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Show 18G ROEBUCK. I h!1Ye nxn1s." lie turned his horse·s head h01ncwartl, :-ttHl left t.hcn1. Before he 'vas out of hcn.ring, Boh Fari:· call <1 hi tn back, n.nd iu.C nn <.t h itn that th y h:t<l <'Onsultcd tog ther and conclud d, out of resp' t for hitn, not to vi:it hi. plantation thn.t evening. rrhey swore, however, thn.t Paln1cr, the old abolitionist should not escape. 1"~hcy rode off toward that pa;·t of the county in 'vhiclt Pnln1er re ·idcd. Colonel Fair£1.x, thus apprised that there 'vas danger of violence to tha.t genilernan, sat a few 1ninutes considering how it 1night be averted. It 'vas nearly dark. lie was reluctant to go so fur fr01n his own hou. c as to Pahner's 'vhile the neighborhood was disLnrbccl. But he could think of no other way to 111'ev 'nt a diso:--, rnccfal if not fatal scene. As any delay n1ight defeat his purpo e, he set off n.t once, rid-jng rapidly, and taking a by-path '\rhich saved some distance n.nu enabled hin1 to pass the patrol without hcino- seen. In little n1orc than au hour he arrived h at J\lr. Pahner's hou. c. That gcntlcn1:1.n received him \vith surprise and cn1barra. ·stnent. lie 'vas not aware of the danger in 'vhiclt he stood at that 1noment, buL he 'vas conscious of participn.tion in a sch01ne which 1night prove perilous to his vi~itor. The latter proceeded at once to 1nake known the circum Lances \vhich induced his visit, and expressed the opinion that. the regulators would be at the door in a few n1inutes. lie ndcled a hope that he n1ight be able to di:;; mule th01u ii·01n violence, but ad vi.'e<..l J\Ir. Palmer to retire fron1 the house for n. short tin1e, offering to ren1ain 'vith the :Gunily and save thcn1 frotn in.'ult. But Palmer, 'vho e d01nestic affection 'vere strong, and \vho did not lack courao-c to defend his house- a hold, refused to leave his f:tJnily. lie told his wife ROEBUCK. 187 ttnd claurrhicrs of the clangor, and dir cted thcrn toremain quiet in their luunh 'rR, 'vl1at v r 1night hnpp n. The colonel avo\VC l hiH rca<linc. s to a. ~ist in d 'r ·nclinrr the houRc and pcnwn of .lHr. I>a1n1 r. The l:tt.Lrr br~uo-ht out his ann. -two revolving pistols ancl a double-b:-trrc11cd fowling piece lon<.lc(l with huekl-'hot. All the w apons \VCl'C kept lon.decl, in antieipation or trouhlc ,vhich \V::t.S con ·tantly apprehended by the owner 'of thctn. 'The hn ·ty preparation" for defcn c were scarcely coinrleted 'vhcn the trmnp of hor.'C was .heard. The horsctnen quickly diHmonnted and po tecl them-selves in preconcerted order about the hou c, to prevent the escape of Palrner. Fnri then drc\v near the front door and knocked at it tor a<lntittnnec. J\[r. P:llmcr opened a 'vindow and 'voulcl have spok~n, but the colonel clrc\V hint back n.n<l req ncstccl permtssion to try hi. intlucnrc 'vith the patrol. Looking out of the 'vindo,v, he ai 1- " Faris, \vhat do you \Vnnt ?" "!leavens!" cxclaiined Fa.ri , "Colonel Fred's hero too." "Y cs, I nm here before yon, and I am still determined to prevent you fro1n disgracing yourscl vcs by lawless violence. N o'v tclline what you I. lliClll1 ~u O l 0 (l. " ""\V c \vant the old abolitionist, and \Ve 'vill have him, colonel." "'Vlmt has he done?" "lie's at tho botiotn of the insurrection." "IIo,v do you kno\v that?" "A nirrgcr confesso l 1 t all.'' "I u ppose the negro \V::tS in the hands of your patrol?" "Of course he ·was." |