Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-19


"I must have those dispatches at all
hazards" thought Bell, IL and this is my
only opportunity" r
They were coming to place where the
path ran around stagnant pool, which
was shaded by holly-trees, and upon the
margin of which the sedge.grass grew
rank and dense.
They were riding very closely. Bell
reined hia horse, and his companion
passed slightly ahead.
Bell Immediately drew his revolver
from his holster and cooked it.
GThe courier heard the click, and looked
quickly around.
Bells face lit up iercely, and he cried:
II want those dispatches. If you re-
sist, you are are dead man II
"Who," calculated the man with an
oath, "are you, that you have any busi-
ness to demand them of me p
ut does not matter who am. De-
liver the dispatches this moment, or l
will fire."
The man made no reply, but with the
quickness of thought drew his revolver
and liftedit.
Bell struck his spurs into his horse,
driving him against the horse of the
courier, and as he did so the couri er fred,
and the ball whistled by his head.
His own weapon was aimed, but the
courier's horse also plunged at the sound.
Bell again spurred his own horse and
ran against the other, and the death Of
one of the men depended on who should
shoot most quickly and most accurately.
The moment that Bells horse again
brushed against the other, he brought his
pistol swiftly into range and shot his ad-
versary through the head. The hand in
which he was lifting his weapon dropped,
and with wild cry and a CHASTITY face
he rolled headlong from his saddle into
the edge Of the pool, plashing the water
as he fell.
The horse dashed away in fright, and
Bell knowing that the sight of a rider
|, ,ss horse would attract immediate search
fo,- the rider, rode after him, chasing him
in different directions. He seemed to
know that deed of blood had been com.
mitted, and galloped away as soon as
Bell approached, turning when out Of his
reach and giving shrill neigh. Finally,
however, the bride, having fallen from
his head caught his foot and held his head
down. when Bell succeeded in capturing
him. He removed the saddle and bride,
secretiug them in some bushes. and let
the horse go loose. People were con-
t,uually moving from the country in fear
of an invasion, and sometimes a horse
esca ned and in such case, whoever
took IND the horse waited for an owner to
come aIeng, without any very diligent
ipouiry for one, and generally with
strong hope that none would ever make
his appearance.
Bell then returned to the dead courier,
who was almost hidden BY the grass IN
which he had fallen. His head lay in the
nool. and the blood that flowed from 1T
mingled with the muddy water. Bell, as
he looked down upon the dead body,
shuddered at the work which he had done.
II was the first man he had ever killed,
though he had been engaged for two
wears in the most perilous service OF the
war. He stopped down and picked the
dispatches from the breast-pocket OF tue
mans cavalry jacket, and, without at,
to move the body, concealed u
more carefully by the grass, and rode
away.
He was we'll aware that it would be
useless to attempt to hide the corpse long,
because the buzzards which followed the
track of the armies, and scented ont the
dead in all the corners and hooks OF the
region round about, were always ready
aud waiting, and quick to find any new
victim for their horrid feasts.
Even as he rode, Bell saw Gsyeral of
the foul birds circling in the air, and
knew it would not be long, in this sultry
weather. before they would scent the
prey which he had prepared for them.
A sad and uneasy feeling possessed him
all the day and night, as the thought
came to him again and again OF the body
lying ia the edge of the stagnaut. pool
He felt. however, that in the service in
which he was engaged, his act was one OF
palpable duty, aud was also, in q partial
sense, one of self-defense.
He did not look at the dispatches until
the middle of the afternoon. he had
not stopped for dinner, and he did not
intend to stop at any place for supper, as
he wished to leave IS few traces as pos
sible of himself in this vicinity. During
The latter half of the sfternocn. however,
he came to an uninhsbited plantation,
and went into the orchard and gathered |
his pockets full Of ripe and delicious
reaches There was large double log |
house upon the place. which Bell entered.
n was almost bare Of furniture, but he
went into one Of the vacsat. barren
looking rooms, sat down on bsoken
chair, and took out bis dispatches.
he found two dispatches from General
Johnston: one to General Chalmers,
ordering his brigade Of cavalry to move
% Canton, and one to the post-cem-
nsnder at Grenada directing him to
put every able bodied man on duty, IN
he town, as post-gusrd, and to organize
! home-guard there for protection from
orowling bands Of Federal soldiers.
As be read, every sound that he heard
through the deserted house startled him,
and be looked out of the window, ever
and anon, into the wood, wondering |
whether the body had been discovered,
and whether any one was on the way
from the place. BE had not met or seen
. soIitary person on bis journey here,