The Governor was preparing the most daring and sensational2 movement of his never-to-be-forgotten administration. The audacity3 and thoroughness with which the Klan had disarmed4 and made ridiculous his army of fifty thousand negroes was at first a stunning5 blow. In vain Schlitz stormed and pleaded for National aid.
"You must ask for Federal troops without a moment's delay," he urged desperately6.
The Scalawag shook his head with quiet determination.
"Congress, under the iron rule of Stevens, will send them, I grant you——"
"Then why hesitate?"
"Because their coming would mean that I have been defeated on my own soil, that my administration of the state is a failure."
"Well, isn't it?"
"No; I'll make good my promises to the men in Washington who have backed me. They are preparing to impeach7 the President, remove him from office and appoint a dictator in his stead. I'll show them that I can play my part in the big drama, too. I am going to deliver this state bound hand and foot into their[Pg 47] hands, with a triumphant8 negro electorate9 in the saddle, or I'll go down in ignominious10 defeat."
"You'll go down, all right—without those troops—mark my word," cried the Carpetbagger.
"All right, I'll go down flying my own flag."
"You're a fool!" Schlitz roared. "union troops are our only hope!"
His Excellency kept his temper. The little ferret eyes beneath their bushy brows were drawn11 to narrow lines as he slowly said:
"On the other hand, my dear Schlitz, I don't think I could depend on Federal troops if they were here."
"No?" was the indignant sneer12.
"Frankly13 I do not," was the even answer. "Federal officers have not shown themselves very keen about executing the orders of Reconstruction14 Governors. They have often pretended to execute them and in reality treated us with contempt. They hold, in brief, that they fought to preserve the union, not to make negroes rule over white men! The task before us is not to their liking15. I don't trust them for a moment. I have a better plan——"
"What?"
"I propose to raise immediately an army of fifty thousand loyal white men, arm and drill them without delay——"
"Where'll you get them?" Schlitz cried incredulously.
"I'll find them if I have to drag the gutters17 for every poor white scamp in the state. They'll be a tough lot, maybe, but they'll make good soldiers. A soldier is a man who obeys orders, draws his pay, and asks no questions——"
"And then what?"[Pg 48]
"And then, sir!—--"
The Governor's leathery little face flushed as he sprang to his feet and paced the floor of his office in intense excitement.
"I'll tell you what then!" Schlitz cried with scorn.
The pacing figure paused and eyed his tormentor18, lifting his shaggy brows:
"Yes?"
"And then," the Carpetbagger answered, "the Ku Klux Klan will rise in a night, jump on your mob of ragamuffins, take their guns and kick them back into the gutter16."
"Perhaps," the Governor said, musingly19, "if I give them a chance! But I won't!"
"You won't? How can you prevent it?"
"Very simply. I'll issue a proclamation suspending the writ20 of habeas corpus——"
"But you have no right," Schlitz gasped21. The ex-scullion had been studying law the past two years and aspired22 to the Supreme Court bench.
"My right is doubtful, but it will go in times of revolution. I'll suspend the writ, arrest the leaders of the Klan without warrant, put them in jail and hold them there without trial until the day after the election."
Schlitz's eyes danced as he sprang forward and extended his fat hand to the Scalawag:
"Governor, you're a great man! Only a great mind would dare such a plan. But do you think your life will be safe?"
The little figure was drawn erect23 and the ferret eyes flashed:
"The Governor of a mighty24 commonwealth—they wouldn't dare lift their little finger against me."[Pg 49]
Schlitz shook his head dubiously25.
"A pretty big job in times of peace—to suspend the civil law, order wholesale26 arrests without warrants by a ragged27 militia28 and hold your men without trial——"
"I like the job!" was the quick answer. "I'm going to show the smart young man who edits the paper in this town that he isn't running the universe."
Again the adventurer seized the hand of his chief:
"Governor, you're a great man! I take my hat off to you, sir."
His Excellency smiled, lifted his sloping shoulders, moistened his thin lips and whispered:
"Not a word now to a living soul until I strike——"
"I understand, sir, not a word," the Carpetbagger replied in low tones as he nervously29 fumbled30 his hat and edged his way out of the room.
The editor received the Governor's first move in the game with contempt. It was exactly what he had expected—this organization of white renegades, thieves, loafers, cut-throats, and deserters. It was the last resort of desperation. Every day, while these dirty ignorant recruits were being organized and drilled, he taunted31 the Governor over the personnel of his "Loyal" army. He began the publication of the history of its officers and men. These biographical stories were written with a droll32 humor that kept the whole state in a good-humored ripple33 of laughter and inspired the convention that nominated a complete white man's ticket to renewed enthusiasm.
And then the bolt from the blue—the Governor's act of supreme madness!
As the editor sat at his desk writing an editorial congratulating the state on the brilliant ticket that the[Pg 50] white race had nominated and predicting its triumphant election, in spite of negroes, thieves, cut-throats, Scalawags and Carpetbaggers, a sudden commotion34 on the sidewalk in front of his office stopped his pencil in the midst of an unfinished word.
He walked to the window and looked out. By the flickering35 light of the street lamp he saw an excited crowd gathering36 in the street.
A company of the Governor's new guard had halted in front. An officer ripped off the palings from the picket37 fence beside the building and sent a squad38 of his men to the rear.
The tramp of heavy feet on the stairs was heard and the dirty troopers crowded into the editor's room, muskets39 in hand, cocked, and their fingers on the triggers.
Norton quietly drew the pencil from his ear, smiled at the mottled group of excited men, and spoke40 in his slow drawl:
"And why this excitement, gentlemen?"
The captain stepped forward:
"Are you Major Daniel Norton?"
"I am, sir."
"You're my prisoner."
"Show your warrant!" was the quick challenge.
"I don't need one, sir."
"Indeed! And since when is this state under martial41 law?"
"Will you go peaceable?" the captain asked roughly.
"When I know by whose authority you make this arrest."
The editor walked close to the officer, drew himself erect, his hands clenched42 behind his back and held the man's eye for a moment with a cold stare.[Pg 51]
The captain hesitated and drew a document from his pocket.
The editor scanned it hastily and suddenly turned pale:
"A proclamation suspending the writ of habeas corpus—impossible!"
The captain lifted his dirty palms:
"I reckon you can read!"
"Oh, yes, I can read it, captain—still it's impossible. You can't suspend the law of gravitation by saying so on a scrap43 of paper——"
"You are ready to go?"
The editor laughed:
"Certainly, certainly—with pleasure, I assure you."
The captain lifted his hand and his men lowered their guns. The editor seized a number of blank writing pads, a box of pencils, put on his hat and called to his assistants:
"I'm moving my office temporarily to the county jail, boys. It's quieter over there. I can do better work. Send word to my home that I'm all right and tell my wife not to worry for a minute. Every man to his post now and the liveliest paper ever issued! And on time to the minute."
The printers had crowded into the room and a ringing cheer suddenly startled the troopers.
The foreman held an ugly piece of steel in his hand and every man seemed to have hold of something.
"Give the word, chief!" the foreman cried.
The editor smiled:
"Thanks, boys, I understand. Go back to your work. You can help best that way."
The men dropped their weapons and crowded to the[Pg 52] door, jeering44 and howling in derision at the awkward squad as they stumbled down the stairs after their commander, who left the building holding tightly to the editor's arm, as if at any moment he expected an escape or a rescue.
The procession wended its way to the jail behind the Court House through a crowd of silent men who merely looked at the prisoner, smiled and nodded to him over the heads of his guard.
An ominous45 quiet followed the day's work. The Governor was amazed at the way his sensational coup46 was received. He had arrested and thrown into jail without warrant the leaders of the white party in every county in the state. He was absolutely sure that these men were the leaders of the Ku Klux Klan, the one invisible but terrible foe47 he really feared.
He had expected bluster48, protests, mass meetings and fiery49 resolutions. Instead his act was received with a silence that was uncanny. In vain his Carpetbagger lieutenant50 congratulated him on the success of his Napoleonic move.
His little ferret eyes snapped with suppressed excitement.
"But what the devil is the meaning of this silence, Schlitz?" he asked with a tremor51.
"They're stunned52, I tell you. It was a master stroke. They're a lot of cowards and sneaks53, these night raiders, anyhow. It only took a bold act of authority to throw them into a panic."
The Scalawag shook his head thoughtfully:
"Doesn't look like a panic to me—I'm uneasy——"
"The only possible mistake you've made was the arrest of Norton."[Pg 53]
"Yes, I know public sentiment in the North don't like an attempt to suppress free speech, but I simply had to do it. Damn him, I've stood his abuse as long as I'm going to. Besides his dirty sheet is at the bottom of all our trouble."
When the Governor scanned his copy of the next morning's Eagle and Phoenix54 his feeling of uneasiness increased.
Instead of the personal abuse he had expected from the young firebrand, he read a long, carefully written editorial reviewing the history of the great writ of habeas corpus in the evolution of human freedom. The essay closed with the significant statement that no Governor in the records of the state or the colony had ever dared to repeal55 or suspend this guarantee of Anglo-Saxon liberty—not even for a moment during the chaos56 of the Civil War.
But the most disquieting57 feature of this editorial was the suggestive fact that it was set between heavy mourning lines and at the bottom of it stood a brief paragraph enclosed in even heavier black bands:
"We regret to announce that the state is at present without a chief executive. Our late unlamented Governor passed away in a fit of insanity58 at three o'clock yesterday."
When the little Scalawag read the sarcastic59 obituary60 he paled for a moment and the hand which held the paper trembled so violently he was compelled to lay it on the table to prevent his secretary from noting his excitement.
For the first time in the history of the state an armed guard was stationed at the door of the Governor's mansion61 that night.[Pg 54]
The strange calm continued. No move was made by the negroid government to bring the imprisoned62 men to trial and apparently63 no effort was being made by the men inside the jails to regain64 their liberty.
Save that his editorials were dated from the county jail, no change had occurred in the daily routine of the editor's life. He continued his series of articles on the history of the state each day, setting them in heavy black mourning lines. Each of these editorials ended with an appeal to the patriotism65 of the reader. And the way in which he told the simple story of each step achieved in the blood-marked struggle for liberty had a punch in it that boded66 ill for the little man who had set himself the task of dictatorship for a free people.
No reference was made in the Eagle and Phoenix to the Governor. He was dead. The paper ignored his existence. Each day of this ominous peace among his enemies increased the terror which had gripped the little Scalawag from the morning he had read his first obituary. The big black rules down the sides of those editorials seemed a foot wide now when he read them.
Twice he seated himself at his desk to order the editor's release and each time cringed and paused at the thought of the sneers67 with which his act would be greeted. He was now between the devil and the deep sea. He was afraid to retreat and dared not take the next step forward. If he could hold his ground for two weeks longer, and carry the election by the overwhelming majority he had planned, all would be well. Such a victory, placing him in power for four years and giving him an obedient negro Legislature once more to[Pg 55] do his bidding, would strike terror to his foes68 and silence their assaults. The negro voters far outnumbered the whites, and victory was a certainty. And so he held his ground—until something happened!
It began in a semi-tropical rain storm that swept the state. All day it poured in blinding torrents69, the wind steadily70 rising in velocity71 until at noon it was scarcely possible to walk the streets.
At eight o'clock the rain ceased to fall and by nine glimpses of the moon could be seen as the fast flying clouds parted for a moment. But for these occasional flashes of moonlight the night was pitch dark. The Governor's company of nondescript soldiers in camp at the Capitol, drenched72 with rain, had abandoned their water-soaked tents for the more congenial atmosphere of the low dives and saloons of the negro quarters.
The minute the rain ceased to fall, Norton's wife sent his supper—but to-night by a new messenger. Cleo smiled at him across the little table as she skillfully laid the cloth, placed the dishes and set a tiny vase of roses in the center.
"You see," she began, smiling, "your wife needed me and I'm working at your house now, major."
"Indeed!"
"Yes. Mammy isn't well and I help with the baby. He's a darling. He loved me the minute I took him in my arms and hugged him."
"No doubt."
"His little mother likes me, too. I can pick her up in my arms and carry her across the room. You wouldn't think I'm so strong, would you?"
"Yes—I would," he answered slowly, studying her with a look of increasing wonder at her audacity.[Pg 56]
"You're not mad at me for being there, are you? You can't be—mammy wants me so"—she paused—"Lordy, I forgot the letter!"
She drew from her bosom73 a note from his wife. He looked curiously74 at a smudge where it was sealed and, glancing at the girl who was busy with the tray, opened and read:
"I have just received a message from MacArthur's daughter that your life is to be imperilled to-night by a dangerous raid. Remember your helpless wife and baby. Surely there are trusted men who can do such work. You have often told me that no wise general ever risks his precious life on the firing line. You are a soldier, and know this. Please, dearest, do not go. Baby and little mother both beg of you!"
Norton looked at Cleo again curiously. He was sure that the seal of this note had been broken and its message read by her.
"Do you know what's in this note, Cleo?" he asked sharply.
"No, sir!" was the quick answer.
He studied her again closely. She was on guard now. Every nerve alert, every faculty75 under perfect control. He was morally sure she was lying and yet it could only be idle curiosity or jealous interest in his affairs that prompted the act. That she should be an emissary of the Governor was absurd.
"It's not bad news, I hope?" she asked with an eagerness that was just a little too eager. The man caught the false note and frowned.
"No," he answered carelessly. "It's of no importance." He picked up a pad and wrote a hurried answer:[Pg 57]
"Don't worry a moment, dear. I am not in the slightest danger. I know a soldier's duty and I'll not forget it. Sleep soundly, little mother and baby mine!"
He folded the sheet of paper and handed it to her without sealing it. She was watching him keenly. His deep, serious eyes no longer saw her. His body was there, but the soul was gone. The girl had never seen him in this mood. She was frightened. His life was in danger. She knew it now by an unerring instinct. She would watch the jail and see what happened. She might do something to win his friendship, and then—the rest would be easy. Her hand trembled as she took the note.
"Give this to Mrs. Norton at once," he said, "and tell her you found me well and happy in my work."
"Yes, sir," the soft voice answered mechanically as she picked up the tray and left the room watching him furtively76.
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1
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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3
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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4
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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5
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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6
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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7
impeach
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| v.弹劾；检举 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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9
electorate
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| n.全体选民；选区 | |
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ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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11
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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12
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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13
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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14
reconstruction
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| n.重建，再现，复原 | |
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15
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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16
gutter
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| n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟 | |
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17
gutters
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| （路边）排水沟( gutter的名词复数 )； 阴沟； （屋顶的）天沟； 贫贱的境地 | |
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18
tormentor
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| n. 使苦痛之人, 使苦恼之物, 侧幕 =tormenter | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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20
writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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21
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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22
aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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24
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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31
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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32
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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34
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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40
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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44
jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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bluster
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| v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声 | |
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49
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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50
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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51
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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52
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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53
sneaks
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| abbr.sneakers (tennis shoes) 胶底运动鞋（网球鞋）v.潜行( sneak的第三人称单数 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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54
phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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55
repeal
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| n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消 | |
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56
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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57
disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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58
insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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59
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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60
obituary
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| n.讣告，死亡公告；adj.死亡的 | |
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61
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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62
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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64
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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65
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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66
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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67
sneers
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| 讥笑的表情（言语）( sneer的名词复数 ) | |
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68
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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69
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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70
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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71
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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72
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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73
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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74
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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75
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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76
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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