Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-16

Nv NfN'' w IpHA ~ sue NNAN ~
the bridge.
lie h al ridden % this po'ut TO meet a
Colonel NJ ,Caule "A resident anter,
whose crop he had partially barga ned
for.
McCaulcy was not there, rs agreed
u on probably deeming it not safe to
C oss the cr,ek into tbs Union mes in
The absence Of the usual guard and
knowing there was no guard, did not
expect the doctor.
The bridge was the neutral ground
on which bu, err and sellers made L rms.
1t was known among the soldiers As the
Cotton buyers Exch ngc.'
As there was considerable compel ton
among the purchasers. Watson was
disappointed IN not meeting the planter
he had come so far to see.
lie looked at his pass. There it was
eXpl city specified that he might 90
'as far as the cavalry picket But
there was no picket guard there Nc
Caulcy we'd out two IN les hey Ond the
fridge. 1t was necessary that hc should
see him, rs there WIS much TO he ma e
by the purchase OF this mans cot on.
lie rode ON t. the bridge. All was
quiet. There were no ind cations that
any party OF the enemy were WITHIN
IN les of the place.
VINO knows thong t " atsOn, but
the picket has cen extended. III see ,
And h. yentured be- oni tie bridge
and some distance INTO the swamp.
HING il, he cxcla med, "a he sank
his spur into the ank Of his horse,
picket, or no pcket. I'm TO- outs ide
the Old eleral lines, and | must see
McCaulev, 50 here goes, and gallOping
through the creek bolt m, h. tried u
Justify hiuself for this constructive
diso5edience Of orders. by saying he
had not Yet reached the pie ct guard.
As ne rode through the bottom, at
soa exam ned carefully the path to see #
any fresh horse tracks were TO be seen.
. here were none.
This sat SIZED him that 10 grerrillas
had approached tine br dge since the
cavalry Qua as had been st there. lie
therefore thought ne ran 20 risk IN
pushing ON 10 the planter house.
As wa, lis haoit, however, Inc h1d
his reyOlycrs in readiness. and kept "A
sharp look out abou, HIM a he rode
thrOugh the woods.
The doctor had reached within sight
of the clearing Of t p'antation hr was
Ia search of. Wien, In passing through
a close th ckct of second growth, me was
s~tartlei by the sudden .ru,tliug OF the
dried leaves that strewcd the ground
Chez inc his hor e. tor "a moment, ne
crew one OF his 81 ->hoO'erS from hi-
Scabbard and lis ened. Thinking II
might have been only the leaping OF a
frightened rabbit he was in the act oil
moving forward when, suddenly, a
+ lie shot close at hand, burst upon h 5
ear, and his horse fel dead beneath him.
instantly he found himself surround.
ed hy a party OF COME crate sold ers.
and a half-score revolver mules star.
ing him IN tn face.
Watsons iirs impulse WIS to empty
hi, rcyO,Nc upon MS assail
ants. but Il second thought told hin
better. True, he might kill one OF
more of them. but what good coulc
result from that?-the next moment
his body would be r!ddlcd with bullats
la, an, You id Yankee, nror
your sh oting irons, or we'll DOL youl
carcas, for yOu.' shouted "A fellow who
seemed to be the leader OF the utter
nuts. Throw down your gun at once
There's no use. old fellow, were too
many for you
Watson thought discretion was the
better part Of valor ust then, ant
yielded.
We'll. boys said he. I'm your pris
oner ut | don't think YOU 2 We me &
good show dozen Of you against one
poor fellow
That's so, old chap good naturcdll
answered one OF the ConfederatcS we
did got "A little the start of you, that 8
fact
I've been a prisoner twice before,
said Watson, wshingto prop. tiate thcil
good Will. and ia nt so bad after all,
tor the oys treated me well enough
then, and I've no doubt you'll do the
same.
Don't know about that. Old fellow
bpt rec, on this j. the third and last
time you'll be a prisoner among Us, foi
! by-we'ye orders to hang al sich g,
YOU
L hope not so bad as that, my
friends, returned the doctor. 'Bur
what DO voumtehd TO dow tn me uow?'
aid he as he stepped away from tho
body OF h horse
ooh, we Wont hang you now. Gank,
but come along this way. We II take
YOU TO the lieutenant.
And djsarm n him. they surround d
the T + soner. and conducted him some
half a mile into the swamp where he
found a camp O about fifty cavalry
men. lie was Introduced to the officer
in ommand of the parry as "A ankce
cotton buyer they had just captured
he lieutenant was a Young man,
w%earingthe gray uniform OF tie re4u Al
Conf, derate army. But his men were
all dressed in the shabby. butternut,
homespun OF gucrr Has. In fact they
were n portion OF the command of the
guerrilla chief, Roddic, one of the cut
throat FORESTS ioil ,wers.
The officer regarded Watson with an
expression of verify, and demanded
in no very gentle terms What are
you: aud what tie de il brought YOU
outside the Yankee lnes?'
Knowing that it would be useless 10
attempt T. deceive. the doctor frankly
ackuowlc lged that hc WIS what his
men had asserted, aud when arrested
b. them was on his way t. the ne I