The National tribune., 1889-07-18

ueniy AT night ana capture Dotn men, III they
did not make too much resistance. III they did
resist unduly IL would be worse for them. With
this purpose they rode away down the road
from Jamesburg until darkness fell, when they
turned off and sought the house of Henry
Joyce Union man, to whom they had been
recommended. Mr.. Joyce was about retiring
but at once made them comfortable Before
anyone was asleep, however, Union man
named Roth, who had left the tavern in the
evening, came to Joyco's with the news that
Hetiie Fletcher had suspected the strangers of
being Union men in disguise after her broth
ers, and had succeeded in making her father
and brothers believe it; for Dug had come
home shortly after the scouts left, and old
Fletcher and his son Douglas with about 90
Secessionists had gone down 10 Blue Rock to
search the whole neighbOrhood till the scouts
were captured, shot, or run off.
You men will have 10 rise the mountains"
said Mr. Joyce. land I'll go with you as guide"
No" said Nagle; "rm going back to James
burg, while the old man and his party are
away, TO capture Jim Fletcher"
The scouts approved of this heartily. And
in spite of Joyce's cautious remonstrances hack
! they went. Riding up TO the house without
ceremony. one-half Of the party went to the
rear of the house, while Nagle with the others
knocked at the front door. A light appeared,
and Hettie Fletcher's voice demanded:
"Who Is there?"
"0pen the door, Het; it's me-" replied Nagle,
initiating as well as he could the rough voice
of old Fletcher.
The door was opened with caution until Ma
gle, setting his shoulder against it, pushed it
wide Open and at the same time the blaze of q
pistol flashed close to his face the bullet pass
ing through the rim of his hat. Miss Hetty
was at once secured, hut not without the united
strength of all three men, as she fought like a
tiger at bay. In the meantime the other party
] y.F.-g 4
This is the meanest trick that ever Yank
could be guilty Of" growled Jim. "What do
you want with me- anyhow"
- We don't want anything with you" said
Maggie; :" but Gen. Sheridan does, and we've got
TO introduce you"
BY this time all were out in the hall again,
and Miss Hettie cried out:
Come in here. jim"
All went into the sittingroom, where one Of
the men was guarding her
Where are they going to take you, jim"
she asked. without tear or a tremor.
They'll take me before Butcher Sheridan,
they say
Then come and kiss me, jim; for I'll never
see you again"
Nage had procured a spare horse from Mr.
Joyce, aud on this Jim Fletcher was mounted
with difficulty. and complaining very much Of
his wound. A man with drawn revolver rode
On each side OF him. When all were mounted.
Nagle ran ina and cut the cords that bound Miss
lIeitie's wrists and leaving her to free her an
kles herself, ran out. aud jumping on his horse,
caught up with the party before 1t was out OF
the village.
The party took the first road that offered
leading toward the mountains, and pushed for
ward at as lively gate as possible. Some six
miles on the road Nagle aud his party came
into the valley OF a small stream where, along
side the road, ia kind of yard was mill,
dwelling. barn, and small village of outbnild-
ings. Boyle was riding ahead and no sooner
had he passed the corner of the mill than he
turned back and yelled:
ScoOt. feliowsl here they arei" and at the
same time he was fred upon.
The scouts bad run directly into old Fletcher
aud his party, who had been TO Blue Rock, and
were now searching back along the by-roads.
/ The liveliest kind Of a running fight cnsued,
until Jim Fletcher yelled out:
Stop that shootin', dad you'll kill me twice
/ before you hit a cussed Yank."
Then the pursuing party ceased firing and
I tried TO run the scouts down. The prompt
wouHding or three Of Flctcber's men soon made
/ them more cautious; but they followed on and
/ on until the chase, from a wild run. came down
! 10 walk, the Union men sitting half turned
/ in their saddles, ready to fire every time a nose
came near enough to be hit. In this shape
i they came 10 the Little Raccoon and Nagle
sueTs, deliberately stopped TO water their horses.
/ IL was now early daylight, and Jamesbnrg was
! IS miles away.
The pursuing party followed no further than
The stream, and the scouts legged along In high
glee over the result OF their trip and their lucky
escape. Daylight came up rapidly and every
! thing grew clearly distinct. Here the prisoners
horse stumbled, aud in pulling the animal up
| his hat fell of.
Great gosh I" came from Durham In pro-
/ longed gr0wl and howl that made everyone
! turn in surprise.
There sat Hetiie Fletcher as cool as a cucum
Der. twisting mp her back hair, which had been
disarTanged by the sudden removal Of her hat
1 For moment the scouts sat aud stared at her
in blank open mouthed establishment. At
length Nagle drew a long breath. andsaid
Miss Fletcher will you be kind enough TO
/ tell ne how this thing was got up?"
! oh, easy enough" she replied cheerfuly.
After dad aud Dug went after you men, got
! the notion into my head that you might come
| back, 50 persuaded Jim 10 change clothes with
me, and il anything did happen to keep his
mouth shut. So you Just came in and took me
instead Of my brother. DO you think Gen.
| Sheridan wants 10 see TBef"
No. don't; or if be does Pm id II he
sees you this trip" said Magic Good bye
Hettie. You're nice girl, and IL IL wasn't
for your muscle I'D Ike 20 marry you by way
Of apology
The crestfallen scouts rode slowly back "a
I Harper's Ferry, and sent in a report TO sheri,
dan that the FIetchers were not al home, and
nearly year passed before the truth leaked
out about that trip, and then Licnt Nagle told
il ut the parting banquet Of the officers o.
the regiment. when they all drank a health q
Hettie Fletcher"