e," he continued, speaking
to the deputy whom he had disarmed. "Here, take your gun and remember
that Uncle Sam isn't a murderer. Bring the hand-cuffs."

Old Starbuck's face broke into many a seam and then grew tight.
"Mister," he pleaded, "as an old soldier let me beg of you not to put
them criminal things on me. If you must, wait till we drive away from
the house. My wife mustn't see them. Let me tell you suthin'. Down the
hill yander under a tree there's a grave an' in it the most precious
dust human flesh ever withered into. Drag me there an' I will put my
hand on that grave an' sw'ar that I won't attempt to git away."

"Nick," said the commandant, "take the hand-cuffs along and throw them
under the wagon seat. We won't need them."

"I thank you, sir," replied Jasper. "Now we will go to the house, an'
what I say to that po' woman down there you must stand to. This way,
please."

Margaret was hanging out clothes when into the yard the two officers
came, Jasper walking between them. Upon the ground she dropped a sheet
and came running toward them.

"There now, dear," said Jasper, "don't be skeered. These men only want
me to go down to Nashville with them to give testimony at a
investigation. I ain't a prisoner--don't you see I ain't got no
hand-cuffs on? Gentlemen, come in an' we'll have a bite to eat ag'in the
wagon comes. Don't put yo'se'f to no trouble, Margaret. 'Most anythin'
will do."

"Oh," she began to moan, wringing her hands, "they air goin' to hang
you. It's all Lije Peters' work, an' you ought to have killed him, for
the Lord knows he's give you plenty cause. Where is the scoundrel?"

"Who, Lije? Why, he went over home; don't think he's a goin' down with
us--we don't need him. Now, jest set us out some of them cold snap beans
an' a hunk of co'n bread, fur the wagon will be here putty soon."

"Jasper," she said, blocking the way into the house, "your air deceivin'
of me."

He laughed and replied: "But even that wouldn't be half as bad as for
folks to go away an' tell it about that you wouldn't give a couple of
strangers nuthin' to eat."

"That's true," she admitted, leading the way into the house. "I'll fry a
couple of chickens."

"Madam," said the commanding officer, "we are much obliged, but we'll
not have time."

"Yes, you will," she insisted. "I'm not goin' to have you go down there
among all them gover'ment folks a tellin' that I didn't know how to
treat anybody in my house. You air jes