Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-03-27
TERMS---S2. 90 PER YEAR
A SCOUTS ADVENTURE.
The Mysterious Letters He Found
Cut In a Beech Tree.


| When Johnston was falling back before
! Sherman's advance through Northern Geor-
| gia, and before the conflicts at Lost and
| Pine Mountains, was continually on the
front with band of scouts. Wepenetrsted
the Yankee lines time after time, but al
ways TO return to headquarters with the
same report. Sherman had one of the
grandest armies in the world, and he was
in such strength that he could fight John
ston in front and pass his flanks at the same
| time.
One day when scouting between Marietta
and the Etowah River, the Federal cavalry
passed and cut off my retreat by the high
ways, and for six or seven hours L was
obliged to secrete myself in thicket. 1t
was in leaving this hi1ing-place that came
across dog which was doubtless owned in
the near vicinity, but had been frightened
into the woods by the skirmishing. He
took to me kindly, and had dogged my heels
for half an hour when he suddenly leaped
aside and began paving the ground at the
foot of large beech. l halted for a mo-
ment and saw that the earth was fresh, as
if grave had been dug. 1t was but natural
to conclude that some one had been shot
near by, and that his comrades had given
him burial.
Upon closely examining the tree l found
the fresh-cut initials: I'D. S. e." They
were not where one would have looked for
them, but within three feet of the ground.
| had no doubt whatever that dead man
rested there, and picked up a club and
drove the dog away under the impres sion
that he was hungry and determined to get
at the body. succeeded after couple Of
days in getting back into the confederate
lines, and the incident did not recur to me
for long years.
One summers day in 1870, while l was
going from Rome to Gainesville, formed
the acquaintance Of a stranger who gave his
name as Charles Gaines, and who claimed
to be Virginian. He said he was looking for
improved land, and had been advised to 10
cate near Marietta. This story was straight
enough, except tha: l did not believe he was
Virginian. He hadn't the look nor the
dialect, and when came to quiz him about
certain locations around Richmond he soon
became confused.
I was then detective in the employ OF
seueral railroad lines, and it was only nat
| ural for me to ask myself why this man had
| lied to me. took pains to let him know
that was willing to answer all his ques-
tions, and directly he began asking about
the section of country between Marietta
and Etowah. He wanted to know the value
of land; if much forest had been cleared
since the war; if there had been any finds of
treasure around Marietta, and various other
things. He worked the answers out Of me
without seeming to be more than generally
interested, and while was somehow sus-
picieus of him could not exactly deter
mine Oh what to place my finger. But he
had lied.
whyp kept asking myself this question,
| but could not answer it.
| He had ticket to Gainesville, and before
we reached that place had made up my
mind to go on with him to Marietta. What
decided me was this: he sat on the outside
of the seat, and passenger going to the
water cooler knocked his hat of. II rested
for moment in the aisle, and plainly read
the name Boston inside In gilt letters.
The name of the maker was above IL, but
could not catch it. No hat sold in Richmond
would bear the name OF Boston. Where
did he get it? BY and by made q careful
examination of his boots. He never bought
them south of the OHIO. decided the same
in regard to his clothing. He was trying to
deceive me. What object could he have In
view?
When we reached Marietta both OF US
went to the same hotel. thought he began
to fight shy of me, and took pains TO keep
/ t<~fh nO fha linn ha xaH
several townspeople in regard to the coun-
try nerth of Marietta, and engaged of liv-
cry man a saddle horse for next day. L did
heap of thinking that night over the
strangers case, but when morning came
| was none the wiser for it. His horse was
brought around after breakfast and he rode
off. 1 was tempted TO get another and fol-
Ow him, but by what right? What had he
done or what was he going TO do? / went
up to my room on an errand, not yet decided
whether to go OF stay, and IN the hallway
my foot struck memorandum book. lear
ried il into my room, and the FIRST thing my
eve caught was the name inside the cover,
"GeOrge Paige" Ii was well-wOrn book,
and nearly full Of entries. Most of them
seemed to relate to trips between Boston
and Providence, but near the back end i
found one reading:
About ten miles north of Marietta, Ca;
turn to right where highway bends TO left
| 20 into woods about ten rods; look for twin
beech-tree, with initials I'D. s. g." cut low
down.
Ny heart gave jump. That was the spot
where the Yankee cavalry run me into hid
ing, and those were the initials had seen
on the tree! Had this stranger come down
| To uneaYth a skeleton? Twas wondering ovel
| the matter when heard the clatter of hoofs
and knew that he had returned. He had
discovered the loss of his book. Now, then
did what you may call mean trick.
| pocket ed the book, got down stairs withou
being seen, and went to the nearest Justice
and demanded a warrant for the arrest o.
George Paige for robbery. Before he ha6
ceased looking for his lost memorandum
Constable made him prisoner. Meanwhil
had engaged horse and wagon, bOrrowe'
an empty tea-chest and q spade, and, a
Paige went to jail, / drove out Of town.
wanted to unearth that skeleton myself.
1t was six years since had left 1t, but
had but little difficulty in finding the grave
although the beech-tree had been cut down
Indeed, walked almost straight 10 II, and
though the initials were iDdistinct, the
were there as witnesses. In half an hour
had unearthed the corpse" He, or 1t. cor
sisted of a rotten coffee-sack wrappe
around a moldy blue blouse, and inside u
blouse were three gold watches, $40
gold, 81, ,oOS in greenbacks, half dozen gol
rings, fine diamond pin, two gold bracelet
gold-lined cup, a full set OF cameo Jewelr
a solid silver back comb and about fol
hounds of silver spoons and forks, the who
| Sod hoinO worth tn me nearly 5000.