The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-17

on the road. l relied on that in forming my
plans was ali agl0w with anticipation, and
bubbling over with Impotence. But / went
on mile after mile, slowly up hill, rapidly
down, tediOusly picking my way through the
morasses into which the passage of our army
wagons had converted the naturally -wretched
roads of East Tennessee. The sun began sink
ing behind the Cumberland Mountains, and
still ! met no one. a sckening thought in
truded itself: Had HartWell ayailed himself of
his knowledge Of the country to take a shorter
cut somewhere than the main road? It was
altogether likely. No, there came a young
man on horseback, in blue clothes, squirting
his steed on with an impa;ience that might be
expected in a lover fastening to meet so sweet
girl as Dilsie Brice.
A little nearer and I could see that he was a
cayalryman, with the yellow chevrons of a
Sergeant. He had his revolver on, and carried
his carbine with the butt resting on his thigh,
ready for instant use His hair was long-evi-
IDENTIFY he was an East Tennesseau. spurred
my horse down hill TO meet him. We came
face to face, and he refined up as he saw me
do so.
He was a magnifcentloolking young fellow,
and 1 hardly blamed Dilsie for preferring him
to me-
"Are you Brady Hartwell ? - asked, eagerly.
Yes" said he, in a tone Of surprise; how
came you -"
NO time LOT tx pla0aEiODs. SAID. Let S
talk business, without any frills." | told him
as briefly as l could the situation of affairs,
winding up with showing him the fatal letter.
At the mention of Scarlett Bradford name his
eyes grew wrathful, aud he grasped his faithful
Sharpes carbine in way that would have
made that gentleman nervous If he had seen it..
/" Now, don't get excited, l urged. Keep
cool, and 90 on to the house precisely as if you
knew nothing of this plot. You'll likely find
= fori +fara ff he HASN'T rocsaI his lett
Don't let him dream you suspect anything.
I'll 90 or to Tazewell as fast rs possible. I'll
get as many boys as 1 can and come back on
the jump. We can get to the house before
Jatfray and his gang are there; and when
they're laying for you, we'll lay for them. If
everything is going on all right. have Dilsie
put lighted candle in the upstairs room at the
window that looks this way"
But where'll come in in the fighting?
mustn't be left out O. that" he said"
You shant" ] answered. " If we can slip
up on them unbeknownst, we'll drop on 'em
just as they're rushing into the house, and then
/ you can have just as big a share as anybody.
/ But if they discover us before they rush for
the house, you'll hear the shots you can knock
| Bradford over and come out and join u.s. You'll
! know where we are; for well come from the
road, while Jadray'll come the other way"
All right" he said, his face flushing with
the thought of the victory. Get back as
| quickly as you can"
With that we parted. I spurred my horse
\ on harder than ever, for now | was flaming
! with eagerness to make the affair success. It
/ seemed as if some malevolent fiend had been
! stretching ont the road which lay between me
! and Tazewell At last | reached the station,
! flung my budget to Serg't Jim Mcclure, who
was in charge, and yelled, Send her along,
Jim, as quick as you can, and get the boys to-
/ gether for job"
Jim walked up the minute he saw how ex-
cited ] was, and was all attention The other
| boys gathered around, while / explained my
scheme and showed the letter.
Wen all go, they said. before got through
telling what was wanted. How many ought
we 10 havc2"
Well, | think skill be plenty" said
/ Well, there's just six Of US here, without
| counting Jim, who has to stay at the post
Not much l won't stay at the post" said
| jim. "Ill stick the post in the ground, and
let it take care Of itself till l get back"
We looked at our revolvers and put fresh
caps on the tubes, made hasty inspection oil
the carbine-cartridges mounted, and was on
our way back toward Rutledge inside of Il
minutes from the time ] reached the post
told all l knew of the matter, and unfolded my
plan of campaign as we rode along.
The moon was shining brilliantly, and oul
progress was as rapid as it would have been By
daylight She was still more than an houl