The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-17
CHAPTER XXI.
Want YOU q man


Here be is for your purpose.-tOld Play.
AS Holden left the seat on which Warren
Hayes sat, that gentleman followed his mo-
tons with quick, suspicious eyes. Suddenly
there appeared before his vision as the train
vhirled past, a small boyish figure on, the
platform of the station, which could be none
other than the outlaws son. He sprang from
his seat and rushed to the rear of the car Just
in time to see Holden and the boy in CONVEX
sation as the train whirled around point of
land and lost them from his sight.
"Fool, idiot that am, to be SO imposed
on" he muttered between his clenched teeth,
"there is some deviltry in the wind. l feel
it, know it; now let me think what is it?"
and Warren Hayes relapsed into profound
revery, which lasted until the shrek of the
whistle warned him that he had reached Sc
dalia, for the present his point of destination.
AS he stepped from the cars he encountered
O small wiry man, dressed in the uniform of
federal colonel.
This is Colonel Turner, 1 suppose" said
Hayes, profering his hand to the officer and
addressing him with bland politeness, "my
name is Hayes, Lieutenant Hayes, of General
Lyons staff.
"Yes, am very happy indeed, lieutenant,
to make your acquaintance /; are you just from
the city?"
eyes, sir, but shall esteem it q favor if
you will grant me moments private inter-
view."
Certainly, certainly, this way lieutenant;
room at the Parker house; step this way if
you please"
"There is no need of going so far; what l
have to say can be said here, AT Otterville
this morning couple of persons left the
train, who am sure are trying to make their
way to Prices headquarters, probably with
dispatches from the disaffected rebels in the
city. They were man and boy, father and
son, probably, and foreigners, Italians or
French. Is it possible to intercept them?"
awe can>at least try. L will telegraph TO
Otterville to have them arrested if still there
or if they have left, to report the direction
they have gone. We can then know what to
do"
"Do so, and in the meantime l will get
some breakfast And the schemer turned
and walked into the hotel, while the officer
hurried to the depot to send off his dispatch
There was not much expectation on the part
OF young Hays, however, of being able to get
his hands on Zera and her companion; for he
knew that Holden was bold, shrewd and dar-
ing, and evidently suspected from the manner
in which he had left the train that he had hos
Ia rlc D,,t 1, 4
There was something in the movements of
Holden beyond the aspect he had sought TO
place them in. He remembered the inter-
view of the outlaws daughter with Laura
Taylor, and coupling that fact with the trans
actions of last night, he was satisfied that the
destination of Holden and his companion was
the headquarters of the Confederate army. If
this was so he was sure they bore dispatches
from Laura and her father, and if he could
lay his hands on them, then the first step Of
his revenge was taken.
With these thoughts passing rapidly through
bis mind, he hurried through his meal, and
then sought his friend, who was managing
the dispatches to Otterville. AS he entered
the telegraph Office, Colonel Turner met
him with folded paper in his hand
1t read in these words:
"The parties purchased horses, arms and
equipments here this morning and left an
hour and half ago in southwesterly direc-
ton"
"There, by Cd, knew it :" exclaimed
Hayes, grinding his teeth together with saw
age ferocity, "quick, colonel, let me have
twenty mounted men, may reach them yet. {"
"They shall be ready for you in half an
hour, and what is better, will place them in
command Of Captain Ramey, a man who
knows every inch of country for hundred
miles around. He will overhaul them if it be
within the compass of human possibility"
"Quick, then, for no time is to be lost"
"There shall be none," and the officer left
the room to issue his orders. He was gone
but few minutes, and when he returned he
was accompanied by tall, heavy set man,
Of some forty years Of age, hair somewhat