Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-23

skirmish, when it occurred to him
that the extreme edge OF the ridge
where the cleared land begun might
command an. extended view OF the
valley which he had failed to take add
vantage of, and commanded his mel
to march slowly on, he turned his
horse and galloPed to the place indi-
Gated. With the aid of field glass
he inspected the large expanse of
country before him, and was just
turning his norses head toward camp
when a sharp report aud the wicked
whirling of bullet in close proximl-
ty to his ear awakened him 10 danger
and caution. A rapid and experienced
look soon revealed 10 him q rebel
soldier lying behind an old fallen tree
and in the act Of introducing second
cartri !ge into his carbine. IL did not
take long for Tom to make up his
mind. To whip out his saber and to
charge upon his enemy was the affair
of ar instant. The next. the rebel,
who had risen TO eludc the horseman,
found himself overthrow by the shock
of the animals breast ard bleeding
from a deep cut on the shoulder, and
before he could recover himself Tom S
sabre was in such close proximity TO
his heart that he involuntary threw
up his hands. Toms face had 5sen
flushed with excitement of conflict for
his life, but now that for the first time
he looked closely at TIE features of his
antagonist his own became livid with
hatred, while his lips tremblod and
strange fire CLEANED in his eye. 1t
was no longer the soldier defending
his life, but the individual man, brim-
full of intense passion meditating muir.
der.
"Ah," he cried. 81 know you now.
You are Henry Chandler, are you
not? You left sweetheart in Grant
county, whom you expect to return to
in triumph after the war. Say is it
not soin And he looked at the poor
fellow as if he had just convicted him
of the most unnatural crime lmagln-
able
Yes, that is so" Henry wonder
ingly unused, "but who are you, and
what has that TO do with the present
SItuation9"
cit has this to do-do you heart
that | am going to kill you right here
and there is no power on earth can
save YOU" AS he spoke his eyes fell
upon package of papers that lay in
the shrubbery near where the rebel
soldier had first been espied. He
spraHg forward and seized them. Bat
Henry would not give them up with
out struggle, and he made desper-
ate effort to wrench them from Tom S
iron grip; but he was delicate, and,
moreover, weakened by pain and loss
of blood, while Tom, who had always
been large and sinewy, drew addition
al strength now from the unwoated
excitement under which he was labor
ing, so that in less time than it would
take to describe the manner of it he
had overthrown the poor rebel, pinned
him to the ground under his knee, and
so secured his hands that further re-
sistance was impossible. He then
hurriedly looked over the paper, and
it was with JOY no less fierce than
his late passionate fury that he said !;
ooh, hol we've been playing spy,
eh2 the number of men, line of march
and all in first class order. con-
graduate you, Mr.. Chandler. And
now we can go. 1t is useless for me
to kill you now, for to morrow, if |
mistake not, your graceful form will
adorn a gibbet.
Tom was not any worse than other
men. This savage speech was only
the outburst of long pent-up jealousy
and hatred, and his moral faculties
were so paralyzed for the time being
that he would certainly have ended
Henry's earthly career had not the
discovery of the compromising papers
revealed to him another end, to his
conscience, a safer means to the same
end. He fastened his horses halter
to Henry's manacled hands, and
mounting his horse ordered the un
fortunate prisoner to march. While
they were slowly and silently wind
their way toward camp Tom began to
review the situation and reflect calm
Nv upon the crime he had contemplat-
ed. He thought of Mary. How
would she receive the news of hcr
lovers death. What would she think
of the man who had brought him to
the cruel bar of martial law2 Finally,
in q tone so much in contrast with
that of his last remark that Henry
looked up in surprise, he asked how
it happened that man of Henry
parts should be pursuaded TO play the
dangerous and unhonorable part of a
spy. "There Is no danger, " answer
ed the prisoner with much enthusi
asm. that | would not gladly en-
counter in behalf of the cause I am
serving; but l am not and never could
be a spy. If you know me you should
understand that These papers were
intrusted to me by one Of your soldiers
who for money betrayed his eompan-
ions and his country. | could prove
that. but l shall die rather than break
the promise of secrecy | gave the
scoundrel." And, stopping short.
"Do not think, either, that you will
} have the pleasure Of seeing me die the
death of a miscreant am deter
mined you shall kill me before we
reach camp" and suiting the action
to the word, lie made violent start
! Il