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

tance on the hot walk he suddenly felt a
fainting sensation, accompanied by a
sharp pain that shot through his head,
and he dimly experienced a sense of
falling on the ground. From that time
his mind became q blank, and he took
no note of anything passing about him.
One afternoon he gently opened his
eyes, and was surprised to find himself
awake and in the land of the living.
His first impression was that he had
been insensible for a week or two. As
be looked np he found that several
officers of Chalmers brigade with whom
be was acquainted! among whom were
Captain Carroll and Major Avent, were
standing around his bed.
His first thought, upon the sight Of
them aud the recovery of his senses, was
that he had been discovered-that the
dispatches in his pocket had been ex-
amined, and had betrayed him, and
again q sharp pang of pain passed
through his brain.
"You are better" said Capt. Carroll,
g and am glad to see it.
How long have been here ?" said
Bell feebly.
"You were sun.struck," said Captain
Carroll, "and it ran into brain-fever.
You have been lying here two or three
days. You have had narrow escape.
Bell was burning with impatience to
know whether he had said anything
while out of his mind, or whether any
thing had been discovered, to implicste
him in the death Of the courier. He
knew it would not do to ask question,
for that would arouse the very suspicion
be desired to avoid The people in the
room talked quietly together, but Bell
could catch nothing to indicate that they
were speaking Of that subject. He
waited snxionsly until all had left the
room but Mr.. Greenhsw, who was gen :
tleman of about sixty years of age, with
gray hair, long gray beard, and thin,
kind face. '''
"Where are my clothes p said Bell to
him. h5.tal
He pointed to chair in the corner of
the room, on which they were hanging.
II wish you would bring me my coat
said Bell.
The old gentleman did as requested,
and Bell, putting hands into the inside
pocket, saw at once that the dispatches
were gone.
Overcome with terror and weakness,
he sank back on the bed. The old gen.
tleman gazed at him henignantly through
his spectacles, but took no notice of his
agitation. After while Bell, assuming
as much cslmness as he could, said:
Where are the papers that we're in
my pocket r
"They are on the mantel there" said
tie old gentleman. II took them out
when you were brought in, and / have
kept your money all safe"
Will you hand thea to me2' said
Bell.
Mr.. Greenhaw brought them, and laid
them down before him. He examined
them, aud found that they bore no ap-
pearance of having been handled. he
was very much relieved, but desired TO
satisfy himself still further.
"Thsse were dispatches" said he.
"Why we're they not forwarded 2"
Il didn't know anything about them,"
said Mr.. Grecnhaw. supposed they
were your private papers"
Bell replaced them in the pocket of
his coat, comforted with the assurance
that, ct least, he was not discovered from
this means, but he did not know what
traces might have been found in other
ways, or what suspicious had been
aroused, aud he was very anxious TO get
out. He imagined that he would find a
guard walking up and down before the
door, and in his dreams he seemed to
see one stationed there, until be could
hardly convince himself that such was
not the case. He sat up in chair the
next day, and late in the afternoon he
walked feebly out Of the room support
ing his steps by the railing Of the stairs,
he went down to the psrtioo of the house.
The street was alive with people, and there
we're plenty of soldiers passing, but with
all his locking he could discover no
guard in front of the house, and be went
back quite satisfied that he was still safe.
He enjoyed sweet and souna sleep that
night, for the first time since his awaken
ing from the dslirium OF the fever. He
learned that Chalmers entire brigade
had come down from Panola, and was
then stationed in the vicinity of Gren-
ada, while Chalmers headquarters we're
in the town. This accounted for the
presence Of Carroll and Ayent at his
bedside.
II was several days before Bell was able
to move actively about, and in the mea u-
time Chalmers brigade again returned to
Pamela. Bell then delivered him the
order by which Captain Henderson, BY
direction Of General Johnston, COM
manded him 10 report back to Chalmers.
Bell heard the story of the finding Of
the body Of the courier, as soon as be bad
got out, and many coDiecturss we're in
dulged ia as TO Why be was shot. Il was
generally believed that be was shot by
so1e Federal scout as the money on his
person remained untouched But little
notice was taken Of the death Of one man,
when battles were daily fought upon
which hung the fate Of the Confederacy.