San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-13


ing up at the soldiers resolutely.
"You What are youF' asked the officer,
astonished
'Im a rebel"
There was burst of laughter from the
troop at his implied defiance.
whats your fathers name"
"Tom Lane"
"And yoursT
"Mine9 Mines Tom Lane, too"
The officer turned his head and glanced
meaningly at a sergeant who was close be-
hind him.
How does it happen, my lad, that your
father is Union and you are ConfederateF
'Maw, she's southern. Pop, he b'longs in
East Tennessee
SIS your father at homer'
"No, sir"
"When will he be at home"
81 dunno" The boy knit his brows. Then,
with quick change of interest and expires
sion, he asked, "Whar you uns goen'w
The officer smiled. "Where are you going,
my lada"
"Over thar" He pointed with his finger.
"Oh, yes, forgot And what are you go
ing to do over therep
Tom colored. "Oh, | amt goen' to do
nothin' but leave sump'n' in the postoffice on
the fence"
The 'postoffice" was a box with a slit in
the top which had been put up for the pur-
pose of children's correspondence The Off
Ger noticed that the chubby hand grasped a
bit of fol1ed paper.
won't you let me see itF' he asked.
"Naw." The boy turned away with an
abashed look.
o,,t eoiI La
"Tom Lanes the man we are after This is
his boy. We must try to find out if Lane is
at home, or where he is I've orders to take
him, dead or alive"
My little man." he continued to the boy,
will you answer some questions for the good
of your countryr
81 reckon So"
"Then tell me where your father is.n
''He amt none O. us; he's Union"
Eyes, but where is he!'
"My pop amt got nothin' to do with you
uns Asst me some other things, n III tell
EN-"
The officer was baf1ed. Indeed, he was
ashamed of his work in trying to induce a
boy to betray his father The lad started on.
The sergeant was about to ride forward to
stop him, but the officer ordered him back
to wood to the right then turned down
this road and entered the wood. Finding a
spring of good water, they went into bivouac.
A man was ordered to ride after the boy, and
secure the missve he intended to drop into
the letter box.
The soldiers picketed the If horses and cook
ed their supper While they were eating,
the man who had bsen sent for the letter
came IN. The officer unfolded the little scrap
of paper, and read this scrawl in child's
hand:
MARCH THURD
DEERE MACY. want you fur to be mi sweetheart
Wen git man agOen fur to be sojer Ny pop
is agoen to briag me gun He's eemen boam to.
morrer Nav she sails I'm to little fur gun but l
reckon III git it anyway Yours trewly,
TON LANE JUNYER.
The officer spelled out this communication
with some difficulty, and put it in his pocket
1t contained all the information he wanted
He had now nothing to do but to wait in
order to capture Tom Lane, guerrilla.
The next morning the boy was playing in
the road in front of his fathers house. A Con
federate officer with stars on his collar rode
by attended by his staff. He stopped and
questioned the boy.
How far is it to the river my lady"
THE rivers'
"Yes."
Ten miles"
ais the bridge DOWN.
"Tw'arn't down lasFThursday9'
"How do you knowl"
"Hear'n' pop say So"
"And that road"-pointing- does
it lead tor
"Where tor
Yes Where!"
eth mount'ns."
YOU'RE pretty prompt with your answers
You seem to know the country hereabout.n
The general changed his position in the
saddle to rest. He looked into the child's |
face thoughtfully. His own wore troubled |
expression.
'Do you know the road to j."
Yes, sir"
Can you rider
'Ridel Reckon can rideI Amt done |
nothin' else sence was little"
''How would you like to carry dispatch |
for mefn
Whats thatl"
"A letter"
"Y' amt no Yanb, are y'T'
Pm Confederate officer.n
Il, g. y 1