Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-03-20
A WAR STORY.

| was one of the actors in an exciting
and rather mysterious episode during the
war of the rebellion, the details of which
will never be known unless L record
them here.
1t will make no difference to the reader
what position held during the war, or
in what capacity / acted. Suffice it to
say that was honorably employed, and
in pursuit of my duties frequently found
myself at the front and in places of great
danger.
well remember one night that was
riding up through the Cumberland Valley
toward the headquarters of the Union
army It was the memorial time OF the
battle of Antietam. The sound of canonad-
ing had been heard all day, and L was
on my way through debatable ground
to the scene of conflict. With me was
young, bright, and handsome officer,
engaged on special service. Railway
travel had, of course, been stopped, and
we were travelling in my own German
town wagon behind my fleet and trusty
horse
1t was lonely travelling as the night
wore on. The coutry bore the desolate
appearance which war alone can give
MuItitudes Of farm houses and cottages
were apparently deserted by their oc-
cupants. The darkness and dreadful
silence lay upon the face of nature. The
penetrating dampness of night caused
us to nestle further down into our wrap
pings, while now and then sudden lurch
of our carriage thoroughly reused us
from any tendency to sleep.
Oar revolvers were ready for service,
and our eyes were strained and weary
peering into the darkness to guard
against surprises from desperate marau-
ders. There was every incentive to keep
on the alert, and we fully realized this;
bnt about 3 o'clock a. M, tired nature
got the upper hand, and without the least
intending it we were both sleeping in
the most disgracefully CARELESS fashion,
while our faithful steeds logged carefully
onward.
How long we slept thus we never
knew; but suddenly the motion of the
carriage ceased, and the very stiffness
aroused us. In an instant our revolvers
were out, for we thought it more than
probable that some lurking highwayman
had stopped the horse for the purpose of
robbery On investigation, however, we
found that the horse had turned into
friendly barnyard, and was rubbing his
nose against the stable door. Close by
we could discern the outlines of the farm
house, but neither light nor sign of life
was visible about it.
We decided to alight and remain in
the house until dawn should enable us
to pursue our journey more safely. 1t
was but the work of moment to pry
open the stable door and install the horse
within, and then we sought the house,
forced open a window, and climbed in.
The furniture was there, except such ar
ticles IS could easily be carried away,
and it was evident that the occupants
had fed panic stricken.
We were just composing ourselves
when we heard the rafting wheels of
vehicle without, and fastened to take
guarded observation through the latticed
shutters. The vehicle whirled up to the
house, and two women and one man
quickly alighted and lifted out several
bundles. The covered wagon then wheeled
about and was driven rapidly away.
Our establishment was heightened
when the man gave three distinct raps
upon fiat cellar door next to the house,
and it was Immediately opened from
within. A word was quietly spoken, the
trio with their packages disappeared, and
the door closed behind them.
Here was mystery which took our
breath away. If the party were honest
inhabitants of the premises, why did
they not enter by the house door? How
had we discovered 60 signs of life when
we entered, when there were persons con-
cealed there at that very time?
We pondered over these questions for
awhile without word We were not
frightened, but thorough, alive to the
situation. We nudged each other to ex-
press our determination to solve the mys-
terry.
We kept perfectly quiet fer time, tut
there were no sounds in the house. 1t
was as If the earth opened and swallowed
up those nocturnal visitors This puz-
zled us not a little, for even if the stran-
gers were in the cellar their voices and
movements should have been audible in
the second floor room where we were.
sack, is your revolver ready" whis-
pered my companion.
-"Yes," I replied.
1--WE Eust see what this MEANS"
1 pressed his arm to indicate assent.
and placed my fingers on his lips. Lis
tening ears might be close by us at that
very moment.
No time was to be lost. DAYLIGHT
would not only render futile our efforts
to unravel the mystery, but might place
our own lives or safety in jeopardy.
Taking of our shoes we crept along
toward the cellar. Every creak in the
worn staircase made our blood run cold