The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1881-02-12

rlse IN my mind that it was not the
duel thai had caused my arrest; and
] ventmed to ask one of the officers
the cause Of it. Instead of giving
HE a civil answer, he broke into a
coarse laugh,
IDA! ha! ha! Tom, just listen at
this rascal, will you9 He wants to
know the cause OF his arrest. Now
ain't that brassy9"
"See here, old fellow" said the
other officer, addressing himself to
me, "that's too thin; now you just
sit down there and keep mighty
qulet-none Of your palaver with
me. I've had much TO do with your
sort lately; they always play igno'
rant"
"Am | arrested for attempting to
tight aduel?" | ventured to enquire.
"For what didtyou say9" demand
ed the officer, apparently very much
surprised.
Il thought l was arrested for at
tempting to fight a duel" | replied.
"Ha! ha! ha! Tom, that fellow is
going to try the insane dodge. But
look here, old fellow--that games
played out. Your cake is al! dough;
you are gone up the spout this
time certain. It's a pity though to
hang such a good.looking chap as
you, but | reckon it'll have to be
done. l guess you won't get anoth-
err chance to escape; they'll iron
you down good this time"
my ire was reused as well as my
curiosity, and l ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ded to know the cause of my arrest
and where l was being carried.
"Oome, sir" said one Of the men,
''nope of your airs here now. II
you know what's good for you, /
guess you'll keep your mouth shut,
unless you can talk with a little
more sense" .
leaned back in my seat, and tried
to collect my scattered thoughts;
but | was so confused that | scarce
" could tell whether l was dream
ing or not. 1T was very plain, how
ever, that the duel had nothing to
do with my arrest; but what was
the cause, was the all absorbing
question, now to be settled.
They spoke of hanging; what on
earth could it mean! They talked
about escapes and irons, &C., &c.
What had | to do with all this!
Was it possible that l had been
mistaken for some other mang You
NAV be sure that thousands Of
such questions came trooping
through my mind with lightning
speed. The train ratified on; the
lamp cast a faint light through the
coach, as the gray Streaks OF dawn
began to steal through the win
dows, One officer coiled himself up
on a seat Just IN front Of me and be-
a to snore so loud, that it could
be heard above the rattle Of the
train. The other one sat by my
side with a navy six in his belt,
keeping gaurd while his eompan-
ion slept. Ever now and then, he
took a drink of whiskey, from a flask
which he carried in his pocket,
The train did not stop until we
reached Grenada. | was then di-
rected to follow the officers to the
hotel dining-room for breakfast.
drank a cup of coffee, but could
not eat; my head was aching as if
it would burst, and I had a burn
inc fever. The fact is | was quite
i'll We waited at Grenada two
hours, when the south.bound train
on the Mississippi central railroad
arrived. | was conducted aboard
and again found myself flying on at
the rate Of fifty miles an hour. 1t
was late in the evening, when |
was taken off of the train, at a
small way,side station, and conduc-
ted to a stage coach, that was ready
to start towards the east. Myself
and the two officers were the only
passengers. The driver popped his
whip, ami we began to move on.
Where am l going and what 10 to
be nv fates was my mental ques-
ton. What will General Galloway
think of me when | fail to make
my appearance at Horn Lake!-l
He viii think / have fed from mere
cowaraice. What will LOttie think
when they tell her that have
sneaked off and hid myselftO avoid
q fgh.g My letter will be handed
10 her at eight o'clock this evening,
and they will tell her that | have
run away. Ny mental sufterings
were very great, while my physical
oI ~ snoroaca YhoI