Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-11-28

, What was it then?"
J ''The danger, sir. The disease o
which Moffatt died. We were a littl
} afraid of that, SIR"
"What did he die Off" asked Mark
ham, anxiously.
"Small pox, sir"
Had ten inch shell exploded in our
midst, don't believe it would hav.
created more cOusternation than die
this simple announcement.
''Small pox Good Heavensw ejacu
lated Markham. Get into your car
and drive on. Why in the name of al
the fnries didn't you say so at once!
Hurry up your old nag. aud travel"
Smallpox that King of Pestilence
And 10 think that we had been exam
lining the dead body, aud even touch
ing the corpse and the clothes! Il CAV.
us all shiyer of horror to think of il!
The men sprang into their wagon
and were off in a minute; and as the
cart rolled out of our sight In the gloom
we could have sworn that the driver
sent back a hideous, defiant shout OF
laughter.
Markham seized me by the arm
fiercely.
did you hear that laugh2" 1 de
manded.
81 had been deaf not to-" reioined
Markham.
please Captain, one word"
1t was one of our private soldiers
that spoke. He seemed much agitated
The Captain bade him speak.
I'VE ought to examine that cart
again. There was room for two bodies
in that box"
But the smallpox" interrupted
the Captain.
might be blind. The laugh, too,
you know"
"Sold To horse. men Be quick 20
cried the Captain, in decidedly ener-
getic tone.
No ten men ever mounted their
horses in less time than did we, ven
ture to say, and putting our beasts into
a gallop we dashed at a furious pace
along the dark road. We could hear
the sound of the wheels Just ahead of
US, but it IVES too dark to see the cart
We knew almost instantly too that the
fugitives were aware that they were
pursued, for they lashed their mare
into a run. This lasted but moment.
We were almost upon them, and they
stopped and attempted to lift the coffin
from the cart.
just then the clouds above seemed
to part somewhat and the stars shone
brighter than ever. We were now
within half pistol shot.
Stop, or we'll fire." cried Markham.
The two men lesped from the wsg-
on, abandoning their Efforts to push
the coffin out, and leaping the ditch at
the roadside they plunged into a thick
ct. just in time to escape a Volley from
the carbines of our party.
The rattling report of the guns, the
wild shouts of our men. and the brill
liant flashes Of the powder, were too
much for the brown mare attached to
the wagon. She became conVulsed
with fright, snorted, reared almost up
right, and then shot down the road
with the speed of the wind, the coffin
tumbling from side to side of the cart
with terrible clatter.
"Follow, men !" cried the captain
Don't lose sight of that wagon. Spur.
spur!
1t was wild chase. the like of which
is seldom seen. Ten we'll mounted
troopers in hot pursuit of flying horse
and wagon, driverlesS, and freighted
with corpse in coffin An eighth of
a mile was traversed almost in the time
l write it. Then there was a terrific
crash the hub of the fOIewheeI struck
against a tree; and down went horse,
wagon and coffin in one heterogeneous
mass. The animal staggered to its feet, |
and with the thills and whifflstree at. /
tached resumed its fiery fight. The 1
coffin vas pitched ten feet over the F.
lash bosrd and split from end to end. /
We leaped from our horses, struck
match and lit a lantern, to examine /
he wreck more carefully. The corpse
had rolled into the dust of the road, .
Ind was badly bruised From the low
n end of the coffin were protruding
he feet and legs Of a man, encased in
| stout pair of boots and blue pants.
The captain seized the coffin and
urned it over, and the body of a man
oiled out. The lantern was brought
o bear. and discovery was made.
1t was the body of Bill Duttonl
Neither Markham nor / could res.
rain shout of surprise and joy. We
topped over the body, an ugly cut was
isible Just over the left temple, and
rom it the blood was flowing freely.
''The fellow is only stunned" said ,
larkham. Two minutes ago he was
5 hearty as any of US. This smash up
as spoilt his game clap the darbies
q his wrists, and then we'll wake him
Ip." i
The wrists of the spy were securely !
ettered; then some water from the |
itch was thrown into hefellow's face, Il
nd in five minutes he was able to |
lount a horse and proceed with us
ack to the city. Before we sta rted,
oweVer, we thoroughly searched the
-aggon, the coffin lin which we repla- {
ed the corpse and left it by the road
de) and the person of Dutton, but I
o suspicious papers were discovered. {
he fellow submitted 20 every require S
lent with an i'll grace, and manifested I
defiant disposition, even taunting us
our i'll success in getting hold of his 4
apers. -.1-- re-.rr- 81 lrgsr5-f a
We returned to the city and deposit u
our prisoner in the guard house, and 7
ceived the congratulations of our v
How detectives on our splendid Il
hievement. We were all oVer-ioyed "
our success, except Markham. who q
as much detected and disappointed n
not having found the missing docu-
ents. g
The next morning, after breakfast, W
was getting ready to go back to my CT
giment. when NJ Mlrkham came into b,
e mess-room. He had got two or N
rec hours sleep, about day break, and
Is already astir. He came up to me,
d taking me by the hand, said in an
itated tone, and with great earnest
ss, "
Ned: don't laugh at me. l had a
ort nap, and had a great dream. 1t
IS about this Spy, Dutton. l dream.
that in our examination of him we N
d found the papers in the soles of his m
OTIS. Do you know, Ned, l am GER CI
n they are there ?" a.
. Well, it might be possible" W,
Don't say word to any one about th
} dream. They would laugh at me. in
me Iwant to satisfy myselfat once. W.
with mo ~ tha s,,,-,.d Lo.,.o % uf