Produced by David Garcia, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Kentuckiana Digital Library)
The Nightriders' Feud
By Walter C. McConnell
NEW YORK
THE COSMOPOLITAN PRESS
1912
Copyright, 1912, by
Walter C. McCONNELL
The Nightriders' Feud
CHAPTER I
John Redmond, the second, had just completed his education in a New York
college, having been graduated with high honors, and was therefore
prepared to go out into the world and set it on fire with his
brilliancy. But the call of the great business world was strangely
superseded by the "call of the wild," which had long since taken firm
hold upon his young heart. Since his earliest recollections his soul had
longed to go out into the wild Western country, and he was now fully
determined to appease his adventurous appetite amid the great wild
mountains of the West.
Thoughts concerning his future flitted fast through his study-ladened
brain as the train sped on toward his home. Yes, he would go to the
mountains and seek gold or coal where others, with less ability to find,
had passed over the immense wealth which must surely lie hid deep
beneath the great earthen mounds. This wealth, he thought, had been
placed there by the Maker of the mighty earth, that his great skill as
an engineer might be made known to the world. It was there for his own
pleasure; it had not been intended that others should make the
discovery. His training would enable him to make discoveries which
others had not been skillful enough to make. The life would be just to
his liking, and would fill a long-felt desire to invade the bowels of
the hitherto uninvaded depths of rocky earth. It was not his intention
to delay one moment; he would go at once.
The train sped on, and he reached his home in good time. There he was
greeted with the sad news that his uncle, John Redmond, for whom he was
named, had been slain by murderous Nightriders over in the valley of
Kentucky. His tobacco crop had been utterly destroyed, his barns and
out-houses devastated, his home burned to the earth, and as he was
fleeing from the burning building, in an effort to save himself from a
torturous death, he had been shot down in his tracks like a dog, a
forty-four Winchester bullet tearing his heart to pieces.
What more would man need to set his soul on fire? What more would he
need to raise his ire to the verge of distraction?
John Redmond, the second, stood with bowed head, listening to the
terrible outrage; his Southern blood warmed to the boiling point. His
heart beat fast, his teeth came together with a sharp noise, and his
fists were tightly clenched. Revenge burned within him, his soul felt
that the foul deed called for vengeance. In a twinkling his plans were
changed. His adventurous spirit told him that his life's work had been
found, that he must hie him to the country where his uncle had met such
a hasty and untimely death; that he must seek out those who had murdered
him and revenge the cold deed.
John Redmond had hardly known this uncle, having seen him only one time,
but he was a kinsman, the same blood ran through their veins, their
forefathers were the same, and he would be speedily avenged.
The younger Redmond sent agents into Kentucky to purchase land, and in a
little while all preparations for a hasty departure had been made. The
cabin purchased needed repair, but that would be done with his own
hands. He would have plenty of time for all such work.
His intention was to go over and raise tobacco in direct opposition to
the great association of good farmers. Let them do what they would, he
would show them that he was a man of his own notions, and no set of men
could run him, much less a body of uneducated "galoots."
Next you see of John Redmond he is crossing the country by wagon train.
Slowly his caravan moves, finally reaching the place purchased for the
future home of this man of strong desires and peculiar aims. The
belongings were unloaded, and those who assisted him in the move bade
him a successful ending and returned to civilization. While John
Redmond, who introduced himself to this new country as "Jack Wade," was
making preparations for a comfortable living, the eyes of the
surrounding community were cast upon him. Slowly and untiringly he
labored for a few weeks, getting everything in comfortable condition,
seeking the assistance of the few loafing farmers, until matters were
fairly arranged and everything fixed up comfortably for bachelor
quarters.
If one should have been standing on the hill at a time very near sunset
one afternoon, he could have seen Jack Wade, the graduate engineer,
standing at the bars or gate leading from his horse-lot to a plot of
ground used as a pasture for his one cow and one horse. He no longer has
the appearance of a soft-skinned school-boy, but rather is dark and
ruddy, the warm Kentucky sun having changed his complexion. He has on a
blue shirt, soft, with collar attached, high-top boots, into the legs
of which his corduroy pantaloons are stuffed, in the style of a true
Westerner. He has one foot resting upon the lower wire while his arms
fell loosely across the top wire. He is surveying with his keen dark eye
the surrounding country, not having had time heretofore to look about
him.
Over yonder, about one mile to the south of him, is a farmhouse; over to
his right, and a little to the northwest, is another cabin. Behind him
looms up the huge mountain, amid whose rugged rocks and green shrubbery
much of his time will be spent. He turns and looks toward the mountain;
there he sees another cabin, or small house. It is the home of a tobacco
planter, who has one son and an only daughter.
Nora Judson has many times looked longingly down the dusty road toward
the cabin of the newcomer and wondered what he was like. Her scheming
brain found a way by which she could tell.
Twilight's shadows are drawing the day to a close. Down the cow-trodden
road can be seen an old brindle cow, coming leisurely, switching her
tail from one side to the other, nibbling the sweet tufts of grass along
the side of the trail. On she comes, until she passes the watcher and
goes out into the woodland just beyond.
Wade watched the cow until she was out of sight, then he sighed.
"It's going to be a fearful job," he said mentally, "but the thing
_shall_ be done. Not one of them shall be left if God spares me long
enough to take them away."
As the last words left his mind he glanced heavenward, as if to implore
the Almighty to aid him in a work which he honestly thought was for the
good of humanity at large and for God Himself. He was honestly convinced
that he was on an errand of great mercy, and the world would be made
better and humanity live more peaceably among themselves, and more godly
by the fulfillment of his plans.
"Not one," he repeated, "not one shall be left to molest the peace of
the innocent ones in this great valley,"--he swept his hand about him
tragically,--"in this wonderful valley."
He sighed again. The gloom of a departing day was gathering about him.
The lonesomeness of a twilight in the valley was making a deep
impression upon his young life and he was beginning to long for
companionship.
The monotony of the hour was broken by the faint sound of a female voice
coming from toward the mountain, calling, "Soo-cow, soo-cow, sook-sook!"
The call came vibrating down through the valley to his listening ears.
Jack Wade's heart gave one joyful bound because a human being, and that
a girl, was near. Nearer and nearer came the call, until through the
gathering darkness could be seen the form of a valley maid. Soon she
hove into full view just up the road. On she came, calling the cow,
until she stood directly opposite Wade.
Apparently she had not before noticed him standing beside the fence.
"Good-evening," said Wade pleasantly. A lovely flush covered her dark
face.
"Howdy?" she replied. Then falteringly, "Seen anything of a old brindle
cow down this away?"
"Yes," said Wade. "She's just yonder in the woodland grazing leisurely.
I'll go fetch her for you."
"Ye needn't be so kind," said the girl. "I kin git her myself. Much
obleeged."
She started on, unmindful of his grateful glance, after the cow.
"I'll go with you, if you don't mind," he said, "and show you where to
find her."
She didn't mind, so Wade bolted, in athletic style, over the fence and
joined her.
Old Peter Judson's daughter was a very beautiful girl. Jack looked into
her face,--he had nothing else to do just now,--and wondered how it was
possible that she could be so pretty. Though born and reared in the
valley, and having known nothing of the outside world, she was fearless
in speech and manner. Her form was indeed very fine for one who had not
the opportunities to gather grace, her voice was musically soft and
sweet, her face was delicately fair. She looked up into Wade's eyes with
an expression of earnestness that was almost an appeal.
"Ye are the newcomer, ain't ye?" she asked, unabashed.
"I've not been here a great many days," he replied thoughtfully.
"Have ye come to stay?" she asked.
The question was very direct, but Wade felt no uneasiness in replying
truthfully. He had come to stay so long as everything was pleasant for
him, otherwise he might pull up "stakes" and leave when he thought the
time was ripe.
Her next question was even more direct. She stood for one moment,
surveying Wade casually.
"Have ye come to raise terbacker?" she asked.
"No," he replied, "I shall raise tobacco but in small quantities, merely
as a pastime. I am here especially on account of my health."
She surveyed him again, her large dark eyes going over him from head to
feet.
"Ye don't look unhealthy."
She was quite right. He did not look unhealthy. His large athletic frame
was not physically disabled.
"No?" he questioned. "Well, I'm not quite dead."
He laughed and so did she laugh, her silvery voice ringing out through
the fast gathering darkness.
"There is your brindle cow," he said, pointing to the creature which
stood with neck bent, looking back at the two approaching figures.
"Thank ye for bein' so kind," she said, looking up at him with a
grateful expression upon her countenance. Picking up a short piece of
broken tree limb she went round the cow, crying "Hooey-hooey!" and
striking her about the flanks. The cow, fully understanding what was
wanted of her, started back up the road toward home, while the girl
appeared to pay no further heed to Wade's presence, feeling that he had
done his full duty in locating the cow. However, the latter followed her
out of the woods, both of them trailing along slowly and silently behind
the cow.
"I'm going to help you to get the runaway home," said Wade, smiling.
"Ye needn't," she exclaimed; "I know the road all right," a little
sarcastically.
"But I also want to learn it," he replied, not in the least rebuffed.
"Ye might be losin' time for me, an' I don't want ye to do that,"
tenderly.
"I'd rather lose time assisting you than do anything else at this
moment."
"Oh!" she exclaimed, "ef ye want to learn the road, come on."
Her face flushed. She felt it, but Wade could not penetrate the twilight
sufficiently to discern the crimson coloring.
"I do want to," he said, "and I wish I had such a companion to show me
the way over the mountain and through the entire country."
Unheeding this remark, she said, "Hit's a little lonely, livin' alone,
hain't it?"
"It is while I am not very well acquainted with my neighbors, but I
shall become better acquainted soon. One cannot expect to be greatly
elated at once, or happy altogether, until he knows his neighbors well."
"Nice folks 'round here," she replied. "Once you git to know them you
are sure to like them."
There came a moment of silence.
"Do you live in the house toward the mountain?" asked Wade.
"That's Dad's house. I live there--have lived there for many years."
"You are very fond of the hills and ravines, I presume?"
"An' the brooks. They are the only companions I have ever known, except
my brother, an' he's been in the saddle ever since I was old enough to
have companions, or remember anything. They are my friends,--the cow and
the dog, the chickens an' the geese, the ducks an' the turkeys, an' even
the grunting pigs, are the only friends I have ever known."
"What a terribly lonesome life that seems to have been."
"Not to me; it has been a happy one."
"Pardon me, I should not have spoken that way."
"Hit don't make any difference how you speak," she said independently.
"We are used to everything here."
"Who lives yonder to the south of us?" asked Wade, pointing in the
direction indicated.
"Jim Thompson. He's a terbacker raiser, too."
"And who to the west yonder?"
"Oh, that's the place where old John Redmond lived. It's not used now."
There was a tinge of sorrow in the girl's voice as she spoke.
"What became of old John Redmond?" asked Wade, his own voice quivering.
"Don't ye know, hain't ye heerd?"
"Haven't heard anything yet; haven't been here long enough to learn
much."
This untruth brought a flush over Jack Wade's face, but it was not seen
by the girl, the darkness being too deep.
"He was killed by the Nightriders," she said, choking; "shot to death
when his home was burned."
"So that's the course pursued with a fellow here, is it?" Wade's lips
curled scornfully.
"Sometimes, an' sometimes they don't. It's accordin' to what the other
feller is about."
"What has a fellow to do to bring about such an end as that served out
to old John Redmond?"
"Nuthin'. Old John didn't do nuthin'; that's what the trouble was."
"Who are the Nightriders?" asked Wade, after a moment's thought.
"Say, stranger," said the girl at this juncture, and evasively, "here's
my home, an' ye better git now. Ef Dad ketches ye here he mou't do to ye
like them fellers done old John Redmond, so I says much obleege fer
helpin' me fetch the old brindle cow home."
"I'll help _you_ any time I can," he said.
"Thank ye," she held out her hand shyly. Jack Wade held it in his own,
pressing it tenderly, until she pulled it away from him.
"Good-by," she said softly.
"Good-by," he returned, and then turned to face the lonesome gloom.