The Gaylords appear to be an interesting family with hereditary tempers.

The ghost, I hear, beat a slave to death, and to pay for it is doomed to pace the laurel walk till the day of judgment." "That's the story," I nodded, "and the beating is at least authentic." "H'm!" Terry frowned.

"And Solomon tells me tales of the Colonel himself whipping the negroes--there can't be any truth in that ?" "But there is," I said.

"He didn't hesitate to strike them when he was angry.

I myself saw him beat a nigger a few days ago," and I recounted the story of the chicken thief.
"So! A man of that sort is likely to have enemies he doesn't suspect.
How about Cat-Eye Mose?
Was Colonel Gaylord in the habit of whipping him ?" "Often," I nodded, "but the more the Colonel abused Mose, the fonder Mose appeared to grow of the Colonel." "It's a puzzling situation," said Terry pacing up and down the room with a thoughtful frown.