his spectacles, his wan smile flickering about his mouth, hisbook, “The Statutes of the United States,” clasped under his arm, hisbrow bent as if in meditation. He felt that he was feared, and itwas unction to his spirit. He had bided his time and had triumphed.Waiting till they least expected it, he had at one blow struck downevery enemy. He, Jonadab Leech, had done it; and they were under hisfeet. They knew it, and they feared him. He meant them to know it andfear him. For this reason he had sat by the Commissioner all day andinstructed him; for this reason he had led the march to the jail.

  But had he struck all down? No. One had escaped. At the thought,Leech’s smile died away, and a dark, threatening look took its place.His chief enemy, the one he most hated and feared, had escaped. Thosehe had caught were well enough, but it was Steve Allen whom he wasafter chiefly—Steve Allen, who had scouted and braved and defiedhim so often, who had derided him and thwarted him and stung him. Hehad planned the whole affair mainly for Steve, and now the enemy hadslipped through his fingers. It turned all the rest of his successinto failure. His triumph changed to dust and ashes on his lips. Hewas enraged. He would catch him. One moment he denounced his escape astreachery, the next he boasted that he would find him and bring him inalive or dead. A rumor came to him that night that
Captain Allen wasnot far off. Indeed, he was not, but Leech slept at the hotel, guardedby soldiers.

  Leech headed, next day, a squad—not a small one—and visited everyhouse in the neighborhood that Steve frequented, searching the housesand proclaiming his determination to have him, alive or dead. He hadthe pleasure of searching once more the cottage where Miss Thomasialived. Miss Thomasia received him at the door. She was white withapprehension and indignation. Her apprehension, however, was not forherself, but for Steve, who had only just ridden over the hill, and whohad left a message for Leech that he was looking for him, too. Leechassured her sympathetically that she need not be disturbed. He hadto do his duty—a painful duty, but it was necessary to execute thelaw. “‘They who take the sword shall perish by the sword’” he said,with a mournful smile and a shake of the head, and a side look at MissThomasia.

  “Yes, I have heard that, and I commend it to you, sir,” Miss Thomasiadeclared, with unexpected spirit. “God is the avenger of the guiltless,and He sometimes employs those who are persecuted as His instruments.”

  Leech left there and went to Dr. Cary’s. Here, too, however, he wasdoomed to disappointment. Mrs. Cary and Miss Blair had gone down to thecourt-house to look after the Doctor, and the family was represented byMammy Krenda, whose dark looks and hostile attitude implied too muchfor Leech to try her. He contented himself with announcing to her thathe was hunting for Steve Allen, and had a warrant for his arrest.

  “Yes, I heah you’ huntin’ for him,” said the old woman, quietly. “Well,you better mine some day he don’t go huntin’ for you. When he ready, Ireckon you’ll fine him.”

  “I mean to have him, alive or dead,” said Leech. “It don’t make anydifference to me,” he laughed.

  “No, I heah say you say dat,” replied the old woman, placidly.“Well,’twould meck right smart difference to him, I spec’; an’ when youpush folks dat fur, you’se got to have mighty sho stan’in’ place.”

  This piece of philosophy did not strike home to Leech at the time; buta little later it came back to him, and remained with him so muchthat it worried him. He returned to the court-house without havingaccomplished his mission. He made up his mind that the old woman knewwhere Captain Allen had gone; but he had too vivid a recollection ofhis last contest with her to try her again. On his arrival at thecourt-house that evening, however, he found that Tarquin was there,having accompanied his mistresses, and he sent a file of soldiers tobring the old man before him. When Tarquin was brought in, he lookedso stately and showed so much dignity that Leech for a moment had afeeling that, perhaps, he had made a mistake. McRaffle was present,sitting with that inscrutable look on his dark face. The Commissionerhad already gained a reputation for as much severity in his new officeas rumor had connected with his name in a less authorized capacity. AndLeech had expected the old servant to be frightened. Instead, his headwas so erect and his mouth so calm that Leech instinctively thought ofDr. Cary.

  However, he began to question the old servant. He stated that he knewwhere Captain Allen was, and that Tarquin had just as well tell. Hedid not wish to be severe with him, he said, but it was his duty, as arepresentative of the Government, to ascertain; and while on one sidewas the penalty of the law, on the other was a high reward. The oldfellow listened so silently that Leech, as he proceeded, began to thinkhe had made an impression, and a gleam of satisfaction lit up his eyes.When he was through, there was an expression very like scorn on oldTarquin’s face.

  “I don’t know where he is, Colonel Leech,” he said. “But do you supposeI would tell you if I did? If I betrayed a gentleman, I couldn’ look mymaster in the face.” Leech was taken aback.

  “Here, that’s all nonsense,” he snarled. “I’m the Government, and I’llmake you tell.” But Tarquin was unmoved.

  “You can’t terrify me with your threats, Colonel Leech,” he said,calmly. “I served with my master through the war.”

  “If you don’t tell, I’ll send you to jail; that’s what I’ll do.”

  “You have already sent better gentlemen there,” said the old servant,quietly, and with a dignity that floored the other completely. Leechremembered suddenly Hiram Still’s warning to him long ago, “With thesequality niggers, you can’t do nothin’ that way.”

  He suddenly tried another course, and began to argue with Tarquin. Itwas his duty to the Government which had set him free, and would payhandsomely. Tarquin met him again.

  “Colonel Leech, my master offered me my freedom before the war, and Iwouldn’t take it. You may get some poor creatures to betray with such abribe, but no gentleman will sell himself.” He bowed. Leech could nothelp enjoying the scowl that came on McRaffle’s face. But the old manwas oblivious of it.

  “I have voted with the Government since we were free, because I thoughtit my duty; but I tell you now, suh, what you are doin’ to-day willhurt you mo’ than ’twill help you. What you sow, you’ve got to reap.”

  “Ah, pshaw!” sneered Leech, “I don’t believe you know where CaptainAllen is?”

  “I told you I did not,” said the old man, with unruffled dignity.

  Leech saw that it was useless to try him further in that direction,and, thinking that he might have gone too far, he took out hispocket-book.

  “Here; I was just testing you,” he said, with a well-feigned smile. Heextracted a dollar note and held it out.

  “Nor, suh; I don’t want your money,” said Tarquin, calmly. He bowedcoldly, and, turning slowly, walked out.

  Leech sat for some time in deep reflection. He was wondering what thesecret was that controlled these people without threats or bribery.Here he was, almost on the point of attaining his highest ambition,and he was beginning to find that he was afraid of the instrumentshe employed. He had never seen a negro insolent to one of the oldresidents except under the instigation of himself or someone else likehim, and yet to him they were so insolent that at times even he couldhardly tolerate it. A strange feeling came to him, as if he were in acage with some wild animal whose keeper he had driven away, and whichhe had petted and fed until it had gotten beyond him. He could controlit only by continually feeding it, and it was steadily demanding moreand more. Would the supply from which he had drawn give out? And thenwhat would happen? He was aroused from his thoughts by McRaffle. Hegave a short laugh.

  “Called your hand, rather, didn’t he?”

  Leech tried hard to look composed.

  “Why didn’t you turn him over to me? I’d have got it out of him.Trouble about you is, you don’t know the game. You are all right whenyour hand’s full, but you haven’t got the courage to bet on your handif it’s weak. You either bluster till a child would know you werebluffing, or else you funk and lay your hand down. I told you youcouldn’t do anything with these old fellows that have held on. Ifthey’d been going to come over, they’d have done so long ago. But ifyou can’t get them, you can others. You leave it to me, and I’ll findout where your friend Allen is.”

  “Well, go on and do it, and don’t talk so much about it,” snarledLeech, angrily. “I mean to have him, alive or dead.”

  “And I rather think you’d prefer the latter,” sneered McRaffle, darkly.

  “No; vengeance belongeth unto God.” His tone was unctuous.

  “Look here, Leech,” said the other, with cold contempt, “you make mesick. I’ve done many things, but I’m blanked if I ever quoted Scriptureto cover my meanness. You’re thinking of Still; I’m not him. Youmove heaven and earth to take your vengeance, and then talk about itbelonging to God. You think you are a God, but you are a mighty smallone. And you can’t fool Steve Allen, I tell you. If you give me athousand dollars, I’ll get him for you, alive or dead.”

  “You said you’d get him for two hundred, and I have offered thatreward,” said Leech.

  “The price has risen,” said McRaffle, coolly. “You haven’t got him,have you? If Allen runs across you, you’ll wish you had paid me fivethousand; and you better look out that he don’t.” He rose and lounged
toward the door.

  “Well, you get him, and we’ll talk about the price,” said Leech.

  “We’ll talk of it before that, Colonel,” said McRaffle, slowly tohimself.

  Leech had some compensation next day when he superintended thearrangements for the transfer of his prisoners to the city. His officewas besieged all day with the friends and relatives of the prisoners,offering bail and begging their release, or, at least, that he wouldallow them to remain in the County until the time for the term ofcourt to begin. To all he returned the same answer—he was “only ahumble minister of the law; the law must take its course.” He foundthis answer satisfactory. It implied that he could if he would, and atthe same time left an impression of the inscrutable character of thepunishment to come. He had begun to feel very virtuous. From being ahumble instrument of Providence, he had come to feel as if he were apart of Providence itself. The thought made his bosom swell. It was sosweet to find himself in this position, that he determined to lengthenout the pleasure; so, instead of sending all his prisoners down to thecity at once, he divided them into two lots and shipped only half ofthem at first, keeping the others in jail in the County until anotherday. What his reason was no one knew at the time. It was chargedaround the County that he wanted to keep Jacquelin Gray until hecould secure Steve Allen, so that he might march them down handcuffedtogether, and that he kept Andy Stamper and some of the others, so thathe might hector them personally. However that was, he kept these injail at Brutusville; and the others were marched down to the stationhandcuffed, under guard of the soldiers, and with a crowd of yelling,hooting negroes running beside them, screaming and laughing at them,until one of the officers drove them to a respectful distance. Theywere shipped to the city in a closed box-car, Leech superintending theshipment personally. Just before starting he approached Dr. Cary andGeneral Legaie, and said that in consideration of their age he wouldhave them sent down to the station in his carriage.

  “Thank you. We wish no exemptions made in our cases different fromthose accorded our neighbors,” said Dr. Cary, grimly. The General saidnothing; he only looked away.

  “Now, my dear sirs, this is not Christian,” urged Leech.” I beg thatyou will allow me the pleasure——”

  The little General turned on him so suddenly and with such a blaze inhis eyes, that Leech sprang back, and his sentence was never finished.

  “Dog!” was the only word that reached him.

  So Dr. Cary and General Legaie went along with the rest, thoughthey were not handcuffed. Old Mr. Langstaff was released on hisrecognizance, Leech kindly offering the Commissioner to go his bailhimself.

  On Leech’s return from the railroad that night, he requested theofficer in command to go through the jail with him, and gave him, in ahigh key, especial orders as to guarding it securely.

  “It will be guarded securely enough,” said the Captain, gruffly. Hewas beginning to find Leech intolerable. The last few days’ work hadsickened him.

  “I’ll soon have another prisoner,” said Leech as he passed the doorwhere Jacquelin was confined.—He raised his voice so that it might beheard by those within the cells.—“And then we shall relieve you.”

  “Well, I wish you’d do it quick, for I’m blanked tired of thisbusiness, I can tell you!” snapped the Captain.

  “Oh, it won’t be long now. A day or two at most. We’ll have Allen, deador alive. I had information to-day that will secure him. And the courtwill sit immediately to try them.”

  The Captain made no answer, except a grunt. Leech puffed out his bosom.

  “A soldier’s duty is to obey orders, Captain,” he said, sententiously.

  The Captain turned on him suddenly, his red face redder than ever.“Look here, you bully these men down here who haven’t anybody to speakup for them; but don’t you be trying to teach me my duty, Mister Leech,or I’ll break your crooked neck, you hear?”

  He looked so large and threatening that Leech fell back. In order toappease the ruffled officer and satisfy him that he was not a coward,Leech, just as he was leaving, said that he did not care for him tosend guards up to his house that night, as he had been doing.

  “All right.”

  “Of course, I mean until toward bedtime, Captain. I think it stillbetter to keep them there until I leave. I have important documentsthere. You don’t know these people as I do. I shall go to the cityto-morrow or next day. I have business there, and I have the utmostconfidence in your ability to manage things. I shall report your zealto our friends in Washington.”

  “All right,” grunted the Captain. And Leech went off.

  Leech started toward his house. “I’ll have him recalled and getsomebody else in his place,” he muttered.

  He stopped, and, going to his office, lit a lamp and wrote a letterto the authorities urging a transfer of the present company, on theground that the Captain did not appear very well adapted for managingthe negroes, and that he feared it was giving encouragement to thosethey were trying to suppress.

  When he had written his letter, he sat back and began to think. He hadheard a name that day that had disquieted him. It was the name of theteacher at Mrs. Welch’s school. He had always supposed her name wasMiss May, but it seemed that her name was Miss Bush.

  One thing that had worried him in the past more than he had everadmitted even to himself had like the others, under the influence ofhis fortunate star, passed wholly away. He had married early in life.As his ambition rose, his wife had been a clog to him. He had triedto get a divorce; but this she resisted, and he had failed. She had,however, consented to a separation. And he had persuaded her to giveup his name and resume her own, Miss Bush. He had not heard anythingof her in a long time, and he was quietly moving to get a divorce onthe ground of abandonment—of her having abandoned him. When this wasdone, why should he not marry again? Miss Krafton was a handsome girl.It would make Krafton his friend and ally instead of his enemy, andtogether they could own the State.

  Just then there was a knock at the door. A servant entered. A ladywanted to see him. Who was it? The servant did not know. She wanted tosee him at once. Curiosity prevailed. “Show her in,” said Leech. Sheentered a moment later. Leech turned deadly white. It was Miss Bush.The next moment his fear gave way to rage. He sprang to his feet. “Whatare you doing here? Where did you come from?” he snarled.

  She seated herself on a chair near the door.

  “Don’t be angry with me, John,” she said, quietly.

  “I am angry. Why shouldn’t I be angry with you? You have lied to me.”

  “That I have not.” She spoke firmly.

  “You have. What do you call it? Did you not promise never to bother meagain?”

  “I have not bothered you. I came here to try and protect you.”

  “You have. You gave me your word never to come near me again. What doyou want?”

  “I want to talk to you.”

  “Well, talk quick. I have no time to waste on you. I am busy.”

  “I know you are, and I shall not bother you long. I want you to stopprosecuting Dr. Cary and Mr. Gray and Captain Allen.”

  “What do you know about them?” asked Leech, in unfeigned astonishment.

  “They are friends of friends of mine. Dr. Cary saved my life not longago.”

  “I wish he’d let you— I’ll see you first where I wish they werenow—in blank.”

  “There is no use in speaking that way, John,” she said, quietly.

  “I don’t want you to ‘John’ me,” he snarled. “I tell you I want you togo away.”

  “I am going,” she said, sadly. “I will go as soon as I can. I have nomoney.”

  “Where is your money?”

  “I lent it to Captain McRaffle to invest.”

  “More fool you!”

  His manner changed.

  “Will you go if I give you the money?”

  “Yes”—his face brightened—“as soon as I have finished my year here.”

  He broke out on her furiously.
/>
  “That’s always the way with you. You are such a liar, there’s nobelieving you. I wish you were dead.”

  “I know you do, John; and I do, too;” she said, wearily. “But theissues of life and death belong to God.”

  “Oh, that’s just a part of your hypocrisy. Here, if I give you money,will you go away?”

  “Yes, as soon as I can.”

  “And will you promise me never to breathe my name to a soul while youare here, or let anyone know that you know me? Will you give me yourword on that?”

  “Yes.”

  He looked at her keenly for a moment.

  “Does anyone know that you—that you ever knew me?”

  She flushed faintly, with distress.

  “Yes, one person—one only.”

  Leech sprang to her and seized her roughly.

  “And he? Who is he?”

  “Dr. Cary. I told him when I thought I was dying. He will not tell.”

  He gave a cry of rage.

  “He! I’d rather have had anyone else know it.” He flung her from himroughly and stood for a moment lost in thought. His countenance clearedup. If Dr. Cary had promised not to tell, he knew he would not do so,if his life hung on it.

  When he spoke it was in a somewhat changed voice.

  “Remember, you have sworn that you will never mention it again to asoul, and that you will never come near me again as long as you live!”

  “Yes.” She looked at him with pleading eyes, interlacing her fingers.“Oh, John!” she gasped, and then her voice failed her.

  For answer, Leech opened the door and glanced out into the emptypassage, then seized her by the shoulder and put her outside, and,shutting the door, locked it.

  A minute later she slowly and silently went down the dark stairs andout into the night.